All Star Weekend Recap

CHICAGO- As always the weekend kicked off with the always entertaining Home Run Derby. Hometown favorite, and former derby champ, Butch Ramirez put up a workman like 12 home runs (including a 514-foot moonshot he pulled into RF, second longest bomb of the event) , good enough to finish 3rd place. The longest shot of the night belonged to Anaheim's star Cristobal Roque. In the first round, he roped a shot down the left field line for a monstrous 519 foot home run. He would finish the event in fourth place. Current MVP front runner, Bruce Donovan, finished in second place with 23 dingers, 5 shy of the eventual winner. Orber Martin was hands down this year's winner. Not only was his 28 homers most in the competition, but he had the highest and second highest single round totals with 14 in the opening round and 11 in the final round to secure his victory. This is the first time that Martin has won the event.

The actual All Star Game wasn't nearly as competitive this season, as last season's exciting contest. The National League put the beat down on their American League rivals, taking an early lead and making the game a laugher. The final score was 11-3. Baltimore pitchers took the brunt of the damage with Solano and Espinosa combining to pitch one inning and giving up 8 runs. Eight different NL players had at least one hit. Milwaukee's Rodney Lambert picked up the W, tossing two scoreless innings. The player of the game was Badger's RF Anibal Callaspo who had two hits including a three run home run in the fourth inning.

The Futures Game turned out to be a much better game to watch than the main event. The Worlds team and the US team were tied at 3 going into the eighth inning. Richmond prospect C Yamid Park would get his third hit of the game, an RBI triple. He would score later in the inning on an unlikely pinch-hit single by Jackson P Pat Nakajima. Park would be named player of the game with 3 hits, 1 run and 1 RBI.

American League:

Teams Represented: Baltimore Revolution (10), Norfolk Whiskey Jacks (6), Anaheim Hitmen (4), Monterrey Charros (3), Minnesota Storm (2), Scottsdale Camels (1), Salem Mighty Ducks (1), Philadelphia Stomp (1), Houston Buuschwackerz (1), New Orleans Jazz (1)

Team Captain: Damaso Solano, SP, Baltimore Revolution; 11th All Star selection

Babe in the Woods (youngest 1st time All Star): RP Cam Brock, MIN; 3B Sherman Campbell, NOR; both 22 years old

Old Man River (oldest 1st time All Star): RP Paul Austin, MON; 36 years old

National League:

Teams Represented: Milwaukee Titans (6), San Diego Wiley Coyotes (4), Iowa City Badgers (4), Memphis Belles (3), Arizona Diamondbacks (2), Pittsburgh Polar Bears (2), Cleveland Lake Shores (2), Richmond Rebellion (2), Atlanta Soda Poppers (1), Chicago Gray Stockings (1), Los Angeles Sharks (1)

Team Captain: Ramon Yamamoto, SP, Pittsburgh Polar Bears; 9th All Star Selection

Babe in the Woods: SP Pepe Sosa, SD; 21 years old

Old Man River: RP Craig Lindblom, MEM; 31 years old