By Kathleen Szmit
kszmit@barnstablepatriot.com

They came from places like Anchorage, AK; Agat, Guam; and even Centerville, MA, to two fields on Cape Cod. They were dressed head to toe in desert camouflage and each of them had one goal in mind: to play great baseball.

On Saturday and Sunday evenings beneath colorful Cape Cod skies, the US Military All-Stars and a special Cape Cod Baseball League team comprised of players from all 10 franchises treated fans to a little bit of pomp for an excellent circumstance and two terrific games.

For the most part scores were unimportant, as fans gathered mainly to honor the military team and pay tribute to those currently serving the country at home and overseas and those who have served in the past.

The folks in Chatham played host to the teams on Saturday night for the first of the two exhibition games between the teams. Although the CCBL snared the win, it was more than a little hard-fought.

Interestingly, although the Cape League team rotated pitchers with each inning, the game turned out to be a classic pitcher’s duel. Neither team found its way to the scoreboard until the fifth inning when the scoreless game became tied 1-1.

Lucas Ledbetter of Columbia, LA, and the US Navy was the driving force for the Military team, pitching seven plus innings during which he gave up only three runs on five hits and one walk while fanning eight Cape League players.

Another star on the Military team, also in the US Navy, was Ronnie Stahl from Warner Robbins, GA. Stahl, who kicked off the sixth with a nice single into right field, followed by a sly steal of second. 

Stahl then advanced to third on a passed ball and crossed the plate soon after on a wild pitch. 

Bill Perry of the Bourne Braves was the first to score for the Cape Leaguers, hitting a sweet double into left center at the start of the fifth. Perry scored again in the seventh on a single from Cotuit Kettleer Nick Criaris. Kettleers teammate Derek Shunk brought in the third run for the Cape League on a balk by Ledbetter.

In the ninth inning, Centerville native and Military All-Star Brian Higgins took the mound and was greeted with enthusiastic cheering from the fans, who were duly impressed when Higgins pitched a perfect inning with one strikeout followed by two subsequent outs on ground balls.

On Sunday night the teams traveled to Eldredge Park in Orleans for game two of their exhibition series, with the CCBL team defeating the Military All-Stars 8-1.

Pitching for the Military team was Jahsan Page of the US Air Force and St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Teammate Stahl brought in the team’s only run at the bottom of the first inning.

The Military All-Stars held their one-run lead until the fifth when the Orleans Cardinals’ Eric Reese crossed the plate on a single from Jordan Karnofsky of California. Chatham A’s player Trey Watten then brought in Gordon Beckham of the Y-D Red Sox for the Cape League’s second run.

In the eighth the Cape League’s bats caught fire as a string of solid hits allowed the team to score six runs. A pitching error brought home Beckham, who was followed by DH Kelly Weems of the Wareham Gatemen on another walk.

A nice double by Karnofsky brought in two runners, Y-D’s Jeremy Barnes and Jake Yagjian of Wheaton College. At the plate for the second time in the inning, Beckham smacked a single to left to bring in the Orleans Cardinals’ Jose Jiminez for the game’s final run.

The exhibition games are part of the US Military All-Stars 18th Red, White and Blue Tour of America, during which the team makes 350 appearances in 23 states.

Each player participates during off-duty time and covers his own expenses while refusing government funding. More than 95 percent of the team’s players have served in the current war, including in the Middle East.

Being part of the All-Star team allows the players a chance to bring awareness to a variety of charitable organizations supporting troops, including USA Cares, a military family assistance center, and Operation Slugger II, which aims to provide athletic equipment to troops in war zones.

It also gives team members the opportunity to break away from the rigors of service and engage in some much-needed respite.

Scores aside, players from both teams enjoyed the game. 

“I just love it here,” said Marine Adam Pritchard of Lenoir, NC. “My host family, all the people I’ve met, everyone is just fantastic. Plus I get to play baseball. That’s what it’s all about.”