Shreveport-Bossier's stars shine bright

So the American League still hasn't lost an All-Star Game since 1996.

Sure the AL didn't win in its normally dominating fashion, grabbing a 3-2 win on a two-run triple by Texas' Michael Young in the ninth inning, but part of the reason the Junior Circuit was in position to grab the win was the play of Shreveport-Bossier's two All-Star reps.

Shreveport native Vernon Wells made the game's first big defensive play when he gunned down Alfonso Soriano with a picture-perfect throw to the plate. Sure Pudge Rodriguez's block came out of a Catching 101 book, but Wells' throw beat the speedy Soriano by a wide margin anyway.

Then in the 8th inning with the AL down a run, Airline High product B.J. Ryan came in and worked a perfect inning, setting the stage for Young's dramatic hit off Trevor Hoffman. For his work, Ryan notched the win.

All in all, the two Toronto Blue Jays with Pelican State ties did more than their share to give the AL it's ninth win in the last 10 Midsummer Classics. The lone non-win in that streak? The infamous 2002 tie. Thanks, Torii Hunter.