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EAST CRUISES OVER WEST
The 2004 All-Star game was able to take place this year, unlike the 2003 version. Last year one of the worst rain storms in most of the BBLers lives hit at just about 6 PM, the time the all-star game was supposed to take place. Rain again cancelled the make-up date. This year although it was cloudy all day only light sprinkes were felt at any time and the All-Star game was able to take place without any problems. The East was represented by 9 of their 10 players, with only Bernie Belgin who was in North Carolina unable to attend. The West did not have the same attendence. All 4 New Town Mets were not there because they were unhappy with what went on earlier in the day. Kevin Mankin and Brian Barber also were not able to attend. So Will Stephenson, Joe Simon, Tim Hanna, and Eric Stevens were there for the West. Chadd Stephenson was added to the roster as an alternate. They did have the BBL Legend on their team also. His identity was not revealed until the final round of the homerun derby. With Bob Essad up to bat, several BBLers spotted League founder Vince Pellegrini walking across the cat walk with his West Side Orioles jersey on. The derby stopped momentarily as the players gave him a standing ovation as he entered the field and then greeted him with handshakes and hugs as he entered the field. Vince released this statement after the game:
"I just want to say thank you to everyone who was there today. You really made me feel like a hundred bucks. It was a lot of fun. It brought back a ton of great feelings. I didn't know what to think when I was walking across the cat walk but it really made me feel overjoyed to receive the response I did. I wish for nothing but the best for each and everyone of you in the future. Thanks again."
After the conclusion of the home run derby, the game took place and was all East all game long. Sal Ponzio got the start on the mound and the starting defense for him was Bob Essad at first, Anthony Foutz at third base, Eric Pellegrini at shortstop, James Pugel in Left Field, and Joe Tammaro in Center. On his bench he had Jason Joynes, Nick Canterino, and Dan Novello. That had to be the most stacked all-star team of all time. Players that did not make the East all-star team could have formed a team that would have won most all-star games in BBL history. Mr. No-hitter, Sal Ponzio was looking at doing the unthinkable, throwing a no-hitter in an all-star game. A 7-inning all-star game at that. He came close. Through four innings, a regulation length BBL game, Sal was perfect. Not one West all-star reached base. Sal got Eric Stevens to ground out to the mound to start the inning. Joe Simon then reached base on an error, to break up the perfect game, but it was still a no-hitter. The next batter was Will Stephenson. He hit a grounder to the right side. Nick Canterino, playing centerfield made a great attempt and was able to just flip the ball to Essad at first, but it was out of Bob's reach. Will reached base for what was scored as a single, the first hit of the game. On the play Joe Simon was thrown out trying to score. Tim Hanna was the next batter, he popped up to end the inning. Sal came out of the game after that inning going 5 innings and giving up just 1 hit.
The offense for the east started in the bottom of the first. After a one-out triple by Eric Pellegrini, Anthony Foutz connected for a two-run homerun to put the East up for good. A big 2nd inning put the game out of reach. Jason Joynes hit a three-run homerun scoring Nick Canterino and Sal Ponzio. With Joe Tammaro, Anthony Foutz, and Bob Essad on the bases, Nick Caterino hit a bases clearing single to put the east up 8-0. Canterino would also come around to score to make it 9-0 after 2. Anthony Foutz knocked in Joe Tammaro for the East's tenth run in the third. Eric Pellegrini would close out the scoring with a two-run homerun in the bottom of the 5th. The final score was 12-0.
2004 BBL All-Star Game
July 25, 2004
West 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 2 4
East 2 7 1 0 2 0 x - 12 12 1
West AB R H RBI SO BB SAC
Stevens 4 0 0 0 0 0 0
Simon 4 0 0 0 0 0 0
W. Stephenson 4 0 2 0 0 0 0
Hanna 4 0 0 0 0 0 0
V. Pellegrini 4 0 0 0 0 0 0
C. Stephenson 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
Pitching IP R ER H SO BB
Simon, L 5.0 12 6 12 1 1
W. Stephenson 1.0 0 0 0 0 0
East AB R H RBI SO BB SAC
Tammaro 4 3 2 0 0 0 0
E. Pellegrini 4 2 3 2 0 0 0
Foutz 2 2 2 3 0 1 1
Pugel 4 0 1 0 0 0 0
Essad 4 1 0 0 1 0 0
Canterino 4 2 1 3 0 0 0
Ponzio 4 1 2 0 0 0 0
Joynes 4 1 2 3 0 0 0
Novello 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Pitching IP R ER H SO BB
Ponzio, W 5.0 0 0 1 0 0
Tammaro 2.0 0 0 1 0 0
2B- None
3B- E. Pellegrini
HR- Foutz, Joynes, E. Pellegrini
FOUTZ CONTINUES DOMINANCE, WINS DERBY
Like the All-Star game the Homerun Derby was cancelled last year. That made 2002 Derby Winner, Eric Pellegrini the defending champion. A wind blowing in this year made it seem like 1 or 2 homeruns would win it. That was close. Of the 8 participants only Jason Trower was not there. Eric Pellegrini went first and hit 3 out. Mike Graziano was next, but did not record a homerun. Joe Tammaro followed hitting 1 out. Jason Joynes and Bob Essad went next each hitting three homeruns. James Pugle then hit two homeruns. And Anthony Foutz closed out round one with 4.
The top 4 (Pellegrini, Joynes, Essad, Foutz) advanced. Pellegrini and Joynes each managed only 2 homeruns. Bob Essad clinched a spot in the finals by hitting 4 homeruns while only having 2 outs. Anthony Foutz started slow, but then ended round 2 with 4 home runs.
So the finals came down to Bob Essad and Anthony Foutz. Essad went first and hit two homeruns. Anthony Foutz went next and had 2 homers with 9 outs. If he failed to hit a homer on this out, it would have resulted in a blast-off. Foutz came through in the clutch hitting a homerun down the line to win the 2004 home run derby. For the first time in a few years the regular season home run king also won the derby.
Round by Round Results
- Round 1
- Pellegrini 3
- Trower -
- Graz 0
- Tammaro 1
- Joynes 3
- Essad 3
- Pugel 2
- Foutz 4
- Round 2
- Pellegrini 2
- Joynes 2
- Essad 4
- Foutz 4
- Round 3
- Essad 2
- Foutz 3
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