After a sloppy game on Saturday night, the US Military All-Stars came out with poise and defeated the Cape League All-Stars 4-2 at Red Wilson Field in South Yarmouth.

     The All-Stars made the stop on the Cape as part of their “Red, White, and Blue Tour of America.” The tour will visit 40 states and four countries this summer. 

     Lieutenant Commander Terry Allvord founded the team in 1990 after a conversation with President Bush. Since then, his team has traveled the country on 19 tours in an effort to promote awareness of Americans for support of the troops. The players on the team pay for all their travel expenses out of pocket and the team declines all government support to maximize funds for troops overseas. 

     When asked how difficult it was to constantly field a team, Allvord responded: “We had 137 players on our roster last year. Some players arrived on Friday played Saturday and left after the game. Players who arrived last night played today and have to leave immediately after the game.” 

     Airman First Class Jahsan Page of the United States Air Force was named MVP of the game, pitching 51/2 innings allowing three hits and fanning six, earning the win. Second Class Petty Officer Ray Judy of the Navy provided the offense with a three-run homerun to right field in the top of the sixth inning.

     “It was a thrill to come through for the team,” said Judy who is playing in his seventh and final season with the team. Judy has been with the Navy for eight years, serving on three tours to the Persian Gulf and launched the first plane toward Iraq off the USS Constellation in 2003. 

     Billy Alvino (High Point University) of the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox was asked to catch for the US military team before their game, giving their everyday catcher Alberto German a much-needed day off. 

     “When they asked me, it was an honor,” said Alvino. “For them to be playing baseball while protecting us, it was an honor. 

     The Cape All-Stars had two players native to the Cape in Bourne’s Matt Costello (Volunteer State) and Falmouth’s Scott McNee (Worcester Polytechnic Institute). “These guys who are playing straight out of the service must be living the dream. Watching them play, they look like they are having a blast,” said McNee.

     McNee had three at-bats over the weekend. He was hit by a pitch in his first AB, on Saturday. On Sunday, he struck out and popped out. The Falmouth resident is a temporary roster player for Falmouth, but hopes to earn a full-time spot with his play in the early going.

     Yarmouth-Dennis field manager Scott Pickler managed the Cape League in game two. “Those guys have been through a lot,” said the 2007 manager of the year. “It was great to watch them win a ball game.”

     Isaac Rodriguez of the Marines pitched two innings of scoreless relief for the US Military All-Stars. He joined the Marines in June 2003 and has served on three tours in Iraq. He has been awarded with two Purple Hearts and a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. When asked why he is playing, Rodriguez replied, “To tell everybody we are still at war but our mission takes priority and our mission is to fight the Global War on Terrorism.” 
Elton Shaw (Navy) is playing in his fourth year with the team. Last April marked his ninth year in the Navy after graduating from Saint Bonaventure. “Everyone is here for one reason: to promote awareness for our troops. But we all love baseball,” said Shaw.