By Jeremy Buch

The South Florida Collegiate Baseball League had its 6th Annual All-Star Game on Sunday at the Florida Atlantic University baseball stadium. 68 players were selected as All-Stars this summer; 35 from the South Division and 33 from the North Division. The game was filled with many MLB prospects as scouts came out to evaluate the players to get a jump on the 2018 MLB Draft. The South defeated the North 7-6 after a 4-run rally in the 7th inning in front of a large crowd that filled both the left and right field berms. The winning pitcher from the South was Braxton Bennett (Eastern Arizona University) from the South Florida Huskies and the losing pitcher from the North was Dan Taggert (Adelphi University) from the Delray Beach Lightning.

The South Division All-Stars and Pompano Beach Clippers Head Coach Neil Andreoli said the All-Star Game is something he looks forward to being a part of every year. “I am honored to coach such a great, talented group of young men. I know that a lot of these players have the potential to reach the next level”.

Boca Raton Blazers shortstop David Vasquez was selected to play for the North Division. He was drafted in the 37th Round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks and will attend N.C. State this upcoming year. “I am humbled by the All-Star Game selection, it will be a true test of my skills to play against the best in the league”.

Pompano Beach Clippers outfielder Cole Haring was chosen to play for the South Division. Cole was also drafted in this year’s MLB Draft in the 37th Round by the Baltimore Orioles and he will be a junior at Baylor University in Texas. “It’s awesome to be selected to play in the All-Star Game, especially when you are surrounded by great players and a great coach. This selection really means a lot because it shows that my hard work is paying off and I am getting better”.

Coral Springs Royals shortstop Luis Guerrero (Miami Dade College) was on the South Division All-Stars, “It is an honor to be selected especially coming out of high school. This league has given so much to me, especially getting me used to college level pitching”. Guerrero had two stolen bases in the South’s 7-6 win. He has hit for a .338 average with a league leading 6 home runs and 23 RBIs. Watch out for his name to be called in the 2018 MLB Draft as he was a sought after prospect in this years draft.

Boca Raton Blazers pitcher Frank Frate (Walsh University) was selected to play for the North Division. “I was so excited to pitch, I was able to throw a strong inning of work against the South Division. This league has done so much to help me improve and I couldn’t be more grateful”. Frate has a record of 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA through 8 games this summer.

South Florida Huskies infielder Dave Snider (University of St. Francis) played for the South Division All-Stars. He started the 4-run rally for the South in the 7th inning with a leadoff walk. “I was just trying to get on base, get my team back in the game”. Snider was the life of the dugout keeping everyone right despite a rough start to the game. “I was trying to hype up my team, you play the best baseball when you relax and have fun”.

The South Florida Collegiate League gives out an MVP award to both teams at the end of the All-Star Game. Pompano Beach Clippers shortstop Richie Nizza (Florida Atlantic University) won the award for the South and Palm Beach Xtreme outfielder Connor Rowland (Palm Beach Atlantic) won MVP for the North. Richie was happy to be back at FAU, “I felt great to be back at my home stadium, and it was awesome to win MVP despite not starting for my team at the beginning of the game”. Connor was honored to receive MVP, “I owe so much to this league, it has been a part of my collegiate baseball career since the beginning. I just tried to go out there and play the best baseball I could and getting the first hit of the game was such a confidence boost for me”.