By Rob Potter
DAMASCUS, PA — July 8, 2005 – The “North” overcame an early deficit to defeat the “South” last Friday evening in the Delaware Valley Little Fellows League (DVLFL) All-Star Game.
The South held a 5-2 lead in the second inning of the contest, which was held at the Damascus Community Field. But the North responded with eight runs in the top of the third to grab a 10-5 advantage.
The North extended its lead in the next four innings to post a 21-10 victory.
The North team consisted of all-star players who were chosen from four DVLFL teams – Beth’s Country Store Braves, Cochecton Mills Yankees, Cochecton Oil Giants and Kuta’s Auto Supply Dodgers. The team’s players were: Lucas Bauer (Braves), Jeremy DeGori (Giants), Kyle Freda (Dodgers), Bradley Gruber (Yankees), Kyle Hector (Dodgers), Andy Kinch (Giants), Karl Knecht (Dodgers), Alex Lander (Braves), Alex Manzi (Giants), Ryan O’Keefe (Braves), Natalie O’Reilly (Yankees), Michael Pierce (Giants), Greg Stevenson (Dodgers) and Justin Zaccari (Braves).
The South squad consisted of alll-star players who were selected from three DVLFL teams – C. Neer & Sons R.V. Sales Cardinals, Dave’s Gulf Phillies and Schofield Construction Mets. The team’s players were: Nick Cassidy (Mets), Nathan Houghtaling (Cardinals), Caleb Jones (Phillies), Frank Krug (Phillies), Scott Morgan (Phillies), Chris Neer (Cardinals), David Pallis (Cardinals), Kyle Rickard (Cardinals), Johnny Smith (Mets), Keri-Lynn Smith (Mets), Christian Tetkowski (Mets), Kyle Tetkowski (Mets), Grace Vandelinde (Phillies) and Philip Vandelinde (Phillies).
Leading the North’s offense in that key fourth inning were DeGori, who hit a solo home run to lead off the frame and blasted a two-run homer later in the inning, and Pierce, who hit a solo homer.
DeGori added an RBI double in the fifth and a two-run double in the seventh, while Pierce had a two-run double in the sixth.
After the game, DVLFL President Peter Pierce announced that DeGori had been chosen as the Most Valuable Player for the North team. Pierce then presented the MVP trophy to DeGori.
The South team’s MVP trophy was presented to Rickard, who had a two-run double in the second inning, an RBI single in the sixth and a two-run base hit in the seventh.
Every player on the two squads received a trophy for being selected as a league all-star.
In addition, the members of the DVLFL’s first, second and third place teams received trophies. The Braves won the league title, while the Giants finished second and the Cardinals were third.
Several of the 11- and 12-year-old players from the North and South all-star squads will play on the DVLFL’s traveling all-star team. That squad, sponsored by John C. Diehl Trucking, is scheduled to play in a tournament next month in Honesdale, Pa.