The Cedar Rapids Kernels and the city of Cedar Rapids hosted this year's Midwest League All-Star Game festivities and all four Kernels players on the Western Division roster played big roles before the festivities concluded.The Eastern Division stars notched a come-from-behind 11-10 victory in what could only be described as an entertaining ballgame.

 

Kernels pitcher Sam Clay got the start for the West stars and notched a 1-2-3 inning in the first inning, completing it with a strikeout.

 

Cedar Rapids' second baseman Luis Arraez led off the bottom of the second with a single and team mate LaMonte Wade reached on a hit-by-pitch to start the home half of the first. Both players came around to score, giving the West the first two runs of the game.

 

Kernels catcher AJ Murray, who participated in the pregame Home Run Derby, entered the game about halfway through the contest and went to the opposite field for a two-run blast that put his team up 10-7 in the bottom of the seventh inning.

 

That's probably all you need to know about the game itself, but I'll add a number of pictures from the festivities on Monday and Tuesday.

 

A lot of work goes into putting on one of these events and big time kudos go out to the entire Kernels staff (augmented with staff from the Northwoods League's Waterloo Bucks front office) for putting on a first class show.

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• More than half of the Midwest League's team mascots made the trip to Cedar Rapids. My daughter commented afterwards, "It was like Mr Shucks had a party and got to invite all his friends."
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• As the manager of the Western Division Champions from a year ago, Kernels manager Jake Mauer was at the helm for the Western Division All-Stars
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• Kernels pitcher Sam Clay worked a perfect first inning for the West squad.
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• Luis Arraez had a pair of hits for the West squad. Here he's fist-bumped by Kernels coach Brian Dinkelman.
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• LaMonte Wade had one hit in two at bats and was hit by a pitch.
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• AJ Murray strokes a 2-run home run for the West stars in the 7th inning.
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• AJ Murray (left) and Sam Clay (11) take in the postgame fireworks with the rest of the crowd.
• All photos by SD Buhr

 

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Thanks for the recap, I wanted to come to this but you can only go on so many trips...the Saints are hosting the American Association All-Star Game in August so that will be fun!

Great article and pictures.  Thanks for sharing this.