CGL 2007 Joe Branzell All-Star Game
The 2007 Joe Branzell All-Star Game and Home Run Derby held on Saturday, June 30 at newly renovated Waters Field in Vienna, Virginia between the top stars of two premier wooden bat summer collegiate baseball leagues—the Clark Griffith League and the Maryland Collegiate Baseball League—was a smashing success. The CGL All-Stars defeated the MCBL squad by a score of 10-2 before a crowd of over 500 fans at Waters Field. Both teams tallied single runs in 5 early frames, with the CGL team taking a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the fifth. After two quick outs, Alex Gregory of the Fairfax Nationals singled to get things rolling for the CGL team. McLean Raiders shortstop Robbie Shields then drove a two-run home run over the left center field wall. Curtis Eward of the Fairfax Nationals followed with his own solo shot to left. The Bethesda Blue Caps' Jason Kitchen doubled and LaDale Hayes of the DC Grays followed with another two bagger, scoring Kitchen to complete the four run outburst. The five run lead proved to be too much for the MCBL squad to overcome, and the CGL team added single runs in each of their last three innings to complete the scoring. CGL pitchers held the Maryland team to five hits, fanning seven, while 10 CGL batters combined for 15 hits, led by Robbie Shields, who went 3 for 3, with a homerun, double, stolen base, 3 runs scored and 2 RBI. Alex Gregory, LaDale Hayes and Curtis Eward each had two hits, with Eward and the Vienna Senators Nick Wheeler joining Shields with home run blasts of their own. The Nationals Jack Zeltner earned the win for the CGL while Maryland Orioles hurler Kevin Jacob took the loss for the MCBL as both teams used a different pitcher each inning and every All-Star on both squads appeared in the game. After the contest, each player received a souvenir bat and game program. The All-Star Game is named in memory of Joe Branzell, a long-time coach in the Clark Griffith League and a supporter of amateur baseball in the Washington area. Branzell led the Washington boys Club and Federal Storage teams to 12 consecutive league championships from 1951-62 and he guided Federal Storage to All American Amateur Baseball Association (AAABA) national titles in 1956, 1960 and 1962. Branzell then spent more than 30 years as a major league scout with the Washington Senators and Texas Randers. He passed away in September 1997.
Newman bests Gregory in Home Run Derby The Home Run Derby, held prior to the All-Star Game, featured four players from each league in a three-round elimination contest. Drew Black of the Putty Hill Greyhounds, Matt Collins of the Gaithersburg Giants, Matt Schrader of the Columbia Reds and Joe Yermal of the Maryland Orioles represented the MCBL in the contest while Alex Gregory of the Fairfax Nayionals, LaDale Hayes of the DC Grays, Ryan Metzroth of the McLean Raiders and Nate Newman of the Vienna Senators all competed for the CGL. Nate Newman, LaDale Hayes, and Joe Yermal joined 1st round winner Alex Gregory to advance to Round 2. Fatigue may have been a factor as Hayes failed to homer in round 2, while Yermel hit only 2 dingers. Newman hit his 3rd home run with only one out left, to take the lead with 3. Gregory came up last and also hit three, using only 5 of a possible 10 outs to tie Newman, thus securing a berth in the championship round. In the final round both players were given 15 outs, split into two sections of 7 & 8 outs each. Nate Newman went first, and launched four home runs, including a couple to deep center. After winning the 1st two rounds, Alex Gregory put himself in jeopardy when he tagged only one dinger in his first seven outs. Newman kept the pressure up in his last at bat, hitting another four homers, to take a commanding 8-1 lead over Gregory. After four more quick outs, Gregory finally came alive. He launched 5 towering homeruns in his next 7 swings, including one that went practically to the elementary school parking lot behind left field. It was quite a show, but Alex Gregory couldn’t get the last three homers he needed to pass Newman before using his final out. Nate Newman received a trophy and a commemorative bat provided by Zorian Bat Company to acknowledge his achievement. The Maryland Collegiate Baseball League and the Clark Griffith League will continue to meet this season in inter-league doubleheaders. Congratulations to each All-Star and the teams of both leagues for their successes to this point in the season. The Clark Griffith League is proud to have hosted this year’s Joe Branzell All-Star Game and Home Run Derby and looks forward to next year’s event.
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CGL
defeats MCBL in 2007 Joe Branzell All-Star Game