Kettleers Well-Represented at 2005 CCBL All-Star Game

July 31, 2005

By Megan Kerr, Asst. Web Editor

HYANNIS, MA -- Cotuit had four field starters in the all star game today, but none of them was able to make a big impact in a game in which pitching dominated.

    Brad Boyer (Arizona) played second and batted leadoff for the Western Division squad while 2nd year CCBL All-Star Bryan Harris (Cal State Fullerton) played third and batted in the three spot.

    Sean Gaston (Notre Dame) played right field and batted eighth, while Jason Donald (Arizona) played short and batted ninth. The Cotuit foursome went a combined 1-12 in the game, with Boyer legging out an infield single in the first at-bat of the game off of Eastern Starter Jared Hughes. The Cotuit starters weren’t the only ones who struggled though, as both teams offenses were unable to get anything going because the pitching was outstanding.
      The only time either team threatened was in the first inning at-bats for both teams, but neither team was able to capitalize. From that point forward, the pitching took over as eight innings went by without anyone scoring or even really threatening to score. Chris Toneguzzi (Purdue), the fifth Cotuit all star, pitched for the Western all stars in the eighth inning, and he kept the scoreless streak going with a shutout inning with the help of his fellow teammate Sean Gaston. Gaston caught for Toneguzzi and recorded the first out of the inning on a foul ball pop-up that he caught. After a runner had reached on a single, Gaston threw him out when he tried to steal second base, recording the second out of the inning. Toneguzzi then induced a ground ball to shortstop to conclude his all star appearance, which was definitely a success.
      Toneguzzi, who was not an original player on the Cotuit roster, has had an extremely productive season with six saves on the season and a 2.49 earned run average. When asked to reflect upon how far he has come Toneguzzi talked about how his first goal had always been to make the team and only after that big step had been accomplished did he begin to look forward. Once he began pitching “decently” as he put it, though I would think that a stronger adjective could be used to describe his contributions to the team such as astounding, he began to want to make the all star game, which he also managed to accomplish. Toneguzzi described the all star game as having “a great atmosphere (and that it was) a great memory” that he would always cherish.
      Unfortunately, the West was unable to keep the East attack contained in the ninth inning as Justin Masterson (Wareham, Bethel College), who has nine saves on the season, gave up the game winning run. With runners on first and third, Masterson induced a double play ball, but a run scored, which proved to be the winning margin of the game since the West couldn’t stage a comeback in the bottom of the ninth. Masterson lost the game when P.J Walters (Brewster, South Alabama) put down the West in order in the bottom of the ninth to pick up a save. Brandon Morrow (Cal-Berkeley, Y-D) earned the win for the all-star game as the East defeated the West one to nothing.
      After the game, MVPs for both sides were announced, which was definitely a hard task for the scouts since there was no clear-cut choice for either team. Daniel Bard (Wareham, North Carolina), the starting pitcher for the West, took home the Western MVP, while Colin Curtis (Orleans, Arizona State), the starting center fielder for the East, won the Eastern MVP. With all star festivities concluded, Cotuit will have to get back to business as they continue their playoff surge tomorrow.