Zone 10 to Host First-Ever All-Star Game in Orleans

For the first time in its 85-year history, District 10 American Legion Baseball will be showcasing its best and brightest stars in a one-evening all-star game on Thursday, July 12, 2012 at beautiful Eldredge Park in Orleans, Mass., home of the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League and the new home of Orleans Post 308, the newest addition to District 10 baseball.

Yet it was the folks who run baseball who were tapped to organize and bring the event to fruition. Hyannis businessman John Hardy, owner of of Hyannis and Dennis, stepped up to the plate to become the all-star game's official corporate sponsor, thus the title "2012 Compass Moving District 10 All-Star Game."

Hardy also serves as the first-term president of The Quarterback Club, Inc., the largest sports booster club whose purpose is to support the football program and he has been a perennial financial supporter of the Barnstable Silver Bullets and Barnstable Little League for the past decade.

"Whatever I can do to help the community, I try to do," said Hardy, a Gulf War veteran and member of American Legion with Post 206 in Hyannis.

For decades, District 10 American Legion baseball has proven time and again the best high school-aged amateur baseball in the state and this one-time event is designed to bring together each franchise's best players in a nine-inning game under the lights on one of Cape Cod's best baseball diamonds. 

Numerous professional and collegiate scouts are expected to be inattendance. The game will be played in an East versus West format and will each have 17 first-team players and eight 2nd team players. 

The West Team will be comprised of players from Hingham Post 120, Marshfield Post 88, Duxbury Post 223, Pembroke Post 143, Brockton Post 35, Hawkeye Athletic Club, Hanover Post 149 and Rockland Post 147. 

The East team will be comprised of players from Plymouth Post 40, Barnstable Post 206, Wareham Post 220, Sandwich Post 188, Orleans Post 308, Kingston Post 387, Bridgewater Post 203, Middleboro Post 64 and Whitman Post 22. 

The game will be played at 7:00 p.m. and is admission-free. Full concessions, play-by-play, announcing and a Color Guard will be present. Post-Game East-West MVP Trophies will be awarded. The West team will be managed by Brockton Post 35 and the East will be managed by Kingston Post 387.

Barnstable initially had the right of first refusal to manage the East team after last season's finish, but declined because its volunteers are helping organize the event. Compass Moving, a nationwide moving company headquartered here on Cape Cod, stepped up to be the event's first-ever corporate sponsor. The official name of the game will be the 2012 Compass Moving District 10 American Legion All-Star Game. Much more to come in upcoming weeks. Corporate sponsors or press inquiries may be made by contacting District 10 American Legion Baseball Chairman Greg Hanley at 781-858-0648.