Mustangs show strong performances at Legion A all-star game

The East/West American Legion A all-star game lived up to expectations of high-quality baseball on Saturday afternoon in Green River with a back-and-forth battle won by the East 19-17 in 13 innings of play.

The Mustangs were well represented, with Tucker Jackson, Carlos Rodriguez, Lafe Files, Alex Hedges and Jacob Bischoff all making their marks onto the field and Mustangs manager Michael Jameson selected as the head coach for the West.

Grand slams are rare and exciting things to experience in baseball, and this game had two at huge moments, including a game-tying shot by Jackson in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs to save the West’s chance of victory, locking the score at 13-13.

The other grand slam was by the East in the top of the 13th inning that proved to be the difference, giving them the margin they needed to pull off the win.

Jackson started the game on the mound for the home team, the West all-stars, and made quick work out of retiring the side in the top of the first.

The West then put the first run on the board in the bottom half of the inning on a RBI line drive to right field by Rodriguez after coaches gave him the green light to swing on a 3-0 count to make the score 1-0.

The East bounced back and jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the top of the third inning.

Files ripped a two-out single to right field in the bottom of the frame that the West failed to capitalize on.

The West crawled back within one run, down 7-6 in the sixth inning.

All of the West all-stars switched uniform jerseys, pants and hats for a variety of combinations as part of the fun, but unfortunately it affected statistical accuracy the remainder of the game.

Hedges scored after a walk in the seventh, and Files pitched a scoreless eighth inning when the game was locked at 8-8 by striking out three East batters then Bischoff reached based and scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the inning.

The East looked to be cruising to victory after putting up five runs in the top of the ninth before Jackson’s grand slam in the bottom of the inning kept the West’s hopes alive.

“It was a storybook moment for Tucker,” coach Jameson said. “That was one of my most proud moments for a player.”

Jackson also came back to the mound in the later innings in relief after the start from center field.

The game continued going back and forth, but after the East’s grand slam in the 13th, the West tried to rally back again but fell short 19–17 for the final score.

All Mustangs made key plays in the field including Rodriguez at shortstop, Hedges at third, Bischoff at second and Jackson and Files on the mound.

“I’m proud of all of our guys, and they all represented our team well,” Jameson said. “It is a fun game and atmosphere, and even though we would have loved the win, it was a good way to cap off the season.”

Hedges and Jackson also participated in the home run derby held Friday evening.