Licking, Knox all-stars able to showcase upperclass, underclass talent
MOUNT VERNON — All-star baseball games aren't just for seniors anymore.
On Monday at Mount Vernon Nazarene, graduated standouts teamed up with future talent in the Tom Craze Memorial All-Star Game between Licking and Knox County. The host team rallied from a 4-1 deficit for a 9-5 victory, erupting for eight runs in its final two at bats.
The game was named after the late Fredericktown and Granville baseball coach, with his brother and nephew coming from Texas to throw out the first pitch. Proceeds from the game went to Warrior Bags, which provides tote bags and care packages to cancer patients.
Two of the brightest stars for Licking County will return next season. Junior Garrett Grinstead of Johnstown won the home run derby, while Newark Catholic sophomore Bryan McAnally was named MVP for Licking, which started five seniors, two juniors, a sophomore and two freshmen.
It took Grinstead a little while to get going in the 90-degree heat, but he saved the best for last. After hitting just two homers in the first round, he clouted five in the second and four in the third.
"I got my timing down after the first round, and my confidence grew as I went along," he said.
McAnally went 3-for-3, smacking a double and two singles with two RBI in a losing cause.
"I just freed up my mind, and that's the way I should play all the time," he said. "Towards the end of the year, I kind of struggled."
Licking County struck for three runs in the second inning. Licking Heights senior Ethan Francis was hit by a pitch, and scored when the right fielder dropped a fly ball by Granville freshman Ezra Kurek. McAnally ripped an RBI double to left-center, and Granville senior Dylan Andrews grounded a run-scoring single to left.
After a solo homer by Mount Vernon's Konner Daugherty cut the deficit to 3-1, Licking went up 4-1 in the fourth when Kurek walked, stole second and rode home on McAnally's single to right. But Knox stormed back in the fifth, scoring four times without a hit by combining two walks and a hit batter with two Licking County errors.
Leading 5-4, Knox put the game away in the sixth as MVP Rider Minnick of Highland, who will play for Mount Vernon Nazarene, had an RBI single, Highland teammate Zach Pinkerton drilled a two-run double and Centerburg's Grayson Reynolds delivered a sacrifice fly. Watkins Memorial junior Sam Johnson singled home a run for Licking in the seventh.
Johnson doubled and singled and Utica junior Roman Gamble also doubled for Licking County. Granville senior Andrew Nemec, who pitched a perfect game at nearby Mount Vernon High School, threw two scoreless innings, while NC senior Shae Mummey didn't allow a run in his inning pitched. Watkins seniors Connor Parsons and Cullen McFarland, along with Francis, also pitched for Licking, with McFarland taking the loss.
"We had someone from every team represented, and everyone was a first-teamer (All-Licking County League)," said John Cannizzaro of Cardinal Division champ NC, who coached the team along with Don Schone of Buckeye Division champion Watkins. "Our teams are rivals during the season, but they respect and like each other."
Players have already embarked on summer baseball with their various travel teams. Grinstead is on an Ohio Bison 18-and-under team that includes teammate Clay Bruning and NC's Tanner Elwell, Nate Ferrell, Mason Hackett and Eli Morris.
McAnally plays for the Cincinnati Flames, which competes in tournaments in Florida, Georgia and Indianapolis.
"It seems like I hitter better against better competition," he said. "This is where I get most of my improvement. I take it really serious."
Despite the loss, the players seemed to enjoy going up against their neighboring rivals, and it looks to be an annual event.
"It's a good event here, and next year, we'll host it somewhere in Licking County," Cannizzaro said.
"It's fun to hang out with these guys, and to play baseball with them against this kind of competition," Grinstead said. "A lot of us will probably be back here next year."
dweidig@gannett.com
740-704-7973
Twitter: @noz75
Instagram: @dfweidig
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Licking, Knox all-stars able to showcase upperclass, underclass talent
