The California Winter League’s dominance of the 2015 Frontier League All-Star weekend continued when 2014 and 2015 CWL Alum, Michael Hur, was named the MVP. Hur – who was signed by the Rockford Aviators out of the CWL – drove in a pair of RBI with a pair of doubles for the West All-Stars. We wish our CWL Alumni continued success in pro ball, and we hope to see more stars come out of the 2016 CWL. Continue reading for the full story:
Rockford’s Michael Hur takes home MVP Honors
It was a game where the offense was scarce and the pitching was plentiful as the West Division defeated the East Division by a score of 4-2 Wednesday night in the 2015 Frontier League All Star Game presented by Salvi, Schostok, and Pritchard, P.C. at Schaumburg Boomers Stadium in Schaumburg, IL. Rockford Aviators outfielder Michael Hur was crowned MVP of the event, going 2-3 with two doubles and 2 RBI.
The game began with a bang as East division leadoff hitter Jay Austin from the Traverse City Beach Bums reached second base on an error on the first plate appearance of the game. He would later come around to score on Beach Bums’ teammate Jose Vargas’ single to give the East a 1-0 early lead.
The lead, however, did not last very long, as the West touched Traverse City pitcher Kramer Champlin for 3 runs in the bottom of the 3rd. A pair of River City Rascals got the big inning started, with right-fielder Brian Hansen leading off with a single and Redal doubling. The two runners in scoring position were ripe for the picking for Hur, who doubled to right-center to bring both men home and put the West team up 2-1. Taylor Ard, also of River City, then followed Hur with a single to bring in another run and put the West team up 3-1, a lead that they would not relinquish.
From the third inning on, it was all about both teams’ pitching staffs, as both groups allowed only 1 run each, to bring the final score to 4-2. The West team in particular was strong on the mound, with each pitcher tossing a shutout inning until the top of the 8th.
Rockford starter Kyle Brueggemann was credited with the win, hurling a scoreless outing in the 3rd with one strikeout, while Champlin took the loss. Normal CornBelters’ closer Race Parmenter was on in the ninth to close it out for the West and earned the save, striking out 2 during his scoreless inning.
The game Wednesday night ended the 3-day All Star Break, which included the Home Run Derby Tuesday night in addition to the Frontier League Hall of Fame luncheon on Wednesday afternoon. There will be a league-wide off day Thursday, with every team back in action for a weekend series beginning Friday.
The Frontier League is entering its 23rd season in 2015 and features 14 teams stretching from Pennsylvania to Missouri and from Kentucky to northern Michigan. The Frontier League annually advances the most players to MLB organizations of any of the independent leagues, and 27 former Frontier League players have played in the Major Leagues.
