Grays players shine at all-star game

​Andrew Houghton 7/17/13

Even though the Ripken League all-star game doesn’t confer home field advantage on the winner, the Grays players were taking the game no less seriously than the MLB players had the night before.  “It’s great to be named an all-star in such a prestigious league, and I just wanted to go out there and give a hundred and fifty percent”, said Grays catcher Cody Walker (Mississippi State), who started the game for the South Division team.

The accolades for the Grays started even before the game did as outfielder Greg Olenski (Delaware) won the home run derby, hitting three bombs in the first round and two in the finals to take home the crown.

The successes didn’t stop when the game started as Walker singled and scored in the first to give the South Division the lead.  In the third, he just got under one, flying out to the warning track in left to end his day.

The Grays pitchers were similarly successful as first Mitchell Leeds (Lafayette), and then Henry Sisson (North Carolina) pitched a scoreless inning to hold the South Division lead.

Olenski entered the game late in left field and showed no ill effects from his derby victory, as his first at-bat produced a scorching line drive that was unfortunately snared by the North Division third baseman.  He struck out in the ninth, but by that time the South Division had already wrapped up their 4-1 victory, a victory helped in no small way by the contributions of the Grays players.

The Grays would like to congratulate Cody Walker, Greg Olenski, Mitch Leeds, and Henry Sisson on their all-star selections and performances.