2008 AFL Rising Stars Game Wrap-up

As promised, the Fall League Rising Stars game was an exciting baseball game to watch. With over 2,700 fans in attendance and with the Arizona evening weather an awesome 74 degrees it was a perfect evening for baseball. Pregame fireworks that followed the National Anthem welcomed the fans and the players as they kicked off the third annual Rising Stars game at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona.

The game began as a hitless one through the first inning when the American Division Rising Stars came to bat in the top of the second inning. Chad Huffman of the San Diego Padres hit a two run shot to score him and Tyler Flowers of the Atlanta Braves. That same inning, Josh Reddick hit a two run home run as well, diving himself and Casper Wells to make the score 4-0 with the advantage to the American Division.

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning when the National Division scored their first run as a result of Toronto Blue Jays’ J.P. Arencibia’s home run off of pitcher Rocky Roquet. The American Division answered with a run of their own in the top of the Seventh, making the score 5-1 American.

A big eighth inning propelled the National Division to the lead when Beau Mills scores on a bases-loaded walk followed by a Chris Nelson RBI single. The National Divisions team was not done for the inning when Ivan DeJesus of the L.A. Dodgers hits a sacrifice fly to score Joe Dickerson. All of this was followed by another RBI single and a fielding error that would allow a fifth run before the close of the inning.

With the American Division team down by one at the beginning of the ninth inning, the team quickly scored to tie the game before finishing their half of the inning. In the bottom of the ninth, with a runner on first, a potential double-play ball was sharply hit to the second baseman, taking a nasty hop into right field. This would leave runners on first and second before Casey Fien would intentionally walk Joe Dickerson to load the bases. Casey Fien would end up walking Drew Stubbs and walking in the game winning run.

Although the way that the game ended was not pretty and the American Division exchanged some words with the home plate umpire, the National Division ended up winning a pretty exciting game. Thank you to those of you that were able to make it to the game and we look forward to an exciting remainder of the season.