Sanford, Grizzaffi to participate in all-star game

Two Tri-City area senior baseball players will participate in the East-West All-Star Baseball games this weekend at Louisiana College in Pineville.
Berwick High School’s Mitchell Sanford and Central Catholic’s Bryce Grizzaffi were chosen for the event as members of the West squad.
The event will feature one game Friday and another Saturday.
Both players are headed to Division 1 programs in the fall as Sanford will continue his baseball career at LSU, while Grizzaffi will play for Southeastern Louisiana University.
Both were chosen for the event as outfielders.
Sanford said it is a big honor to participate in the game.
“I found out earlier in the year, and it’s a good feeling that everyone appreciates your hard work and that you’re represented as one of the best players in the state,” he said.
Berwick High School Coach Brandon Bravata said he is happy that Sanford gets to participate in this game.
“It’s a huge honor to be able to represent your whole town as part of that all-star game, and he certainly deserves that,” Bravata said. “He’s been one of the best players in the state now for two years for sure, and going on three really, because he was pretty good his sophomore year, too.”
Grizzaffi, who will graduate Saturday afternoon from high school, will participate in activities Friday and only the first game Friday night.
Grizzaffi said it’s an honor to participate in the game.
“I can’t wait to compete with the best in the state,” he said.
Central Catholic Coach Tyler Jensen said Grizzaffi is deserving of the chance to play in the game.
Because Jensen said he thinks Grizzaffi is “the best catcher in the state, regardless of class,” Jensen said he was upset at first that Grizzaffi was chosen for the outfield and not at catcher.
“But at the same time when I look back at it, I think it’s more of a compliment more than anything, because it shows just how versatile of a player he is, and I think that’s one thing that stood out to Southeastern about him when they were recruiting him was that he can literally play any position on the field,” Jensen said.
“I don’t know if he’s played outfield one time in his high school career, but there’s no doubt in my mind that we could have put him anywhere out there, and he could have chased fly balls down,” Jensen added.
Additional reporting by Review freelancer Corwin Murray.