Classic baseball
Bronco, Pony stars play in mid-season game
Nate Smolke and Travis Whirley struck out nine batters in four innings of work to lead the American League over the National League 13-3 in the 48th annual Brainerd Parks and Recreation Department's Bronco League Mid-Season Classic at Bane Park on Sunday.
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Smolke edged Whirley for American League MVP honors. Smolke struck out five batters and finished with two singles, three RBI and two stolen bases. Whirley fanned six of the seven batters he faced while finishing with a base hit, two RBI and a stolen base.
Robbie Veith also helped propel the American League as he finished 2-for-2 with a single and triple, walked once, scored two runs, stole a base and had an RBI. Also for the American League, Cory Henningson was 2-2 with a double and James Anderson doubled.
Taylor Bateman earned National League MVP laurels by going 2-2.
Bronco pitcher Travis Whirley delivered a pitch in the Brainerd Parks and Recreation's Mid-Season Classic at Bane Park Sunday. Whirley faced seven batters and recorded six strikeouts in the two innings he pitched.
Skyler Murrary struck out four batters for the National League.
PONY LEAGUE
Nick Jelacie won the inaugural Pony League home run derby and also earned National League MVP honors in the fourth annual Brainerd Parks and Recreation Department's Pony League Mid-Season Classic at Bane Park on Sunday.
Jelacie hit two home runs in the home run derby. He also stroked a two-run homer to lift the National League over the American League 8-6. Chris Whichello added two base hits for the National League.
Austin Schmolke (right) was congratulated by teammates after hitting a home run in the first inning of the Pony League Mid-Season Classic Sunday at Bane Park.
Austin Schmolke earned American League MVP honors by smacking a two-run homer and collecting a base hit in two plate appearances. He also struck out four batters and didn't allow a run in two innings of work.
Aaron Salo doubled and, after Schmolke's two-run blast, Chris Smolke stroked a solo home run to give the American League an early lead. Salo and Smolke also picked up base hits later in the game.
The National League's Joe Cutkay and Blake Herron each struck out four batters in two innings of pitching. Landon Stanfield also had two hits for the National League.