WINTER PARK — The stars of the Florida Collegiate Summer League got their chance to shine - even if it took two nights, three moves and three ballparks.
Originally scheduled for Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium, the Florida League's 2026 All-Star festivities turned into a two-night affair all around Central Florida, with inclement weather causing the Home Run Derby to be contested Tuesday night in DeLand and the All-Star Game to be played for the first time ever at Rollins College/Alfond Stadium at Harper Shepherd Field in Winter Park on Wednesday.
The Home Run Derby was moved to DeLand's Melching Field at Conrad Park on Tuesday, and was turned into a three-round effort as the award-winning field crew attempted to get the field playable. The Derby turned into a showcase for DeLand's Richie Collazo. The uncommitted infielder was the top slugger in each of the three rounds, hitting 14 total home runs to win the title. Collazo topped DeLand teammate Akhil Nimmala in the finals.
The game itself had to wait until Wednesday after more weather moved into the DeLand area and forcing a postponement and move back to Sanford.
But once again, a big storm hit Sanford mid-afternoon and the scene was shifted again, this time to Winter Park.
For the first time since 2019, the East All-Stars claimed victory, scoring two runs in the third inning before the natural fireworks (lightning) arrived and the game was called in the fifth inning due to the weather in the area.
The decisive third inning began with an infield single from DeLand's Bryce Pasternack (Daytona State), who eventually moved up to third on an error and a wild pitch. Pasternack the scored what proved to be the game-winning run on an RBI groundout off the bat of Orlando's Santiago Busot (St. Johns River State). The action continued with a single from Sanford's Adonys Velez (undecided), who proceeded to steal second. Derby runner-up Nimmala followed with a run-scoring RBI single to left field with two outs.
The East's five pitchers combined to shut out the West on two hits, with DeLand's Couper Gatch (Eastern Florida State) earning the win with a scoreless top of the third inning. Sanford’s Brian Kendall (undecided) got the final two outs to preserve the shutout and earn the save. Winter Garden’s Brady Montrowl (UCF) took the loss.
Velez earned Most Valuable Player honors, going 2-for-2 with a stolen base and a run scored. Paternack (1-for-1, run scored), Nimmala (1-for-2, RBI) and Busat (RBI) also contributed to the scoring for the East.
The lone hits, both singles, for the West were provided by Winter Garden's Osjun Rivas (undecided) and Leesburg's Cory Banasiak (Seminole State).
With the All-Star Game in the rearview mirror, the League is now in a sprint to the end of the regular season this Saturday (July 18. The FCSL Playoffs scheduled to begin next Monday (July 20).
