Northern Division, Rhinehart Dominate 49th SAL All-Star Game…..

Burgess Blasts Way to Home Run Derby Title

GREENSBORO – Hagerstown’s Bill Rhinehart put on the show of his life with a 3-for-3 performance which included a home run in the first innings to propel the Northern Division to a 13-4 victory in the 49th annual South Atlantic League All-Star Game.

Rhinehart’s first-inning blast was the first of three for the Northern squad. He finished the showcase with three RBI and was honored as the game’s Star of Stars.

The Northern Division had six multiple-run innings in the contest while holding their counterparts from the South to four, one-run frames. With a 9-3 lead entering the sixth innings, Lakewood’s Drew Naylor entered the game in relief and sent three straight South batters back to the dugout, two by way of strikeout.

Naylor’s 1-2-3 sixth inning earned him pitcher of the game honors.

Greensboro’s A.J. Battisto, Corey Madden and Garrett Parcell saw action in the game for the North. Battisto pitched in the second innings and Madden faced two batters; he struck out both. Parcell finished the game for the victorious Northern Division by striking out the lone batter he faced.

Following the second inning, Hagerstown’s Michael Burgess completed his race to the Home Run Derby crown. Burgess and Greensboro’s Mike Stanton put on a long-ball clinic, seeing who could hit the ball further; ultimately Burgess was victorious.

Postgame Quick Stats
Win – Kelvin De La Cruz; Loss – Alexander Cobb; Save – None
Time – 2:59; Attendance – 8,367
*****from Justin Stottlemyre Hoppers’ media assistant*****