CHARLESTON, S.C.—Given an aggressive placement in the low Class A South Atlantic League out of high school, Delmarva first baseman Nicky Delmonico (Orioles) proved he not only could handle the assignment, but also perform against the best players in the league. Delmonico went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored as the game’s MVP to lead the North to a 3-2 victory over the South all-stars on Tuesday night at Riley Park.

 

The North went hitless through the first four innings, as Lexington righthander Michael Foltynewicz (Astros) set the tone as the South’s starting pitcher—throwing two perfect frames while striking out four. But with one out in the top of the fifth, Delmonico legged out an infield single and scored on an RBI double by Hickory shortstop Hanser Alberto (Rangers) a batter later to put the North on the board with the game’s first run of the night.

 

Delmonico doubled in the seventh inning and advanced to third on an error by Lexington second baseman Delino DeShields Jr. (Astros), who committed two errors in the game. A batter later, Kannapolis catcher Kevan Smith (White Sox) took the first pitch and lined it into center field to give the North a two-run lead. Smith’s teammate in Kannapolis, outfielder Mark Haddow, added a key insurance run in the eighth inning on a seeing-eye single to right.

 

But, the South would not go away quietly. In the bottom of the ninth, Charleston outfielder Tyler Austin (Yankees) led the inning off with a triple off Hagerstown righthander Aaron Barrett (Nationals). Two batters later, Austin’s teammate in Charleston, catcher Francisco Arcia drove him in on a line drive single to center field. After an error by Hagerstown third baseman Matt Skole put the tying run on second, Asheville first baseman Harold Riggins (Rockies)—the home run derby champion—drove in Arcia on a groundout to shortstop to make it a one-run game. The rally ended up in naught, however, as Barrett struck out Savannah outfielder Travis Taijeron (Mets) to end the game.