Easton Carmichael (Oklahoma) and Ethan Petry (South Carolina) each left Guv Fuller Field in Falmouth with one extra bat than when they arrived at the 2024 Cape League All-Star Game on Saturday.
Petry mashed 12 home runs with five in each of the first two rounds and a pair in the five out “swing-off” against Wareham’s Nate Early en route to being crowned the Home Run Contest champion with a silver bat. Carmichael took home a golden bat graced with the title, “Most Valuable Player” after his 3-for-3 performance.
Carmichael reached base four times and scored three runs in the 33rd annual East versus West All-Star Game which took place at Guv Fuller Field for the first time since 2003. Carmichael opened the scoring and gave the East an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first when he drove in Petry with an RBI single.
Carmichael walked and later scored in the third, roped a single in the fifth and aggressively took extra bases for a double in the seventh. The Oklahoma star began the game as the designated hitter but also played catcher and first base for East Division manager Scott Pickler.
No West Division pitcher was able to get Carmichael out as he tallied three hits in a game for the second time this summer. Carmichael said he was able to reconnect with former teammates, opponents and “build connections” with the teammates he spent all Saturday with. ‘‘Y-D sweeps the East Division honors,” Carmichael said.
“That was sweet,” Carmichael said. “I'm sure it goes down a list of some big names so to be a part of that is definitely a blessing and honor.”
Petry showered the scores of children in left field with baseballs as he hit towering blasts that sailed over the scoreboard. Petry also cleared the rows of people beyond the wall with one particular blast that reached the road which runs along the field over 400 feet from home plate.
Petry hoisted his new bat skyward in celebration after he took down some of the top sluggers in the Cape League to ignite a dominant night for Y-D. In a true embodiment of his character, Petry’s first choice after posing for pictures was to celebrate with his five fellow Red Sox All-Stars.
“I’m just so grateful for the opportunity and I just love being out here with a bunch of great guys and meeting new guys is always a pleasure,” Petry said after competing in his first ever Home Run Contest. “These are fantastic baseball players so I'm just happy I got an opportunity to play here and hit in the home run derby, so it's just a blessing and I'm so grateful for it.”
The Red Sox featured four pitchers during the 9-8 walk-off win for the West Division as Sean Youngerman (Oklahoma State), Trevor Moore (Stanford), Aiven Cabral (Northeastern) and Ryan Sprock (Elon) combined for no earned runs.
Youngerman pitched the fourth inning and two unearned runs came across, Moore struck out a pair in a scoreless sixth inning, Cabral exited with a clean ledger and Sprock got an out in the bottom of the ninth before the West brought home the winning run.
Moore entered the All-Star Game as the Cape League saves leader and was one of two East Division pitchers to tally more than one strikeout. The four Y-D arms combined for four punch outs and Moore said he was able to appreciate each moment on Friday as part of a special experience.
“I've never pitched an All-Star game before so it was pretty fun,” Moore said. “I had a great time the whole day. Even the BP was fun and the BP is always boring, but it was fun. The Home Run Derby was awesome. I enjoyed doing the autographs… I really enjoyed the whole day. Pitching was awesome, watching the rest of the game was great so it was overall a good day for sure.”
