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SANFORD, Fla-- On Sunday afternoon, the Florida League’s best took the field at Sanford Memorial Stadium to participate in the 2019 All-Star Game. The East team beat the West 5-2 behind key hits coming late in the ballgame, and all-around solid pitching. 

Three Seminole County Scorpions were selected for the All-Star Game, and they made themselves known throughout the game. Topher Grant (Lenoir-Rhyne), Kyle Brana (Webber International), and Quinton Martinez (Appalachian State) represented the Scorpions with nice performances. 

Grant started at first base for the East squad, and although he was hitless on the afternoon in his two at-bats, he was honored to be in the game and thought it was great to interact with the other players around the league.

“It’s unbelievable to be here and I’m just thankful for the opportunity,” said Grant. “It’s cool playing with some of the best players around the league and getting to talk to them.” 

The East jumped out early in the bottom of the first inning. After Sanford River Rat Trent Taylor (UCF) led off with a walk, Deland Sun Mark Townsend (Stetson) followed with a single. Both came around to score on a single by Sanford River Rat Jarrod Cande (Florida Southern) that gave them a 2-0 advantage.

After some scoreless baseball on both sides the next few innings, the West struck back in the top of the sixth. With two outs, Winter Park Diamond Dawg Cole Beeker (Swarthmore) started the rally with a single, and Winter Garden Squeeze shortstop Dalton Shuffield followed with a two-run home run to tie the game at 2-2. 

In the seventh inning, Brana came into the game on the mound and was lockdown. He threw a scoreless inning, with two strikeouts. At the bottom of the inning, the East broke the tie on an RBI single by Deland Sun Christian Pregent (Stetson) to make it 3-2. That run for the East turned out to be the difference maker in the contest, and Brana was going to be the winning pitcher. 

“It’s just nice being here and I am just having fun,” said Brana. “It’s truly a fun experience and another summer day to come out and play baseball.” 

In the eighth, Martinez took the mound for the East and also did well pitching a scoreless frame. He struck out one batter and got two others to fly out. The East added to the lead in the bottom of the inning when Deland Sun Alan Alonso (Mt. Olive) hit a two-RBI double off the wall in left field to put this one out of reach at 5-2. Martinez was happy with his performance in the game this afternoon. 

“I felt good out there,” said Martinez “I kept with the fastball and slider and did a good job keeping the hitters off balance.” 

Seminole County’s players stepped up during the All-Star game, and they are looking forward to turning things around during the second half of the season. Monday night, the Scorpions are back in action against the Sanford River Rats, 6:30 p.m. at Sanford Memorial Stadium. 

Matt McClure (Penn State)