Eastern pitcher Richie Derbak was named MVP of the inaugural Prospect League All-Star game on July 15 after coming off the bench in the bottom of the eighth to deliver a two-run single that put the West Division All-Stars ahead.

Before a crowd of 3,106 at Lanphier Park in Springfield, Derbak came into the game with his West All-Stars trailing 4-3. His base hit scored Josh Parr and Dave Reynolds, both with the Springfield Sliders, and put the West Division up 5-4.

The West All-Stars went on the win the game 7-4.

Derbak, who was representing the Quincy Gems, was selected to the All-Star game as a pitcher. This summer, he has gone 4-0 with a save.

West All-Star manager Chris Martin, who played for the Panthers from 1998-2001 and also manages the Quincy Gems, chose not to utilize Derbak on the mound because Derbak threw too many pitches in a regular season game on July 13.

However, Martin told Derbak he would get him in the game; with the West-All Stars down one with two men on in the eighth, Derbak got his chance and delivered.

The game was extended to 10 innings so that more players could get on the field. Derbak picked up his third RBI of the night in the bottom of the tenth, scoring Parr on a sacrifice fly.

With the Gems this season, Derbak leads the Prospect League with 54 strikeouts in 41 innings pitched. Over his 10 outings this summer, he has given up only four earned runs and ranks second in the league with a 0.88 ERA, while also limiting opponents to a .166 batting average against him.

Jeff Jurinek can be reached at 581-7942 or DENsportsdesk@gmail.com.