East all-stars top West 6-3 in Midwest League action

CLINTON, IA - Kane County pitcher Kenny Smalley pitched a perfect first inning and Cougars teammate Steve Kleen led off the fourth with a towering home run, but it wasn't enough to stop the Midwest League's Eastern Division All-Stars from pounding out a 6-3 victory in the league's 45th All-Star classic Tuesday night.

Jason Christian and Jerremy Barfield of Kane County also chipped in with singles, but it was a three-run round-tripper run from West Michigan's Ron Bourquin that gave the East a 5-0 advantage in the bottom of the fourth, and the West team never recovered.

Jamie Richmond of the Cougars was tagged for a total of 4 runs and 6 hits in that frame, but the loss went to Cedar Rapids' Tyler Chatwood.

Ft. Wayne's Anthony Bass was credited with the win, with help from Ft. Wayne's Sawyer Carroll, who collected four singles, scored a run and had a pair of steals to win the game's Star of Stars Award.

Since the game began it's East-West format in 1995, the East has won 10 of the 15 games played. Eastern Stars have also won seven of the last nine contests.

The Cougars resume play on Thursday when they begin a four-game series at Quad Cities. They'll return home for four more against Peoria when the second half of the home schedule starts on June 30 at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva.