By STEVE KORTE AND ROD KLOECKNER
Belleville News-Democrat
Thursday, July 17, 2003

    SAUGET -River City's Michael Conner was disappointed in his performance
during the home run derby before the Frontier League All-Star game on
Wednesday night.
    Conner felt much better after his two blasts in a second home run derby
used as a tie breaker instead of extra innings propelled the West Division to a
3-2 victory over the East Division at GMC Stadium.
    "I tried to change my swing before the game, but you can't do that,'' said
Conner, who didn't hit any balls over the fence during the first home run
derby. "You have to have your regular swing because that is your best swing.''
    The right-handed swinging Conner, who is tied for second in the Frontier
League with 10 homers prior to the All-Star break, said he was a little
surprised that East Division manager Danny Cox chose him along with River City
teammate Brian Fuess and Gateway's Todd Oetting to participate in the
tie breaking home run derby.
     "I really thought he'd put three lefties up there with the short porch
(295 feet) in right field,'' Conner said. "I was very happy that he picked
me.''
    Conner, who has had an RBI double in the second inning, was chosen as the
Most Valuable Player of the All-Star game.
    Gateway coach Neil Fiala, not Cox, served as the pitcher for the West
Division during the home run derby.
    "Being a pitcher, I just don't like to go out there and give up home runs
no matter what,'' said Cox, who spent six seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals
during his 11 seasons in the Major Leagues.
    Fiala hit Conner in the shoulder with one his early offerings before
settling into a groove.
    "He was throwing money,'' said Conner, who homered off the final two of
his five allotted swings.
    Fiala has thrown batting practice to both Fuess and Oetting in the past,
but never Conner.
    "The two guys I had thrown to before didn't hit any home runs, and guy I
hadn't thrown to, ended up getting two home runs,'' Fiala said. "It was enough
to get the win. They were two bombs. There was no doubt about those.''
    It marked the second straight year that a River City player decided the
All-Star game with his performance in the home run derby. The West Division
won the All-Star game last season on a homer by River City's Brody Jackson. 

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