West defeats East in Camden Co. duel

Call it the offense from the Wild West in Sunday evening's Camden County baseball All-Star Game at Eastern.

Trailing by 10-3 entering the bottom of the ninth inning, the West team exploded for nine runs in a 12-10 victory over the East.

The participants were seniors who live in Camden County.

Bishop Eustace righthander Kevin Casey hit and pitched his West team to victory. Casey's home run in the ninth broke a 10-10 tie and, he also pitched two innings, allowing one run to earn the win.

"It was really wild," Casey said. "I've never been part of a comeback like that."

Lost in the excitement was the performance of East starter John-Adam Benkert of Highland, who pitched three scoreless innings of one-hit ball.

Steven Melchiorre of Hammonton hit a three-run home run for the East. Also for the East, third baseman Chris Maul of Winslow Township was 3 for 4 with two runs and an RBI.

Casey, along with Bishop Eustace's Chris Branigan and Collingswood's Ray Kraus, each had two hits and two RBIs for the West.

Pennsauken's Diego Melendez, Paul VI's Brian Workman, Cherry Hill West's Joe Calogero, and Haddon Township's Tyler Smith each pitched one scoreless inning for the West.