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Pre-game Media Notes

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Brett's Fielding Position and Batting Order

Starting the game in leftfield for the Southern Division ...... Batting at #3

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Game Highlights - Bottom of the First Innings

Eider Torres singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Denard Span
With Vic Buttler batting, Eider Torres steals 2nd base
Vic Buttler grounds out, second baseman Gabe Lopez to first baseman Michel Abreu
------Eider Torres to 3rd base
Brett Roneberg singles on a ground ball to center fielder Denard Span
------Eider Torres scores
Kevin Kouzmanoff called out on strikes
Kory Casto grounds out, pitcher Chris Smith to first baseman Michel Abreu

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Game Highlights - Top of the Second Innings

Pitcher Change - Nathan Bumstead replaces Shane Youman
Michel Abreu singles on a ground ball to shortstop Carlos Leon
Bronson Sardinha walks
------Michel Abreu to 2nd base
With Chad Spann batting, wild pitch by Nathan Bumstead
------Michel Abreu to 3rd base
------Bronson Sardinha to 2nd base
Chad Spann walks
Curtis Thigpen grounds into double play, shortstop Carlos Leon to second baseman Eider Torres to first baseman Simon Pond
------Michel Abreu scores
------Bronson Sardinha to 3rd base
------Chad Spann out at 2nd base
Felix Molina singles on a ground ball to right fielder Cory Keylor
------Bronson Sardinha scores
With Gabe Lopez batting, Felix Molina steals 2nd base
Gabe Lopez doubles on a line drive to center fielder Vic Buttler
------Felix Molina scores
Coaching visit to mound
Denard Span walks
Tyler Minges walks
------Gabe Lopez to 3rd base
------Denard Span to 2nd base
Pitcher Change - Brian Rogers replaces Nathan Bumstead
Adam Lind grounds out to first baseman Simon Pond

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Game Highlights - Bottom of the Third Innings

Pitcher Change - Matt Garza replaces Chris Smith
Vic Buttler grounds out, shortstop Felix Molina to first baseman Michel Abreu
Brett Roneberg singles on a line drive to center fielder Denard Span
Kevin Kouzmanoff lines out to third baseman Chad Spann
Kory Casto walks
------Brett Roneberg to 2nd base
Mike Rabelo grounds out, second baseman Gabe Lopez to first baseman Michel Abreu

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Game Highlights - Top of the Fourth Innings

Defensive Substitution - Gary Burnham replaces Simon Pond, batting 7th
Defensive switch from left field to 1st base for Brett Roneberg
Pitcher Change - Kip Bouknight replaces Brian Rogers
Felix Molina grounds out, second baseman Eider Torres to first baseman Brett Roneberg
Gabe Lopez flies out to center fielder Vic Buttler
Denard Span walks
Tyler Minges strikes out swinging
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Game Highlights - Bottom of the Fifth Innings

Defensive Substitution - Jorge Padilla replaces left fielder Tyler Minges, batting 2nd
Defensive Substitution - Tyler Von Schell replaces first baseman Michel Abreu, batting 4th
Defensive Substitution - Brian Buscher replaces third baseman Chad Spann, batting 6th
Pitcher Change - Michael MacDonald replaces Patrick Misch
Vic Buttler grounds out to first baseman Tyler Von Schell
Brett Roneberg grounds out, second baseman Gabe Lopez to first baseman Tyler Von Schell
Kevin Kouzmanoff singles on a line drive to center fielder Denard Span
Kory Casto grounds out to first baseman Tyler Von Schell

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Game Highlights - Top of the Sixth Innings

Defensive Substitution - Melvin Dorta replaces second baseman Eider Torres, batting 1st
Defensive Substitution - Noah Hall replaces center fielder Vic Buttler, batting 2nd
Defensive Substitution - Kody Kirkland replaces third baseman Kory Casto, batting 5th
Defensive Substitution - Salomon Manriquez replaces catcher Mike Rabelo, batting 6th
Brian Buscher singles on a ground ball to center fielder Noah Hall
Curtis Thigpen flies out to left fielder Gary Burnham
Felix Molina grounds into double play, second baseman Melvin Dorta to shortstop Carlos Leon to first baseman Brett Roneberg
------Brian Buscher out at 2nd base

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Game Highlights - Bottom of the Sixth Innings

Pitcher Change - Charlie Manning replaces Michael MacDonald
Salomon Manriquez grounds out, second baseman Gabe Lopez to first baseman Tyler Von Schell
Gary Burnham doubles on a line drive to left fielder Jorge Padilla
With Cory Keylor batting, wild pitch by Charlie Manning
------Gary Burnham to 3rd base
Cory Keylor singles on a line drive to center fielder Denard Span
------Gary Burnham scores
Carlos Leon pops out to first baseman Tyler Von Schell in foul territory
Melvin Dorta singles on a line drive to right fielder Bronson Sardinha
------Cory Keylor to 2nd base
Noah Hall walks
------Cory Keylor to 3rd base
------Melvin Dorta to 2nd base
Coaching visit to mound
Brett Roneberg singles on a line drive to right fielder Bronson Sardinha
------Cory Keylor scores
------Melvin Dorta scores
------Noah Hall to 3rd base
Kevin Kouzmanoff flies out to left fielder Jorge Padilla

SPECIAL ...... CLICK HERE to see eight photos taken immediately after the above at-bat ...

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Game Highlights - Top of the Eighth Innings

Pitcher Change - James Johnson replaces Bear Bay
Bronson Sardinha grounds out, first baseman Brett Roneberg to pitcher James Johnson
Brian Buscher flies out to center fielder Noah Hall
Curtis Thigpen singles on a fly ball to right fielder Cory Keylor
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Game Highlights - Bottom of the Eighth Innings

Pitcher Change - Billy Sadler replaces Glen Perkins
Cory Keylor walks
On-field Delay
Carlos Leon strikes out swinging
Coaching visit to mound
Pitcher Change - Ivan Maldonado replaces Billy Sadler
Melvin Dorta doubles on a ground ball to left fielder Jorge Padilla
------Cory Keylor to 3rd
Noah Hall singles on a fly ball to center fielder Denard Span
------Cory Keylor scores
------Melvin Dorta to 3rd
------Noah Hall to 2nd on the throw
Brett Roneberg grounds out, first baseman Tyler Von Schell to pitcher Ivan Maldonado to second baseman Gabe Lopez
Pitcher Change - Justin Pope replaces Ivan Maldonado
Kevin Kouzmanoff pops out to second baseman Gabe Lopez

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Game Highlights - Top of the Ninth Innings

Pitcher Change - Marino Salas replaces James Johnson
Gabe Lopez lines out to second baseman Melvin Dorta
Denard Span flies out to right fielder Cory Keylor
Jorge Padilla grounds out, second baseman Melvin Dorta to first baseman Brett Roneberg

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As chants of "MVP, MVP" poured down upon Brett Roneberg from the sell-out crowd of 9,308, the Curve outfielder was named the 2006 Eastern League All-Star Game 'Star of Star's Roneberg, who finished the night 3-for-5 with three RBI's, knocked in the go-ahead run for the Southern Division with a two-out single in the sixth inning

Roneberg drives in winning run
Crowned Eastern League "Star of Stars"

As chants of “MVP, MVP” poured down upon Brett Roneberg from the sell-out crowd of 9,308, the Curve outfielder was named the 2006 Eastern League All-Star Game ‘Star of Star’s

Roneberg, who finished the night 3-for-5 with three RBI’s, knocked in the go-ahead run for the Southern Division with a two-out single in the sixth inning

It marks the second time in three years that a member of the Curve has won the prestigious Award

“It’s a pretty good feeling” said the 27-year old after the game
“It’s especially nice to win it in front of my home fans
This is my second tour in Altoona and they’ve accepted me from the start
It just feels great to give something back”

Roneberg, who started in left field for Southern Manager and Curve skipper Tim Leiper, received a thunderous ovation as he was announced during the pre-game ceremonies

“I’m real happy for him” said Manager Tim Leiper after the Award was announced
“He respects the game and plays it right, and when you do that, the baseball gods look out for you
Judging by his performance tonight, they definitely did”

The 6-foot-2, 216-pound lefty stepped up to the plate against Trenton Thunder reliever Charlie Manning with two runners on and a 3-2 deficit in the bottom of the sixth inning
After a swing and a miss on the first pitch, Roneberg connected for a line-drive single to right scoring Cory Keylor of Bowie and Melvin Dorta of Harrisburg for the tying and go-ahead run

The south never looked back as they took the fourth annual Eastern League All Star game, 5-3

“He’s such a leader in the clubhouse and on the field, so it’s fitting that he got to bat in a big-time situation” noted Leiper
"I think we (the Curve All-Stars) all knew that he was going to come through for us, so we weren’t that surprised
He really deserves this"

Roneberg is not the first Curve player to win the ‘Star of Stars’ award
In 2004, Curve All Star Jeff Kippinger won the award after leading the South to a 4-1 victory over the North courtesy of a 3-for-4 night with an RBI

The Australia-native was named to the All Star team despite missing the first 2-1/2 weeks of the season with a strained back

He spent the entire 2003 season with the Curve before being traded to the Boston Red Sox and being named a 2004 Eastern League All-Star as a member of the Portland Sea Dogs

The left fielder ranks ninth in the league in batting average (.297) and fourth in runs scored (43) and tied a Curve record on May 3 with five hits in a game against the Erie SeaWolves

“It was a great night and this award just makes it that much sweeter” said Roneberg on his way out
“It was the perfect ending to a fun night”
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Chris Smith (left) and Shane Youman (right) will be the starting pitchers in Wednesday's Eastern League All-Star Game in Altoona, Pa

Southern Division Stars win mid-summer Classic 5-3

The Altoona Curve’s Brett Roneberg had three hits and drove in three runs Wednesday night as the Southern Division All Stars defeated the Northern Division 5-3 in the 2006 UPMC Health Plan Eastern League All Star Game at Blair County Ballpark

A crowd of 9,308 - the largest in BCB history and also the largest in EL All Star history - watched the game, which was played under threatening skies
Heavy rains pelted the Altoona area in the afternoon, but no rain fell during the game

Roneberg, the Curve's designated hitter and first baseman, rapped out three singles in five at-bats

His first hit knocked in Akron's Eider Torres to give the Southern stars a 1-0 lead in the first inning

The Northern stars, managed by Portland's Todd Claus, scored all of their runs in the top of the second inning
A single by Binghamton's Michel Abreu and walks to Trenton's Bronson Sardinha and Portland's Chad Spann loaded the bases with no outs
Abreu scored when New Hampshire's Curtis Thigpen grounded into a double play, then Felix Molina (New Britain) singled home Sardinha and Molina came around on a double by Gabe Lopez of Trenton

The South, managed by Altoona skipper Tim Leiper, put together a three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull out the victory
With one out, Reading's Gary Burnham doubled and scored on Bowie's Cory Keylor's base hit
Harrisburg's Melvin Dorta singled with two outs and Bowie's Noah Hall walked to load the bases
Roneberg followed with his third hit, a single to right field, to score Keylor and Dorta and give the South a 4-3 lead

The South tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth when Keylor walked, Dorta doubled and Hall singled

Roneberg was selected as the game's "Star of Stars" and Altoona pitcher Shane Youman gave the host team a sweep of the individual Awards by being named the game's outstanding pitcher
Southpaw Youman, the Eastern League's earned run average leader, was the South's starting pitcher and struck out two of the three batters he faced in the opening inning

Harrisburg's Kip Bouknight was the game's winning pitcher
He gave up only one hit, walked one and struck out three in three innings

Bowie's Marino Salas earned the save

Trenton's Charlie Manning was the losing pitcher
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Roneberg rules at Eastern League All Star Game
Hometown hero drives in three runs as South rallies to win

In the end, perhaps Mother Nature should have been chosen as the 'MVP' of the 2006 Eastern League All Star Game
Less than three hours before game time, the skies darkened then opened with a downpour Noah would have been comfortable in
Radar shots didn't paint a pretty picture as it appeared like a long night of rain was in the works

But about an hour before the game was scheduled to start, the rain let up and the skies cleared, allowing the record crowd of 9,308 Minor League fans at Blair County Ballpark watch the home Southern Division beat its Northern counterpart, 5-3

Fans clearly weren't scared away by the threat of more precipitation
The crowd turned out to break attendance records for the 8-year-old stadium and the four-year history of the Eastern League All Star Game

The throng was even happier when Altoona outfielder Brett Roneberg took the 'MVP' honors away from Mother Nature
The Australian went 3-for-5 with three RBIs in keying the North's comeback victory

"It's an honor to win this award" said Roneberg, who began the year as a Minor League free agent in Extended Spring Training with the Pirates organization
"It's so much more exciting doing it in front of the hometown
It's definitely one of the best nights of my life"

The South struck first its first time up against Portland Sea Dogs starter Chris Smith
Akron's Eider Torres led off with a single and promptly stole second, not surprising considering he's second in the league with 33 stolen bases
Roneberg drove Torres home with a single to put the Southern Division up, 1-0

The lead would be short-lived
The Northern Division sent nine men to the plate in the top of the second and scored three times
Most of the damage came against Erie starter Nate Bumstead, who came into the game after Altoona All-Star Shane Youman pitched a perfect first
Bumstead, second in the league in walks, issued four free passes and three hits in the inning
He almost escaped serious damage by inducing New Hampshire catcher Curtis Thigpen to hit into a 6-4-3 double play with the bases loaded
But with the score tied and two out, New Britain shortstop Felix Molina drove in a run with a single and Trenton second baseman Gabe Lopez followed with an RBI double to give the North a 3-1 lead

The Southern Division had opportunities over the next several innings, but despite putting men on base in every frame, couldn't break through until the bottom of the sixth

Facing Trenton's Charlie Manning, the South sent eight men to the plate, scoring three runs on four hits to take a one-run lead
Bowie's Cory Keylor drove home Reading outfielder Gary Burnham with the first run of the inning, but it was Roneberg's two-out, two-RBI single that gave the South a 4-3 lead

The South tacked on an insurance run in the eighth when Bowie outfielder Noah Hall singled in his Baysox teammate Keylor with one out

Harrisburg right-hander Kip Bouknight was the beneficiary of the offense, though he was decidedly worthy of being credited with the win
After Erie's Brian Rogers shut the door on the North for 1-1/3 innings after Bumstead's rough outing, Bouknight kept things going with three scoreless frames, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out three

"It's an added bonus getting the win" Bouknight said
"It was great to meet all these guys you play against all year and the fans were awesome"
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Roneberg sends crowd home happy

Brett Roneberg made sure the biggest crowd in Blair County Ballpark history went home happy

Roneberg, a 27-year-old outfielder with the Altoona Curve, had three hits and drove in three runs - including the game-winner, as the Southern Division beat the Northern Division, 5-3, in the Eastern League All-Star Game on Wednesday night

“It’s an honor to play here, especially in front of your home crowd” said Roneberg, who was named 'The Player of the Game'
“There’s nothing better than playing a baseball spectacle in front of your home crowd
We had about 9,000 here, and they were cheering for us”

The game set Eastern League All-Star Game and Blair County Ballpark records with 9,308 fans in attendance

It was the League’s fourth All-Star Game

“It was great” said Curve manager Tim Leiper, who led the Southern Division team
“I knew it would be good, and it was a lot better than I expected”

Roneberg gave the Southern Division the lead in the bottom of the sixth
The Australian, who is hitting .291 with 41 RBIs in 69 games with Altoona, delivered a two-run single to right field with two outs
The base hit scored Bowie’s Cory Keylor and Harrisburg’s Melvin Dorta

“I was lucky enough to come up with the bases loaded after Noah Hall had a good at-bat and walked, and I got a hit” Roneberg said

The Southern Division had scored its second run on Keylor’s single to center, which brought home Reading’s Gary Burnham

Harrisburg’s Kip Bouknight pitched three innings for the win
He allowed just one hit and walked one while striking out three

Bowie’s Marino Salas pitched a perfect ninth inning for the save

“Kip Bouknight really picked us up
We were short on pitching” Leiper said
“I’m forever indebted for what he did tonight”

Charlie Manning of Trenton gave up three runs on four hits in the sixth inning for the loss

Altoona’s Shane Youman threw one perfect inning as the Southern Division’s starter and was named 'The Pitcher of the Game'
He struck out two in the top of the first

“It caps off a real nice run that Shane’s had for us” Leiper said
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Sports Briefs
From local and wire dispatches

The Altoona Curve's Brett Roneberg pumped up the hometown fans by going 3 for 3 as the South Division All-Stars rallied to beat the North Division, 5-3, in the Eastern League Midsummer Classic at Blair County Ballpark in Altoona
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Preston Shoemaker, 5, of Hollidaysburg gets his jersey signed by Patrick Misch of the Connecticut Defenders before the All-Star Game Wednesday

Seeing Stars
Blair ballpark hosts an all-time record number of fans during All Star Game

Slate-gray skies and the constant threat of rain didn’t keep a record number of fans from flocking to the Eastern League All Star Game at Blair County Ballpark Wednesday night

The South’s 5-3 victory was a win for the Curve-friendly crowd at a game that was a win for the area, as well, fans said

“We get to show off one of the premier ballparks in the league” said Ed Ergler of Hollidaysburg, an avid Curve fan
“It’s phenomenal”

The game attracted 9,308 fans - not only a record for Blair County Ballpark, but an Eastern League All-Star Game record, too

Like Ergler, who says he catches about twenty games a year at the park, many fans sported Curve caps and shirts

Others said they drove a few hours or more to catch the game - among them, Chris Burek and his son, Evan, who made a more than 300-mile trek from Allentown, N.J
The pair have made it a summertime tradition to catch a few games together, Chris Burek said
This year was an All Star week, taking them from the Major League All Star Game in Pittsburgh to Blair County
“This is our first time here
It’s a really sharp ballpark - all the modern amenities you like to see at a ballfield” he said

“This ballpark is the best-kept secret around here” said Kelly Spinelli of Pittsburgh, a “Red Sox die-hard” who says she was won over by the Curve and its park
“We try to make it up here two or three times a summer because we love this place”

The game was held after two days of activities at Blair County Ballpark, including an Eddie Money concert, a fan festival and a home run derby Wednesday featuring personalities such as former NBA guard Kenny Anderson, Penguins defenseman Ryan Whitney and Penn State University quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno, Joe Paterno’s son
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Brett Roneberg runs through first base as second baseman Gabe Lopez falls off the bag during Wednesday’s All Star Game at BCB

Hometown Hero
Roneberg’s two-run single lifts Southern Division

The Curve averted disaster, threw a grand party, packed the house like never before and had the best player on the field

Blair County Ballpark’s first time hosting the Eastern League All-Star Game couldn’t have gone any better

“Oh my gosh, it was off the charts great” Curve manager Tim Leiper said afterwards
“The atmosphere was unbelievable”

Rain threatened to ruin an event that Curve personnel had spent thousands of hours planning
Luckily, the downpour that hit town shortly before 5.00pm subsided, allowing the evening’s festivities to go off without a hitch

Baseball fans from around the region made it a memorable night, packing Blair County Ballpark with a record crowd of 9,308
That topped the previous BCB high of 9,255 set in 2003 and was the largest EL All Star Game crowd since the event returned from a hiatus in 2003

“This was never about how big the crowd was going to be, it was going to be about how wonderful the experience was and how lasting the memories were” Curve managing partner Chuck Greenberg said
“We’re certainly delighted that so many people were able to share in that”

The fans had plenty to cheer from the hometown players as the Curve representatives led the Southern Division squad to a 5-3 win over the Northern Division

“Winning makes it that much better” Curve outfielder Vic Buttler said
“After the game, you can go home with a smile on your face with ‘we won, we won’”

Curve outfielder Brett Roneberg enjoyed a stellar evening, smoking line drives across the field to finish 3-for-5 with three RBIs
He singled home the first run of the game in the first inning, then laced a two-run single in the sixth to put the Southern Division on top for good, 4-3

Roneberg was an easy choice for the game’s 'Star of Stars' distinction
“He should be the mayor of Altoona” Curve first baseman Simon Pond said

Roneberg joined Jeff Keppinger (2004) as Curve players to receive the All Star Game 'Star of Stars' honor

“The best moment of my career was winning the Silver Medal for Australia, playing for my country in the 2004 Olympics” Roneberg said
“It ranks a close second when you play in an All Star Game in your hometown and you’ve got all the fans on your side”

Curve lefty Shane Youman started for the Southern Division and breezed through the first inning, striking out a pair of hitters swinging and getting a soft groundout to shortstop
Youman had the most dominant inning of the evening and was named the Pitcher of the Game

“I felt fine, had a little butterflies at the beginning just like always” Youman said
“The biggest thing was I wanted to get in and get out, and it worked out in my favor”

Erie’s Nate Bumstead had a tough night, throwing fourty-one pitches and failing to make it out of the second inning
He allowed three runs as the Northern Division grabbed a 3-1 lead

The Southern Division charged back with three runs in the sixth, getting the first on an RBI single by Bowie’s Cory Keylor
Roneberg, 2-for-3 at that point, stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs and smoked a hit to right that scored Keylor and Harrisburg’s Melvin Dorta for the 4-3 lead

Roneberg had a sweet swing during the game but said he didn’t hone it with any pregame batting practice
“I didn’t do anything at all before the game” Roneberg said
“I didn’t hit, didn’t throw
I did a TV interview twenty minutes before the game started”

The night before, Roneberg spent much of the All Star Gala dancing with Curve general manager Todd Parnell during the Eddie Money concert
He even planted a kiss on “Parney’s” cheek
“Yeah, I gave him a big kiss on the cheek” Roneberg said with a laugh
“He’s Parney, he takes care of us all the time, we’ve got to be nice to him”

The front office staff’s hard work preparing for the game wasn’t lost on the Curve players and coaches, who were hoping for the best as the rain pelted BCB

“It just seems like good things happen to good people, and these guys do everything right” said Leiper, who managed the Southern Division team
“The night went off probably better than they expected, and they’re used to doing everything pretty good”

Greenberg admitted he endured lots of stress looking at the ugly radar all afternoon, but he’s thankful Mother Nature gave the franchise a break
“We knew what a wonderful event this was going to be, and we wanted our fans to be able to enjoy it” Greenberg said
“Not just our fans, but we so much looked forward to showing off the facility and the community and the feeling in this ballpark to the baseball world that it would have been such a shame not to have that opportunity”

Harrisburg’s Kip Bouknight helped save the short-handed Southern Division pitching staff by throwing three shutout innings
He earned the win and the praise of Leiper, who called him “the unsung hero”

Trenton’s Charlie Manning gave up the three runs in the sixth inning to take the loss

Bowie’s Marino Salas worked a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save

“It was a great game, some good defensive plays, some really good pitching” Leiper said
“It was a special day
When I think back about today, a lot of good memories”

Game Notes
Pond beat out an infield single in the second inning to finish 1-for-1, while Buttler was 0-for-3
Curve pitchers Landon Jacobsen and Brandon Knight did not play, by design
Jacobsen had a minor injury, while Leiper wanted to give Knight the day off
Harrisburg’s Melvin Dorta was 2-for-2, joining Roneberg as the only players with more than one hit
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Abreu tries for rare steal in EL All Star game
(from the Binghamton Mets web site)

Binghamton Mets first baseman Michel Abreu tried to add a new wrinkle to his game during Wednesday night's Eastern League All Star Game at Blair County Ballpark

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound slugger - who has ten home runs this season and batted clean-up last night for the Northern Division - twice attempted to steal second base during the second inning of his team's 5-3 loss to the host Southern Division in front of a All Star record 9,308 fans

Altoona left fielder Brett Roneberg provided the deciding hit, a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth inning with the Southern Division trailing, 3-2
He was named 'The Player of the Game', after going 3-for-5 with three RBI

With the Southern Division leading, 1-0, Abreu led off the second with an infield single between shortstop and third base off Erie pitcher Nate Bumstead
Though he hasn't stolen a base this season, Abreu broke for second, but had to return to first when Trenton right fielder Bronson Sardinha fouled off the pitch from Bumstead
Abreu tried again on the very next pitch, but Sardinha drew a walk
Abreu eventually scored the tying run on a double play ground out from New Hampshire catcher Curtis Thigpen

"I had the chance so I went for it" Abreu said of his attempt to steal second
"The coaches and managers told me if you want to go, go"

B-Mets teammate Jorge Padilla wasn't surprised by Abreu's attempt at a stolen base
"When he gets going he's got good speed" Padilla said
"Once in a while you'll see the big guy steal one"

New Britain shortstop Felix Molina and Trenton second baseman Gabe Lopez added RBI hits in the second, as the Northern Division sent nine batters to the plate and took a 3-1 lead

Abreu, a starter for the Northern Division, played through the top of the fifth inning
He finished 1 for 3, adding a strikeout in the third and a pop out to second in the fifth

Abreu was one of four Mets selected for last night's game

Padilla entered the game in left field as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the fifth inning and played the rest of the way
He popped out to second base with two runners on and nobody out in the top of the seventh inning, and grounded out to second base to end the game

"It was an unbelievable experience" Padilla said
"I had a lot of fun and met a lot of good ballplayers"

Reliever Ivan Maldonado entered the game with one runner on base and one out in the bottom of the eighth inning
He allowed two hits and his inherited runner to score, and retired one batter

Catcher Andy Wilson decided not to attend the game
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Aeros, Southern Division get win
Second baseman Torres a factor in 5-3 triumph
(from the Akron Aeros web site)

Akron Aeros pitcher Ronald ``Bear'' Bay leaned over the guard rail of the home dugout Wednesday night when the view caught him off guard
''I'm so used to that side over there,'' he said, pointing to the visiting dugout

Bay and three of his teammates - second baseman Eider Torres, infielder Kevin Kouzmanoff and pitcher Sean Smith - were taking part in a home game at Blair County Ballpark, of all places
The Akron players shared the dugout and clubhouse with the Altoona Curve, the hosts of Wednesday night's Eastern League All Star Game and the Aeros' biggest rival in the circuit

The Southern Division defeated the Northern Division 5-3

Torres was in the middle of the Southern Division's first run, singling on Portland pitcher Chris Smith's first offering
The speedy infielder stole second and scored when Altoona's Brett Roneberg, the game MVP, singled

The run gave Curve left-hander Shane Youman, who started the game, a 1-0 lead

Bay entered in the seventh and escaped a self-inflicted jam
He started the inning with a walk and a single, forced a popup and induced two fielder's choices to bridge a 4-3 lead to the last two innings

The Southern Division scored three runs in the sixth, highlighted by Roneberg's two-out, two-run single

Bowie's James Johnson pitched the eighth, while Baysox teammate Marino Salas saved the win before a crowd of 9,308, the largest All Star game crowd in Eastern League history

Torres batted three times
His second plate appearance went down as a fielder's choice after the Curve's Simon Pond was thrown out rounding third
He popped up in his third at-bat

Kouzmanoff batted five times and singled once, to left-center in the fifth inning
He struck out in the first, lined out in the third, flied out to left in the sixth and popped out in the eighth

Torres was removed after the fifth inning, while Smith didn't enter the game

It wasn't much of a surprise that Akron and Altoona players created the action, since both teams have been the division's elite
The Aeros swept the final three games of the 2000 regular season series to eliminate the Curve from the playoffs, then knocked Altoona out of the Southern Division postseason in 2003 and 2005

''It's like what Tim Leiper (the Altoona manager) said, when both these teams are playing, it's like its own all-star game'' Kouzmanoff said

In each year that Akron eliminated Altoona, the Aeros advanced to win the league championship

''I got a ring last year'' Bay said, ``and I'm itching for another one''

The way the first half of the season has shaped up, the Aeros will be in the mix for their third championship in four seasons
Naturally, Altoona will be the biggest obstacle
The Curve are only 1-1/2 games behind the Aeros
The series is tied at eight games apiece this year, with seven games left
Akron hosts a three game series July 17-19 and visits Altoona for a four-game set August 28-31, the next-to-last series of the season

''We haven't been playing our best baseball'' Smith said, ``so it's nice to get some rest and a little break''

Pitcher Youman spent all of last year with the Curve and is well aware of the battles the two teams have had
''They hit the ball out of the ballpark, get the runners over, steal bases, all the little things'' he said
''Those guys make you pitch"
''Of course,'' he added, ``I'm sure they say the same thing about our team''
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Altoona's Roneberg leads South to EL All Star win
(from the New Britain Rock Cats web site)

Brett Roneberg was 3-for-5 with three RBI, including a two-run single in the sixth, to give the Southern Division All Stars a 5-3 victory over the Northern Division in the Eastern League All-Star Game Wednesday before 9,308 in Altoona, Pa

Roneberg, who plays for the Altoona Curve, Pittsburgh's Double A affiliate, also had an RBI single in the first

Rock Cats infielder Felix Molina was 1-for-4 with an RBI, stolen base and a run in the third for the North as it scored three runs to take a 3-1 lead

The Rock Cats' Matt Garza and Glen Perkins (two strikeouts) each pitched a scoreless inning for the North

Defenders pitcher Billy Sadler had a strikeout and walk in a third of an inning, and was charged with a run when Cory Keylor scored the South's final run in the eighth
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Former Sea Dog steals show
(from the Portland Sea Dogs web site)

Brett Roneberg, who played for the Portland Sea Dogs and the Australian Olympic Silver Medalists in 2004, now holds another distinction - The 2006 Eastern League Star of Stars

Now in his second tour with the Altoona Curve, Roneberg delighted his hometown fans by delivering the winning hit, a two-run single in the sixth inning to give the Southern Division a 5-3 victory in the Eastern League All Star game before a Blair County Ballpark record crowd of 9,308

Roneberg, who was injured all of last season, went 3 for 5 and drove in three runs, including the two-run single to right off a Charlie Manning fastball to give the South a 4-3 lead

"It was a good time out there" Roneberg said
"The place went wild
It was fun out there
What can I say?"

It was the crowning moment in a back-and-forth game

"This game had just about everything" said Sea Dogs Manager Todd Claus, who managed the Northern Division, "except for a home run and an error"

The South scratched out a first-inning run off Chris Smith of the Sea Dogs, but the North bounced back with three in the second

All of the runs came off Nate Bumstead of Erie, who gave up a hit and two walks - one of them to Chad Spann of Portland - to fill the bases with none out
After Curtis Thigpen of New Hampshire grounded into a run-scoring double play, Bumstead allowed run-scoring singles by Felix Molina of New Britain and Gabe Lopez of Trenton, making it 3-1

Smith went two innings, giving up one run on three hits with a strikeout

The score held into the bottom of the sixth, helped by the scoreless fifth thrown by Mike MacDonald of New Hampshire, a Camden native
By that time the other Sea Dogs starters, Spann (0 for 1 with a walk) and Tyler Minges (0 for 2 with a walk) had come and gone

"Everyone's laid back" said Minges
"It's a big honor to be here
Everyone's having a good time
But if you're not competitive, you're not here"

The South regained the lead by roughing up Manning for three runs
Roneberg did the most damage

"I was just trying to see the ball" Roneberg said
"He left a curveball up in the middle of the plate that I could hit and I got two RBI
I'm glad I got the chance to do it"

Note
Sea Dogs Manager Todd Claus put on an acrobatic display in the third-base coach's box, dodging three sharp foul balls
He was struck by the first one, by Adam Lind of New Hampshire
After skipping over a shot by Thigpen, Claus disappeared into the dugout, then emerged with a batting helmet, much to the delight of the crowd
"I don't know how much dancing I did" Claus said
"I got hit with the first one, then I started playing dodgeball after that"
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Altoona's Brett Roneberg pumped up the hometown fans by plating three runs for 'MVP' honors as the South Division All Stars rallied Wednesday night to beat their Northern counterparts, 5-3, in the Eastern League Midsummer Classic at Blair County Ballpark

Keylor, South All-Stars beat North, 5-3
(from the Bowie Baysox web site)

A night after the major leaguers of today put on an exciting exhibition at their All Star Game, the major leaguers of tomorrow followed suit in Altoona

The Southern Division All Stars got three runs in the bottom of the sixth and hold on to beat the North, 5-3 at Blair County Ballpark on Wednesday night

The Baysox had four representatives on the Southern Division Roster
James Johnson, who leads the Baysox in wins with eight, and closer Marino Salas, who leads the Baysox with sixteen saves were the two Bowie pitchers elected to the game
Baysox outfielders Cory Keylor, who started in right field, and Noah Hall were the two Baysox position players to represent the South in 2006

The crowd at Blair County Ballpark was pleased to see the Southern Division, of which the Altoona Curve is a member of, get out to an early 1-0 lead off an RBI single by hometown outfielder, Brett Roneberg

However, the North would come back and take the lead in the next half inning by scoring three runs off of Erie SeaWolves pitcher, Nate Bumstead
Bumstead, who recorded just two outs in the game, threw just fourty-one pitches before being replaced

The North held the lead until the bottom of the sixth inning, where the South scored three times
Both Baysox position players who made the All Star team were right in the middle of the rally
After Salomon Manriquez grounded out to start the inning, Gary Burnham doubled and then Keylor singled and drove in a run to cut the North lead to 3-2
Melvin Dorta then doubled, putting runners at second and third
Baysox OF Noah Hall, then stepped to the plate and drew and walk, loading the bases
Brett Roneberg came through in the next at bat for the South by singling and driving in Keylor and Dorta, to give the South the go-ahead 4-3 lead

The South tacked one run on to their lead in the bottom of the eighth, when Keylor drew a lead off walk
He was driven in by Noah Hall, who had a bloop single fall in just out of reach of the diving attempt of North OF Denard Span

The Baysox arms sent to Altoona were responsible for getting the final six outs

James Johnson came on to pitch in relief in the eighth inning, and pitched a very effective inning, only surrendering a 2-out bloop single to Curtis Thigpen, while striking out one

“I was just trying to have fun with it and enjoy my time out there
The fact that it was a one-run game means maybe I was a little more focused” said Johnson on his appearance

Marino Salas came on in the top of the ninth, in his usual closer’s role
He got all three Northern Division batters out in order, to record the save for the South

Keylor finished 1 for 3, with an RBI and a walk, while playing all nine innings
“Tim Leiper came up to me yesterday and said you may play all nine innings, you may get a CG out there” said Keylor

Hall finished 1 for 1, also picking up an RBI and a walk
After his perfect night at the plate, Hall looked back on the experience and was very positive
“It’s a very humbling experience to play in an All Star game
Not many guys get to make it this far, and to make an All Star game and play in it, is an accomplishment at any level”

As for the second half of the Baysox season, the Baysox All Stars were very optimistic
“Our team is looking strong, we’re hitting the ball, and scoring runs so things should be interesting” said Johnson
The Baysox will kick off the second half of the season Thursday in Binghamton

Notes
Tyler Green, former major league pitcher (Philadelphia Phillies), won the Celebrity Home Run Derby prior to the game
The crowd of 9,308 was a record for a game at Blair County Ballpark
Brett Roneberg of Altoona was the MVP of the game
Roneberg was 3 for 5 on the night with 3 RBIs
He became the second Curve player to win the All-Star game MVP award, following Jeff Keppinger in 2004
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All Star Wrapups - Eastern League
A rundown of all the midseason minor league All Star Games

Altoona outfielder Brett Roneberg's two-out single in the sixth inning provided the go-ahead runs needed as the South All Stars beat the North club 5-3 in the fourth annual Eastern League All Star game

Roneberg, later named MVP, had three singles in five at-bats on the night, with 3 RBI's

After scoring a run in the bottom half of the first inning, the South All Star crew relinquished the lead in the second as the North scored three runs off Erie's Nate Bumstead

However, Roneberg's sixth inning rally, and three shutout innings from Kip Bouknight, led the South club to victory
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The following article appeared on this web site ...

... and click on the above logo to go to the Official site

NOTE - you can click here to see the article below in it's original format on the "MLN SPORTS - Sports Zone" web site

Brett Roneberg steals the show at the Eastern League All-Star game
Will this be the building block that he needs to put his career back on track to the Majors?

How fantastic! How fitting!

Only those cynics in the house, which counted out to a Blair County Ballpark record crowd of 9,308, would have found something fishy about local favorite Brett Roneberg's Eastern League All Star game heroics

Roneberg, infielder for the host Altoona Curve, authored a memorable night, batting 3-for-5, and delivering the game winning hit that lifted the Southern Division squad to a 5-3 triumph over the Northern All Stars

Digging in against Trenton's top flight reliever, Charlie Manning, with two out in the sixth inning, Roneberg whaled a curveball into right field, bringing in a pair of runs and helping the South erase a 3-1 lead that the North had clung to since the top of the second

The shot produced a full scale eruption in the gleaming ball park that was carved into the Pennsylvania hillside back in 1999

It also turned the spotlight of the EL showcase on Roneberg, the local hero who hails from Trinity Beach, Australia, a memory to last him a lifetime

His charge lead the South's attack, wresting away from the North what would have been its third victory in the fourth year the Eastern League has staged its own game

It also robbed Trenton second baseman Gabe Lopez, unofficially called the "Star of Stars" of an MVP award

Lopez, a solid New York Yankee prospect, put on a dazzling display all over the right side of the diamond

Drawing oohs and ahs from the throng in the bottom of the sixth, he ranged to his right to snag a grounder by Salomon Manriquez of the Harrisburg Senators
As his momentum carried him past second base, Lopez unleashed a rocket to first to nail Manriquez by a step

"I said, 'I've got to get on top of this'" said Lopez, who also contributed at the plate, going 1-for-3 with an RBI
"That's how I did it
It was a good play"

He followed that spectacular play with another in the eighth
Hustling to cover first, Lopez snagged a throw barehanded from pitcher Ivan Maldonado of the Binghamton Mets to salvage a botched coverage

It was enough to draw raves from Northern manager Todd Claus of the Portland Sea Dogs
"That would be in the major league 'Top 10' of the year" he said
"An unbelievable play
I can't remember seeing a barehanded play like that
You see barehanded plays on the run, but not where guys are actually receiving the ball
It was just a very athletic, instinctive play and he's such a scrappy player
We hate seeing him when Trenton comes to Portland"

Said Lopez, "I was in a hurry and there was no way I was getting it with my glove
It would have to come across my body
So I thought, 'what the heck. I'll try it.' It worked out alright, huh?"

It was part of a highlight reel in an All Star contest that was chocked full of great moments

Still, there was no upstaging Roneberg, whose game-winner seemed as though it was just meant to be

In a baseball sense, it seemed Roneberg's baseball life might have been cut short last year, when he sat out the entire 2005 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff

This came just as he had enjoyed the best year of a decade-long career, which included his first EL All Star selection when he played for the Portland Sea Dogs, not to mention the Olympic Silver Medal that he collected with the Aussies in Greece in 2004

Still, to be forced give up the baseball dream would have been a shame

For all his Double-A success, Roneberg still hasn't made it to the big leagues
In fact, he has played in just three Triple-A games

"I wasn't sure what was going to happen this year" said Roneberg
"But things have been going pretty good, and now I'm getting rewarded
I'm out here every day, and trying to get better
Trying to get up there, whether that would be Triple-A or even the big leagues
Hopefully things will pay off"
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From Sharon - aka Mum

Subject - Roneberg Rules!!
I like that heading!!
When I got home tonight I was able to listen to all your at bats - it was fantastic!!
Another great idea by Dad!! - he had taped all your at-bats and highlights!! - I was really thrilled!!
It was also fun to sit down and read all the nice things said about you
I cannot wait to see the All Star Game DVD
I clicked onto the audio link that Dad sent you and listened about ten times!
So glad you had such a great day!
Lots of proud Motherly Love
Mum

From Tanya (text)

CONGRATS on gr8 game and well deserved MVP
Dad rang me 4 each at bat - it was fab to hear!
Am very proud of you little bro...

From Gavin, Jane, Kate and Adam Roneberg

How fantastic is that!!
Brett (and you) must be so pleased with the MVP!!
Well done - please pass on our congratulations
Thanks for the updates - they are greatly appreciated

From Anne Kippin

What a great game he had and what nice things everyone said about him
Just bursting with pride in 'Our Boy'
Thanks for the link
Anne

Hi Brett
Congratulations on the 'MVP'
I was pretty stoked when I heard that you had been selected for the All Star Game and was over the moon when your Mum rang to tell me she had sent the link to the story on the website and you had been named 'MVP'
I was just about to have an NQ Baseball meeting with Jenny Warnock, Kerry Ahlberg and the Schultes in Townsville
Told them the big news but I hadn't read all the details then
They were very excited and impressed and all said to send their congratulations and best wishes
Since then I have read all the reports on the website and YOU DID GOOD!
Congratulations again
I am very proud of 'My Boy'
Big kiss and a hug when you get home
Love, Anne

From Australian Major League Baseball
Peter Flintoff and Adrian Dunn
Click on this logo--to go to their Official Web Site

Roneberg Eastern League All Star MVP
'Flintoff & Dunn send our hearty congratulations to Aussie favourite Brett Roneberg who put some icing on a splendid "bounce-back year" following his shoulder surgery in 2005
Brett was named MVP of the 'AA' Eastern League All-Star Game to the delight of his home team fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate Altoona Curve

From Ed Leipold - 'Diehard' #1 Curve Fan!!

Well Geoff
Just got back from the ballyard, and what a fun night it was
The weather cooperated - great night for baseball
Biggest crowd in BCB history - over 9300 fans
The Southern Division won 5-3, and best of all, Brett was "MVP"!!
3 hits and 3 RBIs, including the winning run!!
And our starting pitcher, Shane Youman was "Pitcher Of The Game"!!
What more could a Curve fan ask?
The Curve organization wanted to show off for all of baseball
Our stadium, our players, our fans, and just what the Curve baseball experience is all about, and I think they did just that
I will round up some clippings, and some All Star stuff and send them to you
Sunday is the next photo and autograph day, and I mentioned to Brett, (who was the pre-game radio guest today) that I wanted to get a pic of the two of us to send to you, and he's game for it
Enjoy the moment Geoff
It was, as I said, a great night for the Ronebergs, and Curve baseball
Take care, Ed

From Kip and Darlene Lewis - Curve Fans

Hey Geoff
Wow!!
Quite a show that Roneberg kid put on last night, huh?
It was pretty neat hearing the crowd chanting 'MVP' when he came to bat the last time
I got some photos - Brett's introduction before the game, a 'pitiful' scoreboard shot, and six shots of his two run single
Also, we're packing up the Altoona Mirror sports sections and they'll be loaded aboard the next clipper ship headed your way!
Talk to you later, Kip

From Dave Cairns

Hi Geoff
Please pass on my congratulations to Brett on his awesome success this year
This is surely capped off by his performance in the All Star game
After his hard work to come back this year it must prove that it was all worthwhile
Wish him the best for me
Dave Cairns
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