MONTGOMERY, Ala. –

At least there was a winner.

The Southeastern League held its inaugural All-Star game at Paterson Field Saturday night before approximately 500 fans. The South beat the North, 6-5.

The game featured powerful hitting early, powerful pitching late and plenty of significance for the 36 players participating.

A handful of Major League Baseball scouts were Radar guns aimed at home plate. Notebooks filling with observations. Players competing for their futures.

“You have to show your best for the scouts,” said Baton Rouge third baseman Warren Rivell, who went 2-for-4. “This game is all about impressing the scouts. You can open some eyes here.”

Several players did. Montgomery Wings first baseman Rusty Riley had the hit of the night, a mammoth three-run home run that easily cleared the left-field fence.

Pensacola pitcher Steve Rain was dominating during his two-inning stint, allowing one hit and no runs. He struck out three batters.

Baton Rouge infielder Kevin Perret was named Most Valuable Player, going 2-for-4 with one RBI. Teammate Hutch Sutter also had two hits.

“We knew what was at stake here. When youre playing the best of the best, youve got to find a way to stand out,” Sutter said. The pitchers were tough (Saturday) because you never saw one twice. That was a challenge.”

The hitters seemed to have the upper hand early.

The North scored four runs in the first inning. Montgomery infielder Gavin Jackson scored on an error, then Riley’s homer allowed Selma Cloverleafs Jose Colon and Joe Wittmer to score.

The South countered in the third inning. A double off the center-field wall by Pensacola outfielder Mike Falco scored two runs. A single by Baton Rouge catcher Josh Salow scored another run, cutting the North lead to 4-3.

A double by Perret in the fourth inning tied the game. Back-to-back RBI singles from Sutter and Pensacola outfielder Jon Wright moments later moved the South ahead 6-4.

Then the pitchers took over.

Both teams used closers during the final five innings.

Aside from a single North run in the seventh inning ‘which scored on an error ‘ hitters were overmatched from the fifth inning on.

“Early on, it was all adrenaline,” Sutter said. “It was the first All-Star game for a lot of us. But once that goes away and youve got closers out there, the bats get quiet.”

Baton Rouge pitcher Corey Avrard earned the win. Selma’s Jesse Ellison took the loss.