Mon-Clair, Clinton County Leagues set for annual all-star game

Making his Mon-Clair League-Clinton County League All-Star Game managerial debut, Keith Wallace of the St. Louis Spikes has an interesting approach heading into the annual amateur baseball battle at GCS Ballpark.

And for Wallace, it’s not all about winning.

“I don’t see this being so much about winning the game, but rather a chance for us to come out here and showcase the best players in the Mon-Clair League,” Wallace said. “It’s a chance for us as a league to come out and showcase the best amateur baseball league in the St. Louis area.

“When I look up and down our roster, we’ve got the great hitting and what I believe may be the best all-star pitching staff in a long time. From our perspective, I don’t expect our pitching to give up many runs.’’

Fans from the metro-east and St. Louis areas will have the opportunity to see that talent for themselves when players from the two top amateur baseball leagues tangle at 3 p.m. at GCS Ballpark in Sauget.

The all-star game is just part of a full afternoon and evening of baseball at GCS Ballpark. Following the all-star game will be the unveiling of a new Hall of Fame exhibit starting at 6 p.m., on what the Gateway Grizzlies are calling Hall of Fame Night at GCS Ballpark.

Being honored are the four members of the 2015 Mon-Clair League Hall of Fame class -- Ted Daniels, Dennis Schutzenhofer, Neil Fiala and Mark Forchee.

The Grizzlies will then take on the Frontier Greys in a Frontier League game beginning at 7 p.m. Ticket price for the All-Star game is $5, which also will be good for a general-admission ticket to the Grizzlies’ game. Tickets for the Grizzlies’ game may be upgraded for the difference in its cost.

All-star players, coaches, managers, board members, and coordinators will get in free. Family members and friends will pay $5. Attending Hall of Fame members will receive two free tickets.

Led by all-star game most valuable players Dan Munoz (Mon-Clair League) and Brian Dinkelman (Clinton County), the two teams fought to a 10-inning 11-all tie last year

The Mon-Clair League has dominated the all-star game since the two leagues began playing on a yearly basis in 2006, winning seven of nine times. The Clinton County won its only game in 2011, beating the Mon-Clair League 10-4.

The two teams fought to a 7-all-tie in 2007 with Mon-Clair winning the title in a home-run derby. But for the most part, the Mon-Clair League has had the upper hand.

“They (Mon-Clair League) have beaten us quite a few times, but the games have all been pretty competitive,’’ Clinton County League and Trenton manager Tom Ritzheimer said. “Of course you want to come out here and represent your team and your league well. But being on the all-star team is an honor and it’s supposed to be fun. I’m just going to get each of the pitchers in for an inning and try and get everybody at least a couple of at-bats.’’

Ritzheimer was still undecided on who will get the starting assignment for the Clinton County League. Wallace will go with his own ace Trae Lee (5-0, 2.33) ERA.

Pitching may be a key for both teams. Both leagues have a full slate of games scheduled for Sunday, meaning both managers must be careful in how they handle their staffs.

“I am not making any excuses, but it’s been a little difficult trying to find players who are available to play,’’ Ritzheimer said. “People are working or have other commitments on Saturday and with our league playing on Sunday, you’re asking people to give up two days in a row to play ball.

“For a lot of us it worked better when we had the game on Wednesday. We don’t want this game to have an affect on the league race. That’s why we’ll go with each of our pitchers for an inning and we’ll keep an eye on their pitch counts.’’

This story was originally published July 17, 2015 at 6:19 PM with the headline "Mon-Clair, Clinton County Leagues set for annual all-star game."