National League wins All-Star Game 12-4

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chuck Walker
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The National League took advantage of timely hitting, pounding out 23 hits as they whipped the American League 12-4 in the season-ending All-Star softball game Aug. 28, 2012, at Dover Air Force Base, Del.

Josh Yoder, National League player-coach, led the way, going 5-for-5 with a double and two RBI, Erik Iverson went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI and Samuel Mendoza went 3-for-5 with a double as the National League had all its players pick up at least two hits in the blowout victory.

Yoder said taking advantage of the adverse playing conditions enabled them to come up with so many hits.

"The biggest thing for us was keeping the ball on the ground," Yoder said. "If you tried to lift the ball up, with the sun as bright as it was, you were going to pop out. We were trying to keep a small, compact swing. We just hit the ball better than they did."

The game was tied 1-1 until the top of the third inning, when the National League went on a scoring spree.

The National League got a two-run, inside-the-park home run from Tyler Spohn, a two-run double by Iverson, RBI doubles from Issac Nunez, and a two-run single by John Bader to score eight runs in the inning and take a commanding 9-1 lead.

"Hitting is contagious, once one person gets it going, we all started hitting," Jacob Skjei, National League rightfielder said.

For the American League, it was simply a matter of not being able to come up hits. Adam Fike, American League player-coach, said the bright sunlight didn't help either.

"We weren't able to hit the right spots," Fike said. "The sun was horrible, our guys couldn't see the ball the first couple of innings. We basically had to guess where the ball was going to be. We also were probably a little rusty between the end of the season and the All-Star game."

Carl Ferrell led the American League, going 2-for-2 with a triple and two runs scored, Christopher Butler went 2-for-2 with a double, and Andrew Bowen hit a solo homer for the American League in the loss.

Yoder said the All-Star game and its format is a great way to end the softball season.

"In the All-Star game you have guys playing positions they don't normally play, all coming together from different squadrons, it's a lot of fun," Yoder said. "It's more relaxed and everyone is just out to have a good time."