ALL-STAR TIME FOR OTHER MEXICAN WINTER CIRCUITS

All three of Mexico’s other professional winter leagues are in All-Star Game mode these days. The Northwest Mexico League, which is centered well south of Mazatlan on the Pacific Coast, held its All-Star Game in Santiago last week, with the North defeating the South by a score of 8-4 as Eloy Gutierrez of Tepic bashed two homers.

While the six-team LBN consists mostly of second- and third-year pros, the Academy Rookie League near Monterrey is a collection of eight complex teams of first-year players. Two different Mexican League clubs assign players to each Academy League team. In their All-Star Game, the North beat the South, 11-7. Laguna property Gilbert Galaviz won MVP honors with three singles and four RBIs for the North.

Finally, the Veracruz Winter League’s All-Star Game will be held this weekend in Los Tuxtlas. The LIV is an independent eight-team circuit featuring a number of familiar names in Mexican baseball, including Sharnol Adriana (pictured), Jayson Bass and Rudy Pemberton (who will all take part in the Home Run Derby). Last week, 2008 Mexican League Triple Crown winner Kit Pellow joined Los Tuxtlas, who ran away with the first half title by winning 22 of 25 games.