Military All-Stars Defeat Yawkey League All-Stars 8-6

On the 63^rd anniversary of D-Day, a defining moment in American history, representatives from all branches of the military congregated in Roslindale to remember those who have fallen in years past, but also to hear two words that everyone was familiar with: “Play Ball!”

On Wednesday night Fallon Field hosted an annual All-Star game that pitted the best of Boston’s Yawkey Baseball League against some of the best athletes that the U.S. Military had to offer. Members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard were outfitted with full camouflage uniforms under the lights as they took a break from fighting for their country to play the American pastime we all know and love, baseball.

As Dave McKay, the president of the Yawkey Baseball League announced that Gulf War veteran and Yawkey League All-Star Chris Deane would be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch, some in attendance may have wondered why. Chris seemed like the perfect candidate to perform such an honor. But believe it or not, there was someone else who was even more deserving of the honor.

Shane Burke, an Iraq war veteran and native of Dorchester who lost his left leg below the knee in 2006 was scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch to U.S. Navy member and starting catcher for the Military All-Stars, Caleb Robbins. Unfortunately, Burke got lost on his way to the field and was not able to make it in time to toss out the first pitch.

For the Yawkey league All-Stars, Somerville Alibrandi Jon Morse got the start on the mound and looked good in his two innings of work, allowing one run. So far this season, Morse has not allowed a run while strking out 18 in 15 innings of work for his Somerville Team. Coming on to start the third inning was McKay Club fire-baller and staff ace Sean Sullivan who recently threw a no-hitter for his Yawkey League team. Sully had quite an impressive first inning on the mound for the Yawkey League All-Stars, as he allowed just one squib hit to start the inning.

After a stolen base put the leadoff batter on second base, Sean struck out his next opponent looking. Unfortunately, the ball bounced in the dirt and got by catcher Tony Iafolla, leading to a first and third situation with no one out. Now, some pitchers have an “extra gear” they can go to when in tough spots, and Sully has that gear. And he shifted into it as he struck out the next batter swinging, induced a harmless fly out to the centerfielder and then finished off the downshift by striking out the next batter looking to end the inning. The pitching performance for the inning was very impressive, as Sully really bore down, threw quality strikes and made the most out of what was dealt his way.

After the YBL All-Stars collected two more runs in the bottom of the third with some help from powerhouse Alibrandi Marc DeRoches’ opposite field triple and an error on the shortstop, it was time for Sully to get back to work on the mound. The top of the fourth inning did not prove to be as tidy as the third for Sean. After three walks and a groundout, Sully balked in a run after the man on third spooked him by breaking for the plate.

Aidan Powers, a member of the Al Thomas Athletics who got a win against the McKay Club on opening day, relieved Sully of his duties and did not fare much better. He threw a passed ball while facing his first batter, leading to another run for the Military All-Stars. After two more walks loaded the bases again, a sacrifice fly was hit to give the Military All-Stars a 5-4 lead. Powers eventually forced a pop out to third baseman Marc DeRoches, but not before four runs had scored with the help of five walks.

Entering the bottom of the fourth down a run, the Yawkey League All-Stars scratched a run across the board. After Kevin White, a Somerville Alibrandi (see a recurring theme here?) reached on a strike out, he stole second, was moved over on a fly ball and scored on a groundball single by none other than Somerville Alibrandi David Scioli. Scioli put on quite a battle at the plate to tie the game up at five runs apiece.

As Kevin White crossed the plate to score the game-tying run, McKay Club bench coach Billy Cunningham, whom I was sitting next to, cheered as the run crossed the plate and then abruptly stopped. I looked over, and he told me he couldn’t believe he was actually cheering for the Somerville Alibrandis’ players. I nodded in agreement, then compared it to rooting for a New York Yankee in an MLB All-Star game.

Aidan Powers stayed in the game to pitch the fifth inning and looked a lot more like the pitcher I remember seeing on opening day. He made quick work of the Military All-Stars, striking out the side looking by mixing up his pitches very well and most importantly, controlling them too.

The two teams swapped runs over the next few innings, leading to a 6-6 tie going into the ninth inning. For the ninth inning, Kevin Christina of the Brighton Brewers was in to pitch. In three starts this season in the YBL, Christina had rung up 22 batters in 20 innings of work, leading to a respectable 2.45 ERA.

To lead off the ninth inning of the All-Star game, Christina allowed the silent killer, a lead-off walk. Just a quick aside here. I don’t have a stat for this, but I have to say that at least 50 percent of the time, when there is a leadoff walk in the seventh inning or later of a game, that player ends up scoring one way or another. I’ve watched a lot of baseball, and it is a recurring theme. Don’t walk the lead-off batter, it will kill you.

After a force out at second, steals of second and third, a walk and a theft of second by the base runner at first, the Military All-Stars had two men in scoring position with only one man down and outfielder Ronnie Stahl at the plate. Stahl, a member of the U.S. Navy and graduate of Old Dominion University knocked a two-run single up the middle to plate two runs, giving the Military All-Stars a two-run lead going into the bottom of the ninth inning.

With one out in the ninth, the Military All-Stars went to their apparent closer, the 6’ 2” right-hander out of the U.S. Navy, Will Zavala. Zavala entered the game and struck out the first batter he faced on a knee-buckling curve. He retired the final batter on a groundball to the second baseman to end to game and give the Military All-Stars an 8-6 victory over the Yawkey League All-Stars, improving their record to 6-1.

Now I know that Dave McKay was disappointed that the best of the Yawkey League didn’t win, but from the perspective of a baseball fan this was a great game. Aside from one inning that was filled with bases on balls, this game was about as clean as they come. There was good hitting all around, like the screaming RBI liner that DeRoches hit to the opposite field or the bomb that was hit about 400 feet to dead center by one of the Military All-Stars.

I was rooting for the Yawkey League All-Stars too, but I know good baseball when I see it. I know quality baseball when I see it too. This game was both. Win or lose, I was happy just being able to watch the best of the Yawkey League face off against the best of our country’s military on the 63^rd Anniversary of D-Day. It was a historic day for our country and fun evening for all involved. For next year, let’s just get Shane Burke better directions so he can throw out that first pitch and we can honor the way he deserves.