Bob Hunt Photographer

The home run derby may have been scheduled for Tuesday night but no one told the players that, as the 2012 State Farm Frontier League All-Star game saw the two teams combined for a total of seven long balls on the evening, with the Eastern Division’s best prevailing over the All-Stars from the West 9-6 Wednesday night at the Corn Crib. London Rippers first baseman Joash Brodin was honored with the game’s Most Valuable Player Award, going 4-5 with a homerun and three runs scored. The squad from the East treated fans at the Corn Crib to souvenirs early and often, with Traverse City’s Jose Vargas opening the scoring in the top of the first when he belted a two-out, solo shot to the top of the berm in left. Southern Illinois Miners outfielder Chad Maddox extended the East’s lead when he too hammered a solo home-run in the top of the second inning. Normal CornBelter catcher Pat Trettel gave the hometown fans something to cheer about as he helped cut into the East’s lead with an RBI single in the bottom of the frame, bringing in Schaumburg Boomers outfielder Chad Mozingo. The next batter, River City outfielder Jason Patton, knocked in Gateway’s Jarod Yakubik with an RBI single of his own, bringing the score to 9-6, but the West would get no closer. Lake Erie Crushers left hander Paul Fagan picked up the win for the East, while Gateway right handed pitcher Tim Brown took the loss. Regular season games resume on Friday.

-Bob

Russell Moldenhauer of the Lake Erie Crushers belted his way to a victory defeating Florence’s Jim Jacquot in the State Farm Frontier League Home Run Derby with five home runs in the final Tuesday night at The Corn Crib before 4,290 fans. Round one saw Jacquot, Moldenhauer, London’s Joash Brodin, and Traverse City’s Jeff Flagg hammering the most long balls, narrowing the field of 14 to the final four contestants. Flagg advanced by overpowering Windy City’s Chad Cregar and River City’s Charlie Lisk in a tiebreaker for the final spot. “I was surprised I got there. It went way better than I ever imagined,” the 6-1, 210-pound Jacquot said. “I had to go opposite field with the wind, not necessarily ideal for hitting home runs. But he (Moldenhauer) did a good job. It was going to be tough to beat him.” Normal’s Pat Trettel did not clear the fence in his allotted eight first-round swings. The festivities continue tomorrow evening at 6:30 p.m. when the Western Division All-Stars face off against the Eastern Division in the 2012 State Farm Frontier League All-Star Game. Click here for complete results.

-Bob

The Illinois Central College Men’s Soccer team traveled to Bloomington, IL Sunday afternoon. The Cougars led by head coach Oz Bakirdan scored early in the first half and added another goal in 2nd period and shut down Heartland Community College 2-0 in a hard fought contest at Corn Crib Stadium.