NWLA Tournament: Round 3
Date: Oct 17, 2012
While last year's NWBL All Star Game and Homerun Derby left some lasting memories, this year's did not disappoint. The NWBL East defeated the NWBL West 6-3 in this year's All Star Game. With the victory, the East have beaten the West three of the past four season. In the eleven NWBL All Star Games, the East have a 7-4 advantage.
Vinny Plateroti took home this year's Homerun Derby crown. As champion, Plateroti became the first NWBL player to win back-to-back years. Charlie Fletcher becomes the first player to be runner-up in back-to-back years, with the same championship for the second straight year. Plateroti bested Fletcher 3-0 in the final round, but his journey there was not that easy.
In the opening round, Plateroti failed to hit a homerun, but entered a swing-off with five other players to determine the final two hitters for the second round. Matt Herrmann led the first round with six homeruns, Palmesino had the second most with five.
In the second round, Plateroti hit a record eight homeruns. Plateroti, Fletcher, Coral, and Palmesino advanced to the third round. Fletcher was the first to clinch a championship berth. Plateroti came down to his final two outs to hit a homerun to advance to the championship, and he did.
In the NWBL All Star Game, the East got out to an early 3-0 lead after Ian Hanley launched a three-run homerun to dead center. The East added another run off Adam Skurat's solo homerun in the third. The West added a run in the fourth after Brian Sedeyn smacked a homerun.
Despite a late rally, the NWBL West eventually left the bases loaded to end the game, losing 6-3. With a victory, a three-run homerun, and four innings of one-run pitching, Ian Hanley was named MVP.