Congratulations to the 2023 Otsenango PONY League All-Stars. (Photo by Morgan Golliver)

COOPERSTOWN – The 2023 Otsenango PONY League All-star game took place on Wednesday evening to wrap up the summer season. The game was held at the historic Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, where at least one player from every team participated. Team Vandermark defeated Team Alpern 8-6 in a fun, competitive contest.

The game went nine innings to allow everyone a chance to bat and a chance to play at different defensive positions. Before pitching, Norwich’s Zack Parker got a chance to try out first base, a position he said he only played back in little league. Other than that opportunity, Norwich’s Zac Turner played first for the majority of the game. Norwich’s Jaxson Francis and Oxford’s Landen Olinski shared time behind the plate, where they both assisted on an out at home.

Francis, Parker, Olinski, Turner, along with Carmine Pastore, Pierce Sherman, Oxford’s Conner Dunagan, Sherburne’s Owen Brown, and Unadilla Valley’s Zayne Dibbell represented Norwich coach Zach Alpern’s team. Bainbridge-Guilford’s Kaiden Seymour, the other local Chenango County player, played on the winning end on Team Vandermark. Seymour drove in a run with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Owen, Pierce, Carmine and Zack all took the mound at least for one inning or less while Dibbell caught behind the plate for Team Alpern. B-G’s Kaiden Seymour, on the opposing team, started out at second base before making a couple great catches at center field in the latter part of the game.

Many players were first pitch hitters, especially those from Team Alpern.

Zack Parker drilled the first pitch to left field in the first inning, stole second base, made it to third on a sacrifice play by teammate Turner, and came in to score on a groundout. Landen Olinski and Carmine Pastore were quick to hit in their first at-bats in the second inning, but were left stranded on base.

Team Vandermark tied the game in the third inning off an defensive error. The game remained 1-1 up until the fifth inning. Team Vandermark scored four runs in the bottom half of the inning as they had great chances with the bases loaded. Kaiden Seymour drove in a run on a hard hit ball to first that the first and second baseman (back-up) couldn’t play.

On the next play, the defense was able to get the force out at home to make it two outs. Even with two outs, Team Vandermark pushed through and the next two batters singled to drive in runs.

Team Alpern kept answering back with one run in the fifth and sixth inning and two runs in the seventh to close the gap to make it a 7-5 deficit. Zack Parker led off the top of the seventh inning with a double before scoring on an RBI single. Landen Olinski also drove in a run with a two-out single. Team Alpern held the opposing offense to one run in the eighth and ninth, but could only score one final run themselves in the 8-6 loss.

At the end of the contest, each player received an all star trophy for the season.

The 2023 Otsenango PONY League All-star game was a good time for all players, coaches, and the families that came to support. Congratulations to everyone on a great summer season.