Mogues finishes second in Derby, All-Star Game ends in tie

Mogues has hit very well this summer for Vermont.

Vermont star first basemen Mikael Mogues gave it his all on Sunday at the NECBL's annual All-Star Game, and it was something to see.

Mogues finished second in the Home Run Derby after putting on a show in the opening round, drew a walk in his first at bat, then came just feet shy of a monster two-run home run in the third inning. He settled for a flyout to the warning track in center, then exited in the fourth after attempting to make a leaping catch over the tarp down the right field line.

For Mountaineers fans, it was nothing unexpected. Teammate Michael Osinski reached base three times and scored twice, and the duo combined for a strong showing at Cardines Field in Newport.

The Mountaineers-backed Northern Division built a big early lead, but faltered late. In typical, bizarre All-Star fashion, the game ended in an 8-8 tie, the first in NECBL history.

After the skills competitions, the North used strong pitching and an impressive offensive output to set a dominant frame early, as a throwing error put them up by a run in the opening frame. The South managed a lone run in the first six frames, falling behind 8-1 quickly.

Keene's Jordan Howard, who was held homerless in the Derby, launched a two-run shot in the third inning. Then, in the fourth, Valley's Erik Ostberg hit a two-run home run of his own, pushing the lead to five. Howard added a RBI fielders choice, and Sanford's Ako Thomas brought in another run with a double.

The South went 1-2-3 in the first inning against Keene's Tommy Doyle, who polished off a 10-pitch frame with a strikeout. A sacrifice fly from Ocean State's Grant Williams brought in their first run in the third, and they were quiet until the late innings. Danbury's Giovanni Dingcong brought in two runs with a double to the triangle in deep center field, and Newport's Stephen Scott cut the deficit to just three runs with a two-run shot. Two batters later, Plymouth's Cole Gordon made it a one-run game with a two-run double to right-center.

The North turned to Keene's Michael LaBeau for a four-out save, but the South tied it up via a RBI double from Brian Sharp. Back-to-back runners reached to open the ninth for the North, including Vermont's Joe Tietjen on an error, but New Bedford reliever Darrien Ragins entered and retired three straight to escape the jam.

The South loaded the bases with one out against LaBeau in the ninth, but he induced a game-ending double play.

Mogues was the second to last hitter to go in the first round of the home run derby, launching a then-best seven home runs. He added two more in the final, but Newport's Gabe Snyder soared above. Playing in his home park, Snyder hit nine in the first around and 11 more in the second, totaling 20 to secure the win.

Vermont's Troy Scocca entered in the fifth inning and played left field, flying out to center.

NOTES: Plymouth reliever Vincenzo Aiello allowed an unearned run in the seventh inning for the South, but what was surprising was the walk he issued to the first batter he faced. Aiello, one of the league's premier closers, entered having not given up a walk in 11 appearances... Winnipesaukee fan vote winner Jorge Jimenez faced two batters in the seventh, hitting a batter and recording a strikeout. It was the second straight year the Muskrats fan base won the contest to send an additional player to the game... The attendance was announced at 3,116, over 500 more then 2014's game at Mackenzie Stadium in Holyoke, Mass... Plymouth's Mike DeRenzi won the 60-yard dash with times of 6.26 and 6.32, the latter recorded in the head-to-head final against Newport's Travis Young, who ran a time of 6.47.