2012 NECBL All-Star Game

The following is a list of the rosters of both the East and West Division All-Star teams, announced on July 16, 2012.[2]

By Christian Heimall

Four different Vermont Mountaineers combined for eight runs batted in, leading the Western Division to an 11–6 win over the East in the 2012 New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) All-Star Game held at Vermont's Montpelier Recreation Field.

The game began scoreless through one inning as Mountaineers pitcher Alex Haines and Newport's Daniel Wright each tossed shutout first innings for their respective teams. In the top of the second inning, the East jumped out to a 1–0 lead as the Gulls Yale Rosen hit a solo shot over the left center field wall off of Keene's Kevin McAvoy. The Western division then manufactured a run in the bottom of the frame when Danbury's Zach Shank scored on a wild pitch to tie the contest.

It would remain tied at 1–1 until the bottom of the fourth when Holyoke's Paul McConkey hit a two out single to plate Vermont's Rob Kelly. From that moment the West's offense would take over scoring three runs in the fifth including a two-run home run from Kelly to make the lead 5–1 after five. The East looked to make a comeback plating two runs in the sixth thanks to a Jordan Betts (Sanford) homer to cut the lead to two.

However, Vermont's Logan Pierce added to the Mountaineer RBI total with a single prior to Johnny Mishu driving in another giving Mountaineers hitters four straight runs batted in and pushing the West's lead to 7–3. In the seventh, Cole Peragine hit the second long ball of the night for the West on a solo shot to left field off Newport's Mitch Horacek.

Trailing 8–3, the Eastern Division cut the margin once again with three runs on two errors. Laconia's Will Leathers trotted home when Sanford's Anthony Hajjar hit a single. Hajjar would be thrown out at the plate as his teammate Betts singled to put one runner on with two outs. After an error by Danbury's Matt Boulter allowed New Bedford's Zack Graczyk to reach, two runs would score on single from Newport's Brett Winger and a throwing error from Keene's Fran Whitten in right field.

The bottom of the eighth saw the West again regain control when Mishu cleared the bases with a three-RBI triple off Sanford's Rohn Pierce to make the score 11–6. North Adams' Tom Bamman and Laconia's Nic Manuppelli each tossed scoreless ninths to finish the game.

Danbury's Brett Houseal was credited with the win for the West pitching a no-hit fourth inning with one walk and striking out two while New Bedford's Jonathan Massad took the loss for the East giving up a run on a hit and two walks in the fourth.

Vermont's Johnny Mishu was named the games Most Valuable Player going 2-for-2 with four RBI in the contest. It was the third award reeled in by the Mountaineers during the festivities. Prior to the game, Austin Green was named the winner of the catcher's throwing competition while Aaron Barbosa won the 60 yard dash with a time of 6.45 seconds. Danbury's Zach Shank won the outfield throwing competition while Laconia's Danny Collins was crowned 2012 Home Run Derby champion after launching seven in the first round to advance to the finals and then hit five more to take the title.

Over 40 MLB scouts were in attendance and the league and the host Vermont Mountaineers received kudos from the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau.[3]

• New England Collegiate Baseball League
• 2012 NECBL season

• NECBL website
• Vermont Mountaineers website