Saturday saw the final action of the 2003 Area Code Games as players from the eight teams were divided into two teams, Nike Red and Nike Black. It was a well played game and wasnt in doubt until the last inning
There was no rhyme or reason to how the 30 players chosen for the Nike All-Star Game were divided other than balance and to provide a competitive game and thats what happened.
Brewers (blue) and Expos players, for example, faced each other after playing on the same squad all weak.
In a solidly played game, The Nike Red team, comprised mostly of White Sox players from the Midwest plus Brewers (blue) players from California, scored two runs in the first inning and two more in the seventh to outlast the Nike Black team 4-1.
Both teams scored in the first inning. Nike Red jumped out to a lead it would never relinquish as Matt Bush hit a triple and eventually scored one of the two early runs.
Johani Guzman, the diminutive but explosive shortstop from the Dominican Republic, was once again a catalyst as his steal of second allowed teammate Greg Golson from Texas to score on the throw.
As the score would indicate, pitching was strong evidenced by 6-5, 185 pound righthander Colin Balester from Huntington Beach, Calif. In the third inning, he allowed a single but put out any Nike Black hopes when he struck out the side.
Nike Black actually outhit Nike Red 12-9, but were unable to put any rallies together.
Another Texan, J.P. Padron, continued to show his power after being the only player in the 24 Area Code Games to hit a home run. The third baseman had two doubles and a run scored in the victory.
NIKE BLACK (4 runs, 9 hits, 1 error)
(listed in batting order, listed with Area Code team)
CF Greg Golson (Rangers)
2B Johani Guzman (Expos)
3B J.P. Padron (Rangers)
1B Lucas Duda (Brewers, blue)
OF Jonathan Poterson (Indians)
OF Doug Reinhart (Brewers, blue)
C Dominick Foster (Brewers, grey)
DH Walter Diaz (Team NIKE)
SS Chase Fontaine (Rangers)
C/UT Trent Smith (Mariners)
P Blake Johnson (Rangers)
P Kenn Kasparek (Rangers)
P Colin Balester (Brewers, blue)
P Sam Demel (Rangers)
P Trevor Ploufe (Brewers, grey)
NIKE RED (1 run, 12 hits, 1 error)
(listed in batting order, listed with Area Code team)
SS Matt Bush (Brewers, blue)
2B Andrew Romaine (Brewers, grey)
C Alex Garabedian (Team NIKE)
1B Ryan Conan (Brewers, blue)
3B Willie Bowman (Indians)
OF Mike DeVito (Indians)
DH DeWitt (White Sox)
CF Jason Appel (Expos)
C/UT Jackson Williams (White Sox)
P Scott Elbert (White Sox)
P Edward Morlan (Team NIKE)
P Drew Bowman (Indians)
P Tim Radmacher (White Sox)
P Tate Casey (Expos)
P T.J. Sinovich (White Sox)
