South Tops North in Harsco Texas League All-Star Game

Pitching often dominates all-star games, and that was certainly the case Tuesday night in the 2019 Harsco Texas League All-Star Game that was played at ONEOK Field. Six South Division pitchers combined to limit the North Division All-Stars to just six hits and one run to help the South record a 5-1 victory. A crowd of 7,449 watched the 83rd annual Texas League game in downtown Tulsa.
After three scoreless innings, the South Division put the first run of the game on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. Following a walk to Abraham Toro and a base hit by Mikey White, a ground out put runners at second and third with two outs. Conner Greene of Northwest Arkansas uncorked a wild pitch allowing Toro to race home to put the South Division in front 1-0.
Another errant throw allowed the South to double its lead in the fifth inning. Midland's Luis Barrera and Amarillo's Ivan Castillo opened the fifth with consecutive singles. Owen Miller followed with a fly out to centerfield as Barrera tagged and went to third. When the throw back in from the outfield went to third, Castillo smartly headed to second. When third baseman Cristian Santana's throw to second struck Castillo in the chest, the ball rolled toward the outfield, allowing Barrera to race home with the second run.
Midland's Collin Theroux produced two more runs on one swing in the seventh. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy blasted a two-run homer that upped the South lead to 4-0.
The North's only run of the game came in the eighth. Arkansas' Donnie Walton drew a one-out walk and scored when his Travelers teammate, Evan White, doubled into the left field corner.
The South added a final run in the ninth inning when Barrera led off with a triple, his third hit of the night, and later scored on a base hit by Frisco's Michael De Leon.
Midland's Barrera was the obvious choice for the Bush's Beans Most Valuable Player Award. The centerfielder finished 3-5 with 2 runs scored while batting in the South's leadoff position.
PAIR OF DRILLERS BATTLE IN HOME RUN DERBY FINALS
Prior to the start of Tuesday's All-Star Game, a group of six players competed in the in the River Spirit Casino Resort Home Run Derby, but it was a trio of players with local ties who entertained fans.
Midland's Theroux led off the derby with five home runs, and the former OSU Cowboy narrowly missed the outfield berms with several more drives.
Theroux's lead lasted through one batter until the Drillers Cody Thomas put on a show. The former University of Oklahoma quarterback blasted ten homers, with the last two coming on his final two swings.
Hitting in the sixth and final spot, the Drillers Chris Parmelee booked his spot in the finals, and a matchup with Thomas, by hitting seven homers in his 2 ½ minutes of swings.
With totals resetting for the finals, Thomas led off and hit four homers, setting a target for Parmelee. The former big leaguer needed only a portion of his allotted time to win the crown, hitting his fifth home run with 60 seconds remaining on the clock.     

WHAT YOU MISSED
Drillers manager Scott Hennessey and his coaches handled the North Division squad. The South side was led by the Amarillo staff, including manager Phillip Wellman.
Walton, a former Tulsa Bishop Kelley High School and Oklahoma State University product, enjoyed a nice homecoming. Walton had two plate appearances and reached safely both times, with a single and a walk.
Tulsa's Keibert Ruiz and Zach McKinstry both singled in the game, accounting for two of the North's six hits.
Hennessey and North pitching coach Dave Borkowski utilized ten pitchers in the contest.
White and Barrera were the only two players to finish with more than one hit in the game. In addition to MVP Barrera's three hits, White doubled and singled in four at-bats.
As can happen in exhibitions, a lineup switch for the South created a problem for the official scorer. The designated hitter moved to a position player spot, while the DH position was moved to another spot in the lineup.