READING – Playing on a big stage at the Reading Phillies’ First Energy Stadium, Noah Snisky sported a big smile after the game.

His team’s loss didn’t seem to bother him. Instead, Snisky and his teammates made the most of the night.

“It was a real fun atmosphere because you never get an opportunity like this during the regular season,” said Snisky, who plays for the Carbon Monarchs and will enter his junior year at Jim Thorpe this fall. “It was great to play on a professional field.

“It was a big at-bat for me with a full count. I didn’t have trouble keeping my focus and it was fun.”

Snisky had a game-tying, two-run single in the third for the Lehigh Valley Legion All-Stars, who dropped a 5-3 decision to the Schuylkill-Berks All-Star in the ninth annual nine-inning classic that benefits the Lebanon Valley Veterans Hospital.

It certainly was an unorthodox night in many aspects.

Both teams batted their position players in alphabetical order from the starters to the reserves. Once all of the position players hit, the pitchers took their spots in the order. Each team’s pitcher was slated to throw one inning, but managers from both teams had to relieve some of them due to game situations.

Ryan King of Northern Valley threw 12 pitches – six strikes – to the three batters he faced in the fourth. King also struck out in the fifth.

“It was a nice experience to meet new guys and great to play with kids you play against during the year,” said King, who will be a junior at Palmerton. “This was the first time pitching on a major league mound.

“We all had a good time. The format didn’t bother me at all. I didn’t have any problem throwing tonight.”

Bradley Buzzard of the Carbon Monarchs walked in the second and was chased home by teammate Collin Haupt’s single that earlier tied the game at 1-1. Buzzard later flied to right.

“This was fun,” said Buzzard, a soon-to-be Panther Valley senior. “This was the first time I ever was in a game like this. It was intense at times.”

Trevor Schreiner of Northern Valley and Northwestern High School came up with the bases loaded in the third, but he went down on strikes before Snisky’s RBI single. Teammate Tyler Wiik, also of Northern Valley and Northwestern, flied to center to end the inning.

Justin Marykwas, of the Carbon Monarchs and Jim Thorpe, threw a hitless seventh over 11 pitches and walked one. Marykwas walked in his lone plate appearance.

Tamaqua High School’s Mike Minchhoff, who is a member of the Southern Legion team, saw action at first base for the Schuylkill-Berks squad.

ALWAYS WORTH PLAYING ... Game officials estimated a crowd of 1,000. Last year’s game produced a profit of $1,975 and with the $592 donation from the Reading Phillies, it was a record $2,567. Over the history of the game, more than $11,000 has been raised to help vets find homes, provide legal services, as well as necessity items.