U.S. Military All-Stars Coming to McKeon Park to Play CCBL Contingent

CAPE LEAGUERS TO FACE TOURING U.S. MILITARY TEAM IN EXHIBITION GAME SATURDAY IN HYANNIS

June 7, 2005

HYANNIS - A group of players from Cape Cod Baseball League teams will play a combined U.S. Military All-Stars as a major stop on their historic "Red, White and Blue Tour of New England" Saturday at McKeon Park, beginning at 1:30 p.m.
The U.S. Armed Forces team is comprised of players from the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. Many players have served overseas in "Harm's Way" in war zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
"The Cape League is thrilled to be hosting this event and honored that Cape Cod has been chosen as part of the Red, White and Blue tour," said CCBL President Judy Walden Scarafile.
Some top performers for the Military All-Stars playing on the Cape involve several players from the U.S. Navy team that is currently 12-0. They include starting pitcher SH3 Lucas Ledbetter (ACB-1), who threw a one-hitter through six innings and YN1 Eric Lally (TACRON 12) delivered a clutch 2-run double in a win last week against the U.S. Marines team. BMSN Johnny Hernandez (USS BELLEAU WOOD) slammed a two-run homer to tie the game. Lally is serving with the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.
"We look forward to having some of the Marines we just faced along with other service players in our dugout in the coming weeks as we embark on our tour," said Lt. Commander Terry Allvord, head coach/GM of the U.S. Military All-Stars. "Many people have asked if we would be swinging wood bats during the tour. The answer is, WE ALWAYS SWING WOOD, and have been for over five years now."
Off the field, Military Team players have volunteered at the Vietnam Swift Boat Memorial and Dedication, helped low income families settle into new homes, manned a water station for the MWR Coronado Bridge Run, Coached local Coronado Little League team to the Playoffs, coaching a 15 year-old team in La Mesa and provided free clinics to area teams.
Participating players signed to Cape League teams include right-handed pitcher Brett Sinkbeil (SW Missouri) of the Falmouth Commodores, lefty hurler Sean Land (Kansas) of the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, catchers Jason Jacobs (Georgia) of the Orleans Cardinals and Brock Ungricht (San Diego St.) of Orleans, infielders Joe Persichina (Arizona St.) of the Harwich Mariners and Steve Singleton (San Diego) of Orleans and outfielders Kris Kasarjian (UCLA) of the Bourne Braves, Aaron Garza (Vanderbilt) of Falmouth, Kevin Koski (Southern Illinois) of Hyannis and Mark McGonigle, (Houston) of Hyannis.
Also competing for the Cape League in the game include LHP Charlie Furbush (St. Joseph's - ME) of Hyannis, RHP Romas Hicks (Georgia State) of Bourne, RHP Erik Walker (Charlotte) of Bourne, LHP Daniel Merklinger (Seton Hall) of Falmouth, RHP Brian Donahue (Amherst) of the Brewster Whitecaps, infielders Rod Ames (Colby) of the Cotuit Kettleers, Blake Lalli (Garner-Webb) of Harwich, and Paul Morgan (Williams) of Y-D and outfielder Chris Emmanuele (Northeastern) of Brewster.
One of the highlights of the pre-game ceremonies will be a "Salute to Veterans of Foreign Wars". Among those introduced on the field before the game will be World War II veterans Ivan Partridge, Arnold Mycock and John Garner Sr., Korean War veterans Max Sarazin and Dick Sullivan and Vietnam War veterans Ken Kommenda and Jeff Kommenda.
The game is sponsored by Friendly's of Cape Cod and Bayside Chiropractic in South Dennis.