Carter Kieboom, Joel Booker Highlight Carolina League All-Star Game

ZEBULON, N.C. — The best players that the Carolina League has to offer showcased their talents under the lights at Five County Stadium on Tuesday night, when the Southern Division All-Stars hosted the Northern Division All-Stars. The Southern Division came back from an early deficit to win the game, 7-6.

The Northern Division jumped on Southern Division starting pitcher Cam Roegner early, scoring three runs in the first inning. After loading the bases with no outs, the North took a one-run lead with a sac fly to right field by Jake Noll, scoring Ryan Mckenna from third. Santiago Espinal scored during the next at-bat thanks to a ground ball to the right side by Preston Palmeiro. Later in the inning, Carter Kieboom scored from second base on a single to center field by Kort Peterson.

The South responded in the bottom half of the inning, when leadoff man Joel Booker hit the first pitch that he saw over the left-field wall, cutting his team’s deficit to 3-1.

A few innings later, the Northern Division added on to its lead when Tres Barrera hit an opposite field home run, pushing the score to 4-1.

Despite trailing for most of the game, the Southern Division found a way to bounce back. The South scored three runs on groundouts with a man on third, tying the score at four runs apiece. The Southern Division eventually pulled in front when Ronnie Dawson hit double to left field, brining around Abraham Toro to score. The South continued to pile on with a two-RBI single by Booker, advancing its lead to 7-4.

The North added two late runs, including a towering solo home run over the left field wall by Kieboom, the Nationals’ No. 4 prospect. However, it wouldn’t be enough. Lefthander C.D. Pelham came in from the bullpen to record the final out, completing the South’s comeback.

Booker was awarded the game’s MVP award. The 24 year-old White Sox prospect put on a show, racking up four RBIs, including his bomb to left field in the first inning.