CHARLESTON, W. Va. - The 2009 South Atlantic League All-Star game had all the drama of a true mid-summer classic, featuring a back-and-forth battle capped off by hometown heroics.

West Virginia's Appalachian Power Park hosted the 50^th annual SAL All-Star game, welcoming 5,689 fans to witness the ballpark's inaugural All-Star Jamboree.

For the fans that stuck around, there was a postgame fireworks show. But the real fireworks came during the actual game, as the league's top talents showcased their skills in a thrilling North versus South matchup.

The South jumped on the board first, taking a 3-0 lead in the third inning.  The Ray's No.1 overall pick of last year's draft, Tim Beckham (Bowling Green) lined a one out single up the middle to get things going in the inning.  Beckham came around to score after back-to-back RBI doubles by Anthony Rizzo (Greenville) and Sean Ratliff (Savannah).  Ratliff advanced to third on a passed ball and later scored on a Jordan Pacheo (Asheville) sacrifice fly.

Grasshopper's third basemen Paul Gran answered in the home half by singling to centerfield off Lexington righty Robert Bono.  Chase d' Arnaud (West Virginia) and Anthony Gose (Lakewood) each followed with singles, advancing Gran to third before a sac fly by Karexon Sanchez (Lake County).

Gran got things going again in the fifth, nabbing his second single of the contest to lead off the frame.  d' Arnaud was hit by the next pitch, but forced out at second on a fielder's choice by Gose.  Sanchez drew a walk to load the bases before Travis d' Arnaud (Lakewood), the other brother, laced a two RBI double down the right-field line to tie things up at three apiece.

The next batter, Hickory's Mike Bianucci, provided an RBI single to bring home d' Arnaud and give the Northern Division their first lead of the night.

The Southern squad manufactured the tying run in the next inning when Ratliff reached on a leadoff walk, stole second, and advanced to third on a passed ball.  Tim Federowicz picked up the RBI on a routine groundout to short, knotting things up at 4-4.

Luis Sumaza (Rome) reached on a single before coming around to score when Juan Perez blasted a two-run homer to help the South regain the lead 6-4.

But the Northern Division tied the game in the seventh when Gose reached on a bloop double and scored on a throwing error after attempting to steal third.  Sanchez singled and advanced to second on an error in the outfield, and crossed the plate on a RBI groundout by Hopper's first basemen Ben Lasater.

Sanchez delivered again in the bottom of the eighth, cracking a two-out double to score the go ahead run for the Northern Division.  The South would respond in the top of the ninth when Lexington third basemen Ebert Rosario connected on a solo shot to add to the game's back-and-forth drama.

But the Northern Division would take control in their final at-bat when West Virginia's own Calvin Anderson singled to pressure the defense into a throwing error, bringing home Ronnie Welty (Delmarva) to end the thriller with the Northern All-Stars on top 8-7.

The hometown hero did all he could during the All-Star festivities, providing the magical walk-off single just hours after belting 13 homers to grab the home run derby crown.  Although Anderson turned in a day to remember, Lake County's Karexon Sanchez was tabbed the MVP after a 2-2 performance including two walks, two runs, two RBIs, and a stolen base.

The Grasshoppers' representatives showed well in the contest as well, placing three in the starting lineup and seeing Gran go 2-2 at the plate with a pair of runs.  Lasater also contributed to the scoring frenzy, driving in a run in the seventh inning.

Pitchers Johnny Dorn and Pete Andrelczyk performed well in the contest, each tossing a scoreless inning.  Andrelczyk, among the league's leaders in saves, fanned two of the four batters he faced despite surrendering a leadoff hit.

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