MONTPELIER, Vt. -- It was a short but productive trip for the North Adams SteepleCats Sunday at the New England Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Game.

 

The contest was rained out in the third inning with the Northern Division All-Stars leading, 1-0.

 

Nicholas Payero had a big hand in keeping the Southern stars down, retiring the side in order in the first as the SteepleCat earned the start in the late-season classic.

 

Hoosac Valley graduate Matt Koperniak went 1-for-2 at the plate with a single in his first at-bat, and North Adams' Scout Knotts had a productive out, driving a deep fly ball to center field to move a runner in the first.

 

Meanwhile Taconic graduate Drew DeMartino, who plays for the Sanford Mainers, drew a walk in his only plate appearance.

 

Earlier on Sunday, Koperniak just missed a chance at the two-man championship round in the league's Home Run Derby.

 

Koperniak, who was a last-minute replacement for injured SteepleCat Shane Muntz, launched 11 shots over the fence in the first round, finishing third in the 11-player field and two behind runner-up Vermont's Cam Climo, who had 13. Koperniak was two ahead of the rest of the field.

 

Mystic's T.T. Bowens, who won the initial round with 16 round-trippers, defeated Climo in the final.