2015 Perfect Game All-American Classic - San Diego

Before 6,123 fans in beautiful Petco Park the 13th annual Perfect Game All-American Classic saw the East defeat the West by a score of 3-1. It was the East squad’s first win in four years and fifth overall in the series. The East team drew first blood with a pair of runs in the fifth inning and held off a bases-loaded threat from the West in the bottom of the ninth to secure the victory.

Pitching was the story of the Classic early on, setting a tone that runs would be a premium. Through the first four innings of the game, the score was knotted at zero and both sides had a combined five hits, three for the East and two for the West.

A wild pitch and a big extra-base hit began to pay dividends for the East in the top of the fifth. Alex Kirilloff – who hit a leadoff single, stole second and advanced to third on a fly out – scored on a wild pitch. On the next pitch, Brandon McIlwain ripped a triple to the base of the outfield wall in center field and scored on an error, giving the East a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the eighth Nolan Jones hit the game’s third triple, scoring Mario Feliciano, who was hit by a pitch, giving the East a 3-1 advantage.

In the bottom of the ninth, with a save opportunity on the line, the East sent Joshua Lowe to the hill to secure the win, but it didn’t come without its nail-biting moments. Lowe allowed a base hit and a pair of walks and was saved twice defensively as game MVP Carlos Cortes and Khalil Lee made stellar defensive plays in the outfield. With the bases loaded Lowe struck out Blake Rutherford to end the game.

About an hour before the Classic’s first pitch, the semifinals and finals of the Home Run Challenge were held with two sluggers from each team squaring off. By the time the final round was complete, East Team lefthanded masher Alex Kirilloff from New Kensington, Pa., took home the championship trophy. Kirilloff went head-to-head against the West’s Blake Rutherford from Simi Valley, Calif. in the finals and Kirilloff launched six straight bombs with his last six swings to knock-off Rutherford by the final count of 12-11.

2015 Game Recap
2015 Box Score
2015 Event Blog