Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame All-Star Classic – – East vs. West – – The Bleacher Denizen – – June 21, 2023 – – by Chuck Krafft

In tonight’s second game, the Senior All-Stars from the East will play the All-Stars from the West. While your Bleacher Denizen has never been accused of being an All-Star at any sport. (He WAS a credible single-item juggler back in the day.) he will do his best at bringing these events to you.

While we wait for this game to start, I hope you will enjoy this somewhat playful version of “Glow Worm” from my You Tube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbyez-hYtDY

Here is the play by play of the North/South All-Star game which was played just before this one. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2023/06/21/greater-lansing-area-sports-hall-of-fame-all-star-classic-north-vs-south-the-bleacher-denizen-june-21-2023-by-chuck-krafft/

Here are the rosters.

EAST:

Megan Mankey, Ithaca

Heidi Curd, Fowlerville

Sofia Goeman, Haslett

Jesalyn Henry, Haslett

Anna VanSumeren, Okemos

Maddie Heniser, Haslett

Madison Carman, Ithaca

Lauryn Humphrey, Ithaca

Haley Konieczny, Laingsburg

Ellie Baynes, Laingsburg

Shaelyn Mann, Williamston

Lindee Rosekrans, Williamston

Katie Bigos, Fowlerville

Laingsburg’s Jeff Cheadle will coach the East Team.

WEST:

Emalee Noonan, Lansing Catholic

Nancy Bareham, Lansing Catholic

Alivia Woodman, Lakewood

Ashleigh Priese, Grand Ledge

Avery Koenigsknecht, Fowler

Grace Piggott, Fowler

Carly Andros, Fowler

Londyn Brown, Ionia,

Liz Hayes, Lansing Catholic

Rayalyaj Esquivel, Ionia

Emma Hansen, Lansing Catholic

Mya Bennett, Lansing Catholic

Melayna Braman, Ionia

Tim Andros from Fowler will coach the West Team.

The West is the home team and the East team will bat first.

Bob Every made some preliminary remarks as the players were introduced and given their Hall of Fame medals! I made a reasonable attempt at singing the National Anthem and we were ready to start the game after the home plate umpire said, “PLAY BALL!”

The All Star Game has a special format where all the players are entered into the batting order (even if it’s more than nine.) As there will be players coming in and going out more than in most games, I’ll not list defensive positions except to let you know who is pitching.

It is now time to look at the results of this game through the occasionally clear lenses of an aging Bleacher Denizen, who never made a mark in baseball or softball after the Powers That Be refused to allow him to use a jet pack to run the bases. Alas, when the timer uses a calendar instead of a stop watch to time your base running speed, the results are seldom very pretty.

Carly Andros started out pitching for the West team.

Carly Andros struck out the three East first inning batters.

Katie Bigos started out pitching for the East team.

Avery Koenigsknecht singled to lead off the top of the first inning for the West team and stole second base. Avery Koenigsknecht went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Grace Piggott. Emma Hansen doubled to the center field fence to drive Avery Koenigsknecht home. Emma Hansen took third base on a single to center field by Melayna Braman. Melayna Braman stole second base.

Katie Bigos struck out the next West hitter. Ashleigh Priese bashed a single to left field to drive in Emma Hansen. Melayna Braman took third base and Ashleigh Priese went to second base on the throw. Melayna Braman scored and Ashleigh Priese took third base when Londyn Brown was safe on an error. Olivia Woodman singled to drive in Ashleigh Priese; Londyn Brown advanced to second base. Katie Bigos retired the next West hitter on a fly to second base to end the inning.

The West team scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 4-0 lead.

Carly Andros struck out the East leadoff batter in the top of the second inning. Lauryn Humphrey hit an emphatic single up the middle. Carly Andros struck out the next hitter. Sofia Goeman was safe at first on an overthrow, but was thrown out at second base when the West first baseman got to the ball quickly. (Sorry, because of all the players playing and changing positions, I do not know who was playing first base for West.)

Liz Hayes singled to right-center field to open the bottom of the second inning for the West team. Katie Bigos retired the next two West hitters on fly to second base and a strikeout. Liz Hayes took second base on a passed ball. Katie Bigos retired the next batter on a popup to the pitcher to end the inning.

With two full innings in the books, the West team has a 4-0 lead.

Mya Bennett came in to pitch for the West squad.

Mya Bennett retired the three East batters in the top of the third inning on a popup to third base, a strikeout and a fly to the shortstop.

Lauryn Humphrey came in to pitch the bottom of the third inning for the East team.

Grace Piggott led off the bottom of the third inning for the West team with a triple down the left field line. Grace Piggott boldly broke for home and scored on Melayna Braman’s RBI groundout to the pitcher. Lauryn Humphrey struck out the next West batter to end the inning.

West scored one run in the bottom of the third inning to take a 5-0 lead.

Mya Bennett retired the first two East hitters in the top of the fourth inning on a strikeout and a bouncer to the pitcher. Ellie Baynes drew a walk and went to second base on a passed ball. Mya Bennett struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Lauryn Humphrey retired the three West batters in the fourth inning on a strikeout, a groundout to second base and a groundout to third base.

Haley Konieczny drew a walk to lead off the top of the fifth inning for the East team. She went to second base on a passed ball, but West Shortstop Melayna Braman alertly tagged her out when she slightly overran second base. Mya Bennett struck out the next East batter. Megan Mankey drew a walk and went to second base on a wild pitch. Lauryn Humphrey walked. Mya Bennett retired the next batter on a groundout to third base to end the inning.

Katie Bigos went back in to pitch the bottom of the fifth inning for the East team.

Carly Andros bounced a single to left field to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning for the West team. Katie Bigos retired the next West hitter on a fly to second base. Carly Andros alertly scampered back to first base to avoid being doubled off. Carly Andros advanced to second base on a groundout to first base by Emalee Noonan. Katie Bigos got the next batter to ground out to second base to end the inning.

After five full innings, West had a 5-0 lead.

Carly Andros went back in to pitch the sixth inning for the West team.

Sofia Goeman singled up the middle to lead off the top of the sixth inning for the East team. Sofia Goeman was safe at second base and Shaelyn Mann safe at first on a fielder’s choice grounder. Carly Andros struck out the next East batter. Madison Carman walked to load the bases. Carly Andros retired the next two batters on a fly to the pitcher and a fly to left field to hold the East team scoreless for the inning.

Lauryn Humphrey took over the pitching duties for the bottom of the sixth inning for the East team.

Lauryn Humphrey retired the West sixth inning leadoff batter on a popup to first base. Grace Piggott singled up the middle. Emma Hansen doubled to deep left-center field to drive Grace Piggott home. Emma Hansen advanced to third base when Melayna Braman beat out an infield single. Melayna Braman stole second base. Emma Hansen scored and Melayna Braman advanced to third base on a sacrifice fly by Rayalyaj Esquivel. Ashleigh Priese singled to drive in Melayna Braman. Lauryn Humphrey retired the next West batter on a groundout to second base to end the inning.

West scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to boost its lead to 8-0.

Ellie Baynes walked to lead off the top of the seventh inning for the East team and went to second base on a single to right field by Jesalyn Henry. Ellie Baynes was out at third base; Jesalyn Henry was safe at second base and Haley Konieczny safe at first on a fielder’s choice grounder to third base. Jesalyn Henry was out at third, Haley Konieczny safe at second and Lindee Rosekrans safe at first on another fielder’s choice grounder to third base. West Center Fielder Ashleigh Priese made a spectacular running, diving catch to end the game.

The West won this game by an 8-0 score.

Sofie Goeman, Jesalyn Henry and Lauryn Humphrey each had a single for the East team.

Katie Bigos pitched three innings and struck out one batter. Lauryn Humphrey pitched three innings and struck out two batters.

Grace Piggott had a single and a triple for the West team. Emma Hansen had two doubles and two RBI. Ashleigh Priese had two singles and two RBI. Melayna Braman had two singles and one RBI. Alivia Woodman had one single and one RBI. Avery Koenigsknecht, Carly Andros and Liz Hayes each contributed a single. Rayalyaj Esquival had one RBI.

Carly Andros pitched four shutout innings for the West and struck out five batters. Mya Bennett pitched three shutout innings and struck out four batters.

Your Bleacher Denizen is shutting down for about two months now until he starts back with football on August 25. Thanks to the readers all the support that you give to me. I had no idea that the blog would be as popular as it is when I started writing in in March, 2010!!! Thanks to all of you!!!