All-Star Game a first for Northwest League

“Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.”

The opening of Rudyard Kipling’s famous poem will be temporarily disproved tonight in Spokane, when East will indeed meet West for the first time.

As a 50th birthday present to itself, the Northwest League will pause from its pennant races for a special night of fun, celebration and top-notch baseball.

Premier players from the four teams in the East Division will square off against the elite from the four-team West Division in what is billed as the first All-Star Game in league history.

“We’ve never done anything like this, and the league has never done anything like this, so it’s really pretty exciting,” said Spokane Indians president Andy Billig.

Two hours before the 7 p.m. start at Avista Stadium, one slugger from each NWL team will compete in a home run derby. The winner will pocket $500 and earn $1,000 for a charity in his team’s hometown.

Spokane’s participant in the derby will be catcher Mike Nickeas, who has hit eight home runs thus far and leads the Indians with a batting average of .338. The derby field will include Eugene’s Colt Morton, who leads the league with 12 homers and a slugging percentage of .656.

East manager Darryl Kennedy of Spokane and West manager Joe Strain of Salem-Keizer will be in charge of 24-man rosters comprised of six players from each team. Each team will carry 10 pitchers, two catchers, seven infielders and five outfielders.

“I’m going to make out the (starting) lineup according to their stats,” Kennedy said. “I’m just going to put out there whoever’s had a better year so far.”

Kennedy said he planned to wait until just before the game to announce his lineup and starting pitcher.

Besides Nickeas, Spokane’s All-Star representatives are right-handed pitchers Jarrad Burcie, Jessie Ingram and John Bannister, and infielders Travis Metcalf (nine homers and 34 runs batted in) and Tug Hulett. Through Saturday, Burcie, Ingram and Bannister were all undefeated for the Indians, who lead the league in team earned-run average.

Players to watch from the East team include: Yakima second baseman Erik Schindewolf, the league leader in walks and runs scored; Tri-City third baseman Matt Macri, hitting .350 and the NWL leader in RBIs; Boise outfielder Luis Montanez, No. 2 in league batting and total hits; Tri-City right-hander Jim Miller, the league leader in saves; and Yakima right-hander A.J. Shappi, whose 0.77 earned-run average tops the NWL.

“Shappi has had a terrific season for us,” said Bears general manager Bob Romero. “In his last two starts, he has thrown six scoreless innings and eight scoreless innings.”

Vancouver outfielder Javier Herrera, the NWL leader in hits and batting average, will spark the West team with Eugene slugger Morton. Everett third baseman Brandon Green, tied with Metcalf for No. 2 in league RBIs; Salem-Keizer outfielder Brian Horwitz (.338); and Eugene right-hander Vern Sterry, one of the league’ top strikeout pitchers, should also shine for the West.

The Indians distributed fliers at each NWL ballpark to publicize the event. Reserved bench tickets were still available with the game a few days away, at a cost of $5 for adults and $4 for children. Call the Indians’ office, 535-2922, for information.

“As we planned this event we decided we wouldn’t charge more for this game, which would otherwise by the standard for this type of game or playoff game,” Billig said.

Billig stressed that the game won’t become an annual event, even if it’s a huge success. The idea probably wouldn’t have germinated, except league officials wanted a big blowout to mark the league’s gold anniversary.

The festive evening will include expanded pre-game introductions; radio announcers from other NWL teams sharing the booth with Indians broadcaster Bob Robertson; media coverage from half of the league’s cities; and honored guests including NWL president Bob Richmond and minor-league baseball secretary/general counsel Scott Poley.