TRIBUNE/Matthew Gorry
Starmount’s Dillon Dobson loads up at the plate at the American Legion All-Star Showcase Game Saturday at Catawba College.
TRIBUNE/Matthew Gorry
Starmount’s Alex Barr winds up for a pitch at the American Legion All-Star Showcase Game Saturday at Catawba College.
SALISBURY - Two former Starmount standouts played in their final high school game Saturday at Catawba College in Salisbury.
Alex Barr and Dillon Dobson suited up for the Southern Division team in the American Legion All-Star Showcase Game in their final tune-up before heading to the collegiate ranks.
“It was very exciting to make the team,” Barr explained. “Not everyone gets to make it. It was a big honor.”
“It was pretty cool; another honorable game to play in,” Dobson said. “Since we’re out of the playoffs, it was the last game, so had some fun with the guys. It was a nice way to end it.”
Dobson received the nod as the starting shortstop for the South, while batting third. In his first at-bat, the Appalachian State signee hit a rocket up the middle before stealing second. He was stranded in scoring position.
In the field, Dobson tracked down a high pop up in shallow center-field with a running over-the-shoulder grab to get the South out of the second inning.
In the home-half of the third, Dobson collected his second hit of the night with a single to left. Again, he was stranded at second as the South struggled to pick up a timely hit.
Dobson could not continue his perfect night in his third plate appearance as he flied out to right in the fifth before making way for reserves.
Barr made his first appearance of the night in the ninth inning when he came on in relief.
The lefty looked dominant, striking out the first batter he faced in three pitches. After walking the next batter, Barr picked him off at first for the second out of the frame.
After a double by the North, Barr induced a flyout to left to end the ninth.
The efforts by the Starmount duo could not lift the South to a victory as the North raced away to a 5-1 victory.
The North jumped out to a 3-0 lead with three runs in the top-half of the first inning before tacking on another run in the third and the fifth.
The South avoided the shutout with a run in the bottom of the ninth after back-to-back Mooresville 66 doubles plated the first run of the night. But it wasn’t enough as the North improved to 3-0-1 in the annual All-Star Showcase.
Dobson and Barr will battle at the college level next year.
Dobson will suit for Appalachian State next year, while Barr recently signed to pitch for Southern Conference-rival Western Carolina. Barr will team up with Starmount teammate Dillon Bray for the Catamounts.
“It was good to have one more together,” Dobson said.
ASU topped Western in their only series this past season, two games to one.
Reach Matthew Gorry at 835-1513 or mgorry@heartlandpublications.com.
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