"That would be in the major league ‘Top 10’ of the year," he said. "[A]n unbelievable play. I can't remember seeing a barehanded play like that. You see barehanded plays on the run, but not where guys are actually receiving the ball. It was just a very athletic, instinctive play and he's such a scrappy player. We hate seeing him when Trenton comes to Portland."
Said Lopez: "I was in a hurry and there was no way I was getting it with my glove. It would have to come across my body. So I thought, 'what the heck. I'll try it.' It worked out alright, huh?"
It was part of a highlight reel in an All-Star contest that was chocked full of great moments.
Still, there was no upstaging Roneberg, whose game-winner seemed as though it was just meant to be.
In a baseball sense, it seemed Roneberg’s life might have been cut short last year, when he sat out the entire 2005 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff.
This came just as he had enjoyed the best year of a decade-long career, which included his first EL All-Star selection when he played for the Portland Sea Dogs, not to mention the Olympic silver medal that he collected with the Aussies in Greece in 2004.
Still, to be forced give up the baseball dream would have been a shame. For all his Double-A success, Roneberg still hasn't made it to the big leagues. In fact, he has played in just three Triple-A games.
"I wasn't sure what was going to happen this year," said Roneberg. "But things have been going pretty good, and now I'm getting rewarded. I'm out here every day, and trying to get better. Trying to get up there, whether that would be Triple-A or even the big leagues. Hopefully things will pay off."
| 1 | 2 | Next>>
