As appeared in Hamilton Journal, July 16, 2009
By Rick Cassano
CINCINNATI — The Great Lakes Summer
Collegiate League All-Star baseball game had a distinctive Hamilton flavor
Wednesday night, July 15.
Joe Sullivan and Brent Suter led a four-man
contingent from the Hamilton Joes and helped the Blue defeat the Red 5-4 at
Western Hills High School’s McCartney Stadium. “Very exciting, very fun, and a great game, too,” said
Suter, who pitched a scoreless fourth inning. “It worked out exactly how I
would’ve dreamed it.”
Sullivan, (No. 31), who played the first five innings in
right field and went 1-for-2 with a run while also being part of a 9-4 double
play, was equally happy. “I was
just having fun,” he said. “It was a long day — we’ve been here since noon —
but a very good day.”
Hamilton third baseman Alan Mathis, (No. 10), unable to
play the field because of a shoulder injury that could end his summer, struck
out and flew out.
Joes teammate Kyle Weldon, (No. 5) fanned twice at the plate, but
contributed a couple nice plays at first base. “Tonight was just about being laid-back and doing your thing,”
Mathis said. “It would’ve been nice to get a hit, but hey, whatever. You can’t
do it every time.”
Sullivan was among the game’s top performers. He
struck out swinging in his first at-bat, then belted a 1-0 pitch from Stark
County’s Ryan Mace high off the fence in right-center field for a single in the
fifth inning. “I probably
should’ve been on second base — I was watching it a little bit,” Sullivan said
with a grin. “Fastball down the middle. I don’t think I could’ve hit it any
better.” His double play came in
the third. Sullivan snagged a long fly ball, slipped on the gravel warning
track and then threw to Lake Erie second baseman Kolbrin Vitek (the game’s Most
Valuable Player) to double off a runner.
Suter, (No. 6), a southpaw, allowed one hit and whiffed
one batter during his 20-pitch effort on the hill. “I had some nerves, especially when I saw all those scouts,”
Suter said. “But once you get into the game, you feel good. You feel like
you’re trying to step up and show something. It’s a very cool feeling.”
Mathis could find out today if the small tear in
his right shoulder will require surgery. If it does, he’ll get it done quickly
before heading to the University of Memphis.
“This is the first summer I’ve gone off and
played,” said Mathis, a Memphis native. “Whatever happens, it’s been a great
experience.”
Joes coach Darrel Grissom added to the Blue’s win
by coaching first and third base. “It’s
a great night for the Joes,” Grissom said. “I’m proud of our guys. They played
hard and represented themselves very well.”