Rain curtails Legion all-star game

Last night's American Legion all-star game began with North coach John Boyer urging his team to run out every ball, swing with enthusiasm and play the game with passion.

"Body language speaks," he said, and there was a cluster of college scouts watching every move.

That advice was ultimately unnecessary, as the players did sprint off the field every chance they had -- doing so to avoid a rain that grew steadily harder.

The game was ultimately canceled in the top of the fourth inning. The South all-stars led the North all-stars 6-0 at the time, but the point of the game wasn't the score.

"The whole idea is for the guys back there to see the kids," Boyer said, pointing at the scouts. "Also, for the kids to be seen."

That's why the game was restricted to rising seniors, who are just now beginning the college recruitment process. A total of 20 players participated, and while the coaches drew up plans to ensure that each would get some playing time, the rain made that ultimately impossible.

On the pitching end, Hermitage's Darren McLeod took the ball for the North squad. He said the game had the vibe of a travel-team showcase, where top players are spotlighted.

"But this one is pretty cool because you don't have to pay for it, and it's close to home," he said.

McLeod threw two innings before Will Dodson of Douglas Freeman got his turn. Zach Mihalko of Mills Godwin was warming up in the fourth when the game was called. He said his goal was to try to ignore the scouts, and their radar guns, as much as possible.

"It definitely adds some pressure," he said. "Sometimes it's better, because you give it that extra push."

Ryan Morrison, of Manchester, gave a little too much push on his opening pitch, sending a fastball into Nick Poulos' chest. After that, he settled down, and used his fastball to pitch two scoreless innings for the South.

The offense came from three home runs, all into the left-field trees. Tyler Burnette of Thomas Dale smoked a three-run shot in the second, then Knights teammate Emanuel Papadakas knocked one out in the fourth. In between, Manchester's Chris Ayers hit a solo blast in the third.

Burnette had an unusual celebration of his home run, as he knocked over first-base umpire Kevin Smith as he rounded the bag. Smith went down momentarily, but once the shock wore off he was able to stay in the game.

The South benefited from having players from Post 137 South Richmond, the team that made the World Series last year, though the Thomas Dale sluggers play out of Post 284P.

For all the players, it was a chance to mingle, as well as potentially impress college scouts.

"I'm trying to treat it like any other game," Chip Baskerville of Dinwiddie said. "If you try to get all hyped up and nervous, you won't play as well."

Contact Michael Phillips at (804) 649-6546 or .

South All-Stars ------------------------- 031 2 -- 6 7 0
North All-Stars ------------------------- 000 x -- 0 2 1

Morrison, Scherzer (3) and C. Ayers; McLeod, Dodson (3) and Dyer.