The Northern League defeated the Golden Baseball League 9-3 in the International Minor League All-Star Game at Hi Corbett Field on Wednesday night. CF Jason James of the Rockford RiverHawks was named MVP after going two-for-three with a double, run scored and two RBI for the NL.

The Northern League got off to a fast start, with the first five batters of the game all reaching on a hit. The NL would score three earned runs off GBL starter Wes Etheridge, matching the number the right-hander has allowed in his first 43 innings in regular season play this season. The NL would add a run in the second inning and again in the third to take a 5-0 lead on 3B Brad Corell’s solo shot to left.

The Golden Baseball League fought back in the fourth when RF Timothy Rodriguez singled, stole second and was driven in by C Mike Rose. J.J. Sherrill drew a pinch hit walk in the fifth and would later come around to score on an RBI single to left by 2B Jimmy Rohan to make the score 5-2. 3B Ramos Amos hit a bases-loaded triple down the right field line for the NL in the seventh to open up a 9-2 lead.

The box score was full at the end of the night, with a total of 45 players seeing action.

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Jacob Blackwood - 1-2, R
Keanon Simon - 0-1, R
Jim Fasano - 0-1, R
Brian Joynt - 0-2
Andrew Cruse - W, 2IP, H, SO
Ryan Knippschild - IP, H, R, BB