By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (1-2-14) — Buoyed by his 1,000th career victory last summer, MICKEY DEUTSCHMAN, the owner/manager of the San Diego Stars semipro baseball team, has been named as part of the Class of 2014 to the National Semipro Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Hall, an online entity for more than a decade, will open its doors for the fist time this Thanksgiving weekend in Evansville, Ind. An enshrinement dinner will feature 10 new honorees.

Stars skipper Mickey Deutschman elected to NSB Hall of Fame.

Deutschman's exploits both on the field and administratively have been known for years. More than dozen former Stars players have played in Major League baseball; ,many more have earned college scholarships.

"All across the country, you only find a guy like Mickey once every 500 miles," said Tim Turbin, curator of the new museum. "The Hall began online 12 years ago, but we will open an all-brick facility, Mickey is definitely a deserving member."

The Stars were founded in 1981 by Marty Nellis and Pete Jernigan. Three years later, Deutschman asked to become involved.

"They said, 'Give us $4,000 because we need new uniforms,'" Deutschman mused. "By the end of the year, I was in control of the ballclub."

The Stars have also captured several international tournaments, and once defeated Team USA at the 1998 NBC World Series in Wichita, Kan. The ballclub also has defeated national teams from Taiwan, Canada and Australia, and played against squads from Cuba (when they were ranked No. 1in the world), China, Japan and other countries.

Deutschman will find his name and likeness ingraved on a shining square-foot piece of black marble and placed along side with the other inductees.

Deutschman supports the Stars himself from proceeds from Air Santee and Temperature Control, his locally owned and operated heating and air conditioning companies.

© East County Sports.com
WICHITA, Kan. (8-6-13) — Following a controversial ruling which forced the San Diego Stars to forfeit their National Baseball Congress World Series opener, the depleted roster – down to just 18 players from an original list of 28 ballplayers – they suspected a short stay in the 79th annual event.

But not this short. BOXSCORE

Following a dramatic, bottom-of-the-9th inning, walk-off victory to eliminate the San Diego Force, the Stars were the next team out the door after dropping Monday's (Aug. 5) 6-2 decision to the Hays (Kan.) Larks at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.

Stars shortstop ROBBIE SCOTT batted 3-for-5, finishing the tournament with a .400 batting average. In his previous NBCWS appearance, Scott finished among the event leaders with a .458 mark (11-for-24 in six contests) in 2010.

Scott singled in the 1st, 5th (RBI to drive in JOSH BARNETT) and 8th innings.

The other San Diego run came in the 9th.

BRIAN SOS, in his final at-bat with the Stars to end a 20-plus=year career, was hit by a pitch. Sos would score on consecutive basehits by ANDRES ENRIQUEZ and KELLEN LEE (RBI). Lee, the catcher, batted 2-for-2 to also finish with a .400 mark for the tournament.

Larks pitcher Jason Zgardowski picked up the victory. Zgardowski, a collegian at Midland (Texas) College, allowed no earned runs, seven hits and two walks while striking out three over seven innings of work.

The Stars (30-19) will complete the summer season by participating in a Labor Day weekend event in Orange County.

San Diego Stars pinchrunner Michael Lange (left) with the big slide to register the walk-off, game-winning run to shock the San Diego Force 2-1, setting off a dog-pile (right) in front of the Force dugout in an NBC World Series eliminator. (Courtesy screenshots from NBC World Series website)

Enriquez fuels Stars win in NBC World Series opener
Deutschman captures career victory No. 1,000 BOXSCORE

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WICHITA, Kan. (8-4-13) — South Bay System third baseman ANDRES ENRIQUEZ, a sophomore at San Diego State, proved to be the perfect replacement player for the San Diego Stars.

Enriquez was the decisive factor in a 5-run outburst in the 7th inning Saturday (Aug 3), allowing the Stars to put down the Valley Center (Kan.) Diamond Dawgs, 10-2 in eight innings during the opening round of the 79th annual National Baseball Congress World Series.

The decision was the lone run rule victory among 16 first-round contests. It was also career victory No. 1,000 for Stars skipper MICKEY DEUTSCHMAN, who is in his 31st season as owner and field manager of the East County based semipro ballclub.

Enriquez fouled off four consecutive 3-2 pitches before drilling a sharp, 2-run basehit to left, scoring both DAVID VEGA (the pinch-runner for BRIAN SOS) and TAYLOR OLDHAM.

Enriquez later advanced to third base, scoring when ROBBY SCOTT stole second base, as the throw sailed into centerfield when neither Diamond Dawgs middle infielder covered the bag.

Enriquez was one of several members of the System to join the Stars in the late-going, stepping in for players unable to make the trip due to other commitments (jobs, family, returning to college).

"It's great how some of the players from the System stepped right in," noted Deutschman. "You could see it when we played in Tustin (last Monday). It's like they've been playing together all season."

Two other newcomers from the System were pitchers MARK VASQUEZ and JOHN SINTES. Vasquez tossed the first three frames, then Sinter followed with five innings of shutout ball to collect the victory.

Valley Center grabbed a quick 2-0 lead in the 2nd before the Stars erupted with 10 unanswered runs.

In the 3rd, Stars veteran MICHAEL LANGE singled home VICTOR SERNA with a bases-loaded single.

In the 5th, CODY SOS singled to the left side to tie the game, as Serna came home, but a diving stop by the Dawhs' shortstop prevented the go-ahead run from scoring. However, Oldman followed with a 2-run double to deep left-center to secure a 3-1 advantage.

"It took us a while to get our hitting legs after the long trip in the motorhome," said Deutschman, who holds a career mark of 1,000-550. "We left a lot of guys on base early before we figured it out."

Next for the Stars was a potential meeting with Western Baseball Association rival San Diego Force, but they were upended by the Clarinda (Iowa) A's, 8-1. The Stars-A's contest is slated for 4 p.m. CT.

© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (7-30-13) — The last time the San Diego Stars participated in the National Baseball Congress World Series, East County's semipro baseball team raced deep into the 2010 tournament, posting a 3-1 record before falling to eventual finalist Seattle Studs.

The Stars' last victory during their solid run: a dramatic 14-13 conquest of the Valley Center (Kan.) Diamond Dawgs, which mounted an 8-0 lead before folding to the Stars.

For 2013, the NBC World Series seeding committee – not to the amusement of the Stars – elected to match these teams in the opener of the championship round in the 79th annual event. The contest is slated for Saturday (Aug. 3) at 1 p.m. CT.

The Diamond Dawgs are located just 14 miles from Wichita's Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, so they will receive both home-field and avenge advantages on the Stars (29-17).

The stacked-against-the-Stars bracket then shows the ballclub, with a first-round win, potentially meeting Western Baseball Association rival San Diego Force, which was placed in the same qiadrant rather than the opposite half of the tournament draw.

Added Game: In order to get ready for the NBC World Series, the Stars traveled to Tustin High School for an added game, downing the Southern California Redbirds, 10-1, Monday (July 29).

CODY SOS belted a 3-run homer in the 3rd to open the scoring, while shortstop ROBBY SCOTT batted 3-for-5.

© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (7-26-13) — The San Diego Stars will be making its 23rd appearance at the National Baseball Congress World Series next week, yet need some assistance in getting to Wichita, Kan., site of the 79th annual event.

The Stars will be hosted by Buffalo Wild Wings of Santee for an all-day fundraiser, set fotr Mon., July 29. A percentage from every patron – who shows a special ticket HERE (print it or place it in your phone to show to your server) – will go to the ballclub's travel fund,

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (7-22-13) — The San Diego Waves completed a 3-game sweep of the San Diego Stars, capped by Sunday's (July 21) 4-hit shutout, 5-0, at Stars Field. The Waves earlier swept a Saturday doubleheader from the hosts, 10-3 and 12-6.

Despite the sweep, the Stars *28-16 overall, 15-11 WBA South) remain in second place in the South Division of the Western Baseball Association since the Waves (15-13 league) were forced to cancel Tuesday's game in Escondido with the Stars due to their travel schedule to attend the Natonal Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan.

Meanwhile, the division leading San Diego Force have declared themsevles the champions of the WBA for 2013 – it's posted at the top of the team's website – even though the title game against the North Division titlist East Los Angeles Dodgers isn't even scheduled until Thursday.

Plus, the WBA finale may also get cancelled due to ballclubs traveling to the NBC World Series, so there may not be no official league champion this summer.

© East County Sports.com
SCRIPPS RANCH (7-19-13) — In what might be considered the poorest start by the San Diego Stars in their 34-year history, four errors in the 1st inning led to five unearned runs and a huge deficit to the San Diego Mavericks.

It could've been five errors, but a dropped pop-up went for an automatic out via the infield fly rule.

Indeed, it was ugly.

Oh, by the way, the Stars rallied for a 7-6 victory over the Mavs, moving the ballclub closer in wrapping up a second-place finish in the Western Baseball Association.

The comedy of errors which marred the opening frame then transformed to solid baseball at Alliant International University, as the Stars (28-13 overall, 15-8 WBA South) rebounded with six runs in the 3rd inning.

During the rally, center fielder WESLEY WALLACE belted a 2-run homer to left field to get the teams even at 5-all. first baseman BRIAN SOS followed with a walk, then scored the go-ahead run when designated hitter DALLAS SEIDEL smacked a triple to deep right-center field.

Stars starting pitcher SPENCER JEFFEREYS was lifted after tossing 50 pitches in the 1st, yet came away with no decision as three relief pitchers limited the Mavs to just a single run over the final eight innings.

BOBBY WILKINS was first from the pen, striking out six batters in four frames to gain the victory. He was followed by two solid innings each by ZACH AMBROSE and GARRET LEVSEN (save).

The final weekend of the regular seasons features the usual meeting with the San Diego Waves, with a Saturday doubleheader and a Sunday single game, both starting at noon at Stars Field.

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (7-18-13) — After managing a mere nine hits in Tuesday's doubleheader, the San Diego Stars erupted for seven runs and 10 hits over the first three innings Wednesday (July 17), completing a 3-game sweep of thevisiting Southern California SKLZ following an 8-4 triumph in Western Baseball Association action at Stars Field.

The Stars (27-13 overall, 14-8 WBA South) posted three runs on their first two trips to the plate, then received a solo home run from CURRENT FACER in the 3rd to mount a quick 7-1 advantage.

Meanwhile, Stars starting pitcher BRANDON DELANEY yielded just seven hits over his eight innings, with BOBBY WILKINS mopping up in the 9th.

First baseman CODY SOS, who went 3-for-4 plus a sacrifice fly, stroked an RBI single in the 1st, but when the SKLZ outfielder overran the ball for an error, a second run scored. Sos then came home on a passed ball for a 3-0 lead out of the gate.

An inning later, left fielder KACY SMITH (2-for-4) stroked a 2-run triple to deep center field, with ROBBY SCOTT following with a sacrifice fly to score Smith.

In the 3rd, Facer led off with his club-leading fifth homer of the summer with a drive to left field.

The Stats, which were in a virtual tie for second place earlier in the week, now lead the South Bay System and San Diego Waves by three full games entering the final seven days of the regular season.

The stretch runs begins Thursday with a 5 p.m. road game with the San Diego Mavericks, to be held at Alliant International University.

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (7-17-13) — When scouts visit Stars Field, they're always seeking quality pitching. Well, the San Diego Stars offer another quality arm for the professional ranks.

On Tuesday (July 16), left-handed LUCAS WHITMORE posted his second consecutive start with 18 strikeouts, leading the San Diego Stars to a doubleheader sweep -- both by shutout -- of the Southern California SKLZ in Western Baseball Association action.

In Game 1, CODY LEWIS and SPENCER JEFFEREYS combined on a 5-hit blanking in a 4-0 triumph. But in Game 2, a 6-0 verdict, Whitmore was even more impressive.

After allowing a 1st-inning single, Whitmore retired the next 17 batters from the SKLZ, including 13 by the whiff (no called strike threes).

Given a chance for a complete game, Whitmore allowed two singled and a walk in the 8thm but escaped on a ground ball. He retired the SKLZ in order in the 9th.

Meanwhile, the Stars registered five runs in the 4th to snap the pitchers' duel, including an RBI double by RYAN LISCHER.

In the opener, Lewis didn't allow a hit until the 4th. In the 6th, he also slipped out of a bases-loaded situation on a ground ball.

Jeffereys, who recorded just one inning all summer, then gained a 3-inning save, yielding just a pair of basehits in three shutout frames.

San Diego needed just two batters to score in the 1st. ROBBY SCOTT, the team's leading hitter at .390, tripled into the right-field corner, coming home moments later on a sacrifice fly by DIEGO REYNOSO.

The Stars (26-13 overall, 13-8 WBA) moved back into sole possession of second place with the victories. They will seek a series sweep when the teams return to Stars Field for a single game on Wednesday, starting at 5 p.m.

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (7-16-13) — UC San Diego freshman Troy Cruz, the California Collegiate Athletic Association's Freshman of the Year, tossed a 3-hit shutout Monday (July 15), leading the South Bay System to a 5-0 blanking of the San Diego Stars in a Western Baseball Association make-up game.

Cruz, who prepped at Bonita Vista, fired the lone complete-game for the Tritons this past spring, then continued to see his stock rise by yielding just three basehits to the Stars. Center fielder KACY SMITH registered two of the hits from the No. 9 spot, while pinch-hitter DIEGO REYNOSO also singled.

However, the Stars were unable to adjust to a slider which Cruz tossed about 80 percent of the time, finishing with 10 strikeouts.

The triumph moved the System (11-9 WBA) to within a half-game of the Stars (24-13 overall, 11-8 WBA) for second place in the South. Including Sunday's 13-7 win, the System swept the 2-game series while San Diego dropped its fifth straight divisional contest.

The Stars continue their homestand with a Tuesday doubleheader with the Southern California SKLZ, starting at 1 p.m.

© East County Sports.com
ESCONDIDO (7-11-13) — A quartet of pitchers limited the San Diego Stars to just four singles, allowing the host San Diego Waves to complete a 2-game series sweep, after taking Wednesday (July 10) night's finale, 6-2, in Western Baseball Association action at Escondido High's Pete Coscarart Field.

On Thursday, the WBA will conduct its annual All-Star Game at Poway High, starting at 6 p.m. with a Home Run Derby.

Meanwhile, there is an assortment of changes to this week's Stars schedule.

Saturday's doubleheader with the South Bay System has been postponed because the System's bid to rent a high school field fell through. One of the two games was going to be moved to Friday, but Wednesday's System game with the San Diego Force was suspended by darkness, so it, instead, will be played Friday.

In addition, Sunday's game will now be held at 4 p.m. at Stars Field, following the Force home game against the San Diego Waves.

© East County Sports.com
ESCONDIDO (7-10-13) — Canadian third baseman Jordan Varga, a sophomore out of SDSU (the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, not the Aztecs), drove in runs with each of his four hits, collecting six RBI to propel the host San Diego Waves in a 14-10 slugfest victory over the San Diego Stars in Tuesday's (July 9) Western Baseball Association game at Escondido High's Pete Coscarart Field.

Varga's biggest hit was a 2-run homer in the 3rd inning, extending the Waves lead to 6-2. The advantage reached 13-5 before the Stars rallied, brining the potential game-tying run to the plate in the 8th before falling short.

Coupled with a San Diego Force victory over the Southern California SKLZ, 9-7, the Force snapped a first-place dealock with the Stars (24-10 overall, 11-5 WBA South) to lead by a full game.

The Waves (9-8 WBA South) allowed the Stars to remain close, as the North County pitchers allowed 11 walks and hit three batters for 13 free baserunners. However, the Stars stranded 14.

For the Stars, second baseman ROBBY SCOTT and right fielder CURREN FACER each recorded two hits and a pair of RBI. For Scott, he now has hits over 18 consecutive starts to increase his batting average to .424 this summer.

Meanwhile, first baseman BRIAN SOS batted 2-for-5 to increase his mark to .371 to match DALLAS SEIDEL for second place on the ballclub.

The teams return to Escondido High on Wednesday for a 6:30 p.m. start to complete a 2-game series prior to Thursday's WBA All-Star Game, to be held at Poway High.

By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (7-8-13) — For the seventh time in their history, the San Diego Stars swept consecutive doubleheaders to capture an NBC Western Regional crown.

Following Saturday's victories over the San Diego Waves and South Bay System to come out of the losers bracket, the Stars took a pair of games from the previously undefeated San Diego Force, claiming the NBC World Series berth and the first place prize money by sweeping their local rivals, 6-1 in the final, then 18-8 in the playback final Sunday (July 7) at Stars Field.

The Stars have captured the tournament four times over the past five seasons (2009-10, 2012-13).

In the opener, the Stars snapped a club-record 16-game winning streak by the Force.

In Game 2, the Sos family saw both players homer, as hot-hitting CODY SOS uncorked a 2-run homer. Later, he was intentionally walked, yet BRIAN SOS answered with a 6th-inning grand slam to mount a 16-8 cushion.

The Stars (23-9 overall) have now captured 17 of their last 20 ballgames. They also won the season series from the Force, 6-4 (3-2 in WBA play, and 3-2 in tournament play).

Game 1: Stars 6, Force 1
After posting 41 runs to race through the winners bracket with a 3-0 slate (including an 11-4 decision over the Stars in the semifinals), the Force looked like anything but a confident ballclub by committing five errors and a catcher's interference call in suffering their first setback of the double-elimination regional.

The Stars accepted four unearned runs to post an early 6-0 advantage. Two of the runs came during a 4-run rally in the 3rd inning, as errors set up a 2-run double by Cody Sos, followed by RBI singles by Brian Sos and DALLAS SEIDEL.

Seidel was also the batter in the 5th when the Force forged a double-error, when the first baseman booted the ball, then the pitcher dropped the eventual toss to the bag, allowing Brian Sos to take an additional base and score.

Meanwhile, Stars veteran pitcher PETE MALLOY overcame a previous poor start to the Force last week to limit them to a single run on seven hits in a dominant, complete-game effort.

Game 2: Stars 18, Force 8
Without a mercy run in the playback final, the Force needed to endure a pair of additional innings in the ballclub's poorest outing of the season, while the Stars may have played their best contest.

Cody Sos batted 3-for-5 and drove in five runs, including a 2-run homer in the 3rd to start a Stars comeback from an early 3-0 deficit. But when he was given a free pass in the 6th with an open base, uncle Brian Sos cleared the left-field fence for a grand slam. He also doubled in a 3-for-6 effort.

Meanwhile, the bottom of the Stars batting order did heavy f=damage, just like the Force did in a victory over the Stars at the NBC Southern California regional two weeks ago.

Leading the way was center fielder CHRIS ALLEN, who batted 5-for-6 with two doubles, a triple and three RBI, falling a home run short of the cycle.

The bottom third of the order posted eight runs, including three by catcher BUBBA CRAIG and two more from left fielder KACY SMITH.

At the top of the line-up, second baseman ROBBY SCOTT, who has hits in his last 16 starts, knocked in three. Meanwhile, shortstop KYLE HOLDER reached base five times (three walks, single, hit-by-pitch) and scored three times.

Stars starting pitcher TYLER GARKOW allowed four hits to the first five Force batters, allowing three quick runs. But he settled in and lasted into the 6th inning to gain the victory.

LUCAS WHITMORE, normally a starting pitcher, logged 2 2/3 innings and allowed just one run. In the 9th, BOBBY WILKINS, who hopes to return to pro ball by displaying his new slider, then capped the championship with a pair of strikeouts.

Without a mercy run in the playback final, the Force needed to endure a pair of additional innings in the ballclub's poorest outing of the season, while the Stars may have played their best contest.

Cody Sos batted 3-for-5 and drove in five runs, including a 2-run homer in the 3rd to start a Stars comeback from an early 3-0 deficit. But when he was given a free pass in the 6th with an open base, uncle Brian Sos cleared the left-field fence for a grand slam. He also doubled in a 3-for-6 effort.

Meanwhile, the bottom of the Stars batting order did heavy damage, just like the Force did in a victory over the Stars at the NBC Southern California regional two weeks ago.

Leading the way was center fielder CHRIS ALLEN, who batted 5-for-6 with two doubles, a triple and three RBI, falling a home run short of the cycle.

The bottom third of the order posted eight runs, including three by catcher BUBBA CRAIG and two more from left fielder KACY SMITH.

At the top of the line-up, second baseman ROBBY SCOTT, who has hits in his last 16 starts, knocked in threes. Meanwhile, shortstop KYLE HOLDER reached base five times (three walks, single, hit-by-pitch) and scored three times.

Stars starting pitcher TYLER GARKOW allowed four hits to the first five Force batters, allowing three quick runs. But he settled in and lasted into the 6th inning to gain the victory.

LUCAS WHITMORE, normally a starting pitcher, logged 2 2/3 innings and allowed just one run. In the 9th, BOBBY WILKINS, who hopes to return to pro ball by displaying his new slider, then capped the championship with a pair of strikeouts.

By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (7-7-13) — The San Diego Stars clinched a berth to the National Baseball Congress World Series after rallying from a 6-0 deficit to stun the San Diego Mavericks, 13-7, in Saturday's (July 6) challenger bracket final of the NBC Western Regional held at Stars Field.

The Stars will meet the San Diego Force in Sunday's (July 7) title game at noon. However, since the Force earlier clinched a bid to the NBC national event, the Stars also gained their own entry to Wichita, Kan., as the top non-qualifying ballclub at the current event.

Once again, the Stars bullpen delivered after their starting pitcher was tagged for five runs in the 1st inning. The relief corps allowed just two runs on seven hits over the final 8 1/3 innings, including four frames of 1,hit shutout ball by BOBBY WILKINS. He gained the victory when the Stars scored nine times in the 7th inning to take the lead.

Trailing 6-0, CODY SOS started the huge comeback with a 2-run homer in the 4th. Three innings later, a series of walls – including consecutive free passes to ROBBY SCOTT and KACY SMITH with the bases loaded – moved the Stars to within 6-5.

DALLAS SEIDEL followed with a go-ahead, 2-run single. A few batters later, CURRENT FACER capped the rally with a grand slam to left field to make it 11-6. Facer batted 3-for-5 and scored twice to go along with his four RBI.

In the 8th, BRIAN SOS doubled in a run to give the Stars a string of 13 consecutive runs. In the bottom of the inning, STars shortstop KLYE HOLDER stared a double play to prevent a Waves rally.

Earlier on the day, the Stars secured a 4-1, wire-to-wire victory over the San Diego Waves in a challenger bracket third round contest at Alliant International University.

Stars veteran ARON STRANGFELD, who singled in his first at bat of the season earlier in the tournament to mark his return to the ballclub in many years after playing ball in Mexico, banged an 0-2 fastball for a 2-run homer against the Waves.

By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (7-6-13) — San Diego Stars catcher-third baseman CODY SOS posted another big day from the plate, while relief pitcher ZACH AMBROSE was again nails to gain another victory from the bullpen, allowing the Stars to advance to the third day of the NBC Western Regional.

Sos collected four RBI against the South Bay System in Friday's (July 5) 10-5 triumph. Included was a key 2-run double in the 5th inning, when the Stars scored four times to snap a 4-4 tie.

Meanwhile, Ambrose tossed the final five innings to earn the victory. He retired the first seven batters he faced, extending his no-hit string to 10 1/3 innings before the System recorded a basehit. Previously, Ambrose tossed right innings of no-hit ball in a victory over the Southern California SKLZ.

The victory was also the 20th of the summer for the Stars (20-9), extending a streak was started in the 20th Centurt.

On Saturday, the Stars meet the San Diego Waves in an elimination game, slated for 11 a.m. at Alliant International University. The winner advances to the Challenger Bracket final at Barona at 5 p.m.

The winners bracket final finds the surging San Diego Mavericks meeting the San Diego Force at Barona at 1 p.m. The final (and possible playback final) us Sundat at Barona, starting at noon.

By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (7-5-13) — Last weekend, the San Diego Stars semipro baseball team posted 21 runs on 43 hits in a 3-game sweep of the Southern California SKLZ.

In Thursday's (July 4) rematch to open the NBC Western Regional tournament, the Poway based SKLZ only allowed just six hits all afternoon yet still were out-dueled by the Stars.

San Diego starting pitcher LUCAS WHITMORE registered a career-high 18 strikeouts in eight solid innings of work, then BOBBY WILKINS gained the save by recording three K's in the 9th for a team total of 21 punchouts in a 3-1 triumph.

San Diego overcame a mild 1-0 deficit by scoring three times in the 5th inning, advancing to the winners bracket semifinals against the San Diego Force. The Force survived a wild comeback by Team San Diego (SCCBL), which scored six times in the 9th before falling 9-8.

Whitmore earned strikeouts on the first five outs by the SKLZ, then Stars right fielder CURREN FACER raced to the line to make a sliding catch to end the 2nd.

However, a 3rd-inning run came on a walk. With runners on the corners, the SKLZ (6-15-1) send the runner from first base on what turned out to be ball four. The catcher still fired to second base, so the runner on third sprinted home, barely beating the return throw to the plate.

The Stars (19-8 overall) answered with three runs in the 6th.

Consecutive basehits by SPENCER NIELSEN, JARED HUNT and ROBBY SCOTT (RBI) tied the contest, then a wild pitch on ball four to DALLAS SEIDEL allowed Hunt to race home for a 2-1 lead.

Later, Scott scored on a sacrifice fly by CODY SOS. Scott (2-for-4) extended his hitting streak to 11 games and is on a 9-for-14 (.643) hitting tear over his last four outings.

The Stars (18-7 overall), winners in 10 of their last 11 contests, will open the tournament by hosting the Southern California SKLZ in the second-ever tournament game between the programs. First pitch is slated for 10 a.m. Thursday (July 4) at Stars FIeld.

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (7-3-13) — San Diego Stars outfielder CURREN FACER hit a solo home run Tuesday (July 2), but the ballclub collected only three additional hits in falling to the San Diego Force, 13-2, in Western Baseball Association action at Stars Field.

The Stars (18-8 overall, 11-4 WBA South) saw their lead fall to a half-game over the Force, with the teams even in losses.

By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
POWAY (7-1-13) — In an unlikely outing on a variety of levels, ZACH AMBROSE may have produced the most outstanding relief effort in the 30-plus-year history of the San Diego Stars.

Following a show of hands to find someone – anyone – to pitch less than 24 hours after the Stars discovered that Sunday's (June 30) Western Baseball Association game was accidentally left off their schedule, Ambrose was slated to be the second among a half-dozen teammates to throw 1-2 innings just to get through a ballgame against the Southern California SKLZ.

Instead, Ambrose closed the ballgame with eight full innings of no-hit ball, allowing the first-place Stars time to rally for a 5-3 victory in 10 innings at Poway High.

"I told Hoppy (Stars assistant coach Scott Hopgood) that I could go an inning or two, despite having absolutely nothing in the bullpen when I was warming up," said Ambrose. "But when I got to the mound, I felt good and had my stuff."

Ambrose plodded through 101-degree temperatures, striking out seven batters, even though the movement on his pitches also led to five walks and a pair of hit batsman. However, the hit count remained at zero.Along the unexpected length of his memorable relief appearance, a college scout was in attendance specifically to watch several Stars, including Ambrose. The scout, surely, was impressed by Ambrose's escape in the 9th inning to extend the contest.

A walk, stolen base and a throwing error placed the potential winning SKLZ runner on third base. However, Ambrose, facing the 2-3-4 hitters, registered a pair of strikeouts and a ground ball to shortstop to strand the runner.

The Stars then responded with two runs in the 10th.

BRIAN SOS led off with a line single, scoring when nephew CODY SOS tripled to deep center field. Outfielder WESLEY WALLACE followed with a sacrifice fly to his counterpart in right.

In the 1st, the teams exchanged a pair of runs, then the SKLZ gained an unearned run in the 2nd for a 3-2 lead. ROBBY SCOTT, who knocked in the game's first run with a single, repeated the feat in the 3rd to make it 3-3.

The ballclubs then went scoreless for six frames until the Sos' hits in the 10th.

The Stars (18-7 overall, 11-3 WBA South) won now captured 10 of their last 11 outings. They return to action Tuesday at 5 p.m., hosting the second-place San Diego Force in a key WBA contest in the final game prior to the NBC Western Regional.

© East County Sports.com
POWAY (6-30-13) — The friendly intra-ballclub rivalry between the San Diego Stars batting order and pitching staff ended in a welcome draw Saturday (June 29), translating into a doubleheader sweep of the Southern California SKLZ, 9-1 and 7-4, in Western Baseball Association action at Poway High.

The triumphs allowed the Stars (17-7overall, 10-3 WBA South) to win for the ninth time in their last 10 stars and extend their South Division lead over the San Diego Force.

San Diego produced 31 hits over the afternoon, posting 16 runs before the SKLZ managed their first earned run midway through the second contest. Meanwhile, Stars pitching yielded a mere 12 hits, including a combined 4-hitter by BRANDON DELANEY, JAVY GONZALES and AUSTIN SEIDEL in the opener.

Delaney posted three perfect innings before yielding a walk and a single in the 4th inning, yet induced a ground ball for a double play before any damage occurred. Gonzales also allowed just one hit over his two innings, then Seidel closed it out in his Stars debut.

Shortstop ROBBY SCOTT paced the offense by going 2-for-5 with three RBI. Included was a 2-run double to cap a 5-run rally in the to extend the lead to 6-0. For the day, Scott batted 4-for-9, extending his hitting streak to 10 ballgames.

Catcher JAISON "Bubba" CRAIG also went 3-for-3 with an RBI, while right fielder WESLEY WALLACE smacked a leadoff home run in the 5th.

Game 2 saw third baseman CODY SOS drive in a run each time on (in order) a double, single and triple, but grounded out in his attempt for the cycle. Still, three hits matched him for the game high along with first baseman (and uncle) BRIAN SOS and left fielder DALLAS SEIDEL.

In addition, three other Stars –Scott, center fielder CHRIS ALLEN and catcher DIEGO REYNOSO – collected two basehits each as part of an 18-hit attack. TONY SPEARS added a pinch-hit, run-scoring double in the 9th to cap his 2-3 day at the plate.

For the SKLZ (4-11), center fielder Mack Mattke, a red-shirt freshman at Purdue this past spring, posted a pair of doubles and scored twice.

The teams complete their 3-game series in the North County on Sunday at noon. The Stars are 9-3 on the road this season.

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (6-29-13) — San Diego State's JARED HUNT, a former All-East County catcher at Granite Hills High in 2010, homered in his San Diego Stars debut, when the hosts scored three times in the 1st inning during Friday's (June 28) wire-to-wire victory over the San Diego Mavericks, 7-3, at Stars Field.

The triumph allowed the Stars (15-7 overall, 8-3 league) to re-gain the lead in the South Division of the Western Baseball Association from the South Bay System.

The left-handed hitting Hunt deposited his first pitch over the fence in right-center field.

"It was the first live pitch I've seen in nine months," said Hunt, who red-shirted at SDSU this past season.

Following Hunt's blast, DALLAS SEIDEL later added a 2-run double to ignite his big afternoon. Seidel batted 4-for-4 with three doubles and four RBI, including anothrt 3-run double in the 3rd to mount a 5-1 advantage.

By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
WILMINGTON (6-24-13) — The road to determine an opponent for the San Diego Stars in the NBC Southern California regional semifinals took longer than the game itself.

Three pitchers from the San Diego Force combined on a 7-hit shutout, snapping a 4-game losing streak to the Stars in Sunday's (June 23) 9-0 decision at Banning High.

Still, questions lingered on how the pairings were determined by the staff of the East Los Angeles Dodgers, the host ballclub to this season's tournament.

The first question came in pool play, when the Force were listed as the winner over East L.A. in extra innings. However, the Force website listed a full boxscore, showing the Dodgers won in 12 innings, while the tournament website claims the Force won in 11 frames.

However, officials from many of the other 10 participating squads said the game should've ended in in a tie, as the rules -- as posted by the tournament committee -- said no new inning starts after 2:30 of play, and with no caveat as to whether a contest can or can not end in a tie.

Depending on which result would become official, the Force could've been seeded higher than the Stars, lower than the Stars, or even not qualify for the championship semifinals.

But things got worse.

The Stars noted a Sunday morning Facebook posting by the Dodgers, claiming they would play the Stars, but the time was changed from 4 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. However, players on the Stars were told to report by 3 p.m., thus a forfeit may have been in the offering.

A third tournament downfall saw the Stars arrive for a late afternoon game -- which was now okay following a series of phone calls from the freeway -- but now they would meet the Force, which was awarded the status as home team by a coin flip instead of being the automatic visiting team by virtual of a lower seed.

Throw in a stacked pool-play bracket which clearly benefited the hosts, so indeed, few outside the Dodgers clubhouse were pleased with the event, which awarded a berth to the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan.

The Stars stranded 10 runners in getting blanked, but their own pitchers did well against the heart of the Force order. Batters 3 through 7 in the lineup went a composite 0-for-18. However, the 8-9-1 batters collected nine of the Force's 11 hits, each scoring three times.

For the Stars, third baseman CODY SOS continued his hot streak, going 2-for-4 with a double off the left-center field fence.

Left fielder CURREN FACER pushed his summer batting average over the .350 mark with two more hits, while second baseman ROBBY SCOTT crushed a 3rd-inning double to run his hitting streak to seven consecutive games.

By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
DOWNEY (6-22-13) — WESLEY WALLACE lined a game-tying single in the 1st, then a 3-run triple in the 2nd as part of a 4-RBI performance, lifting the San Diego Stars to a perfect pool play record after stopping the Glendale Angelinos, 10-4, at the NBC Southern California regional. Friday (June 21) afternoon's game was held at Warren High.

Wallace, who went 3-for-4 and scored twice, propelled the Stars (14-6) to an early 9-1 lead, clinching a berth to Sunday's semifinals with a 3-0 tournament mark. The winner of the regional will qualify for the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan.

DALLAS SEIDEL and BRIAN SOS each added a pair of his and two RBI. Included was a home run by Sos, who continues to extend his franchise career record hitting the long ball. Sos, the team's longtime first baseman, is batting .351 this summer.

Shortstop ROBBY SCOTT walked twice before singling, extending his hitting streak to six.

For the Angelinos, USC red-shirt freshman outfielder Robby Stahle went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles from the leadoff spot. Otherwise, Glendale collected just six additional basehits.

Saturday's conclusion of pool play will determine the Stars' opponent in the final four.

By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
WILMINGTON (6-21-13) — A pair of strong pitching combos powered the San Diego Stars to a pair of pool-play victories on Thursday's (June 20) opening day of the NBC Southern California regional, held at Banning High.

In Game 1, Stars pitchers ADAM ANAWALT and CODY LEWIS combined on a 5-hitter in a 10-1 triumph over the East L.A. Dodgers 'White" team.

In Game 2 against the East L.A. 'Gold' squad, TYLER GARKOW and GARRET LEVSEN, who both toiled for Point Loma Nazarene this past spring, shared in a 6-hitter in a 6-2 victory.

For Garkow, it was an important start after going undrafted in last week's Major League Baseball First-Year player draft.

"I have no where to go next season," said Garkow, who posted a 2.45 ERA as a senior, the best mark among all PLNU pitchers. "So I need to show that I can produce to get a team to sign me. This was my first extended appearance in a month, and I was very pleased."

Garkow tossed 6 2/3 strong innings, allowing two runs on balls which never left the infield yet left the defense with no option but to go to first base with the throw.

Levsen, who just completes his junior year with the Sea Lions, then closed the contest by mowing down all seven batters faced, including four on strikeouts.

The Stars grabbed an early lead on RBI doubles by shortstop SPENCER NIELSEN (2-for-3) and second baseman ROBBY SCOTT in the 2nd inning. Right fielder WESLEY WALLACE added a 2-run single in the 8th to cap the scoring.

Meanwhile, CURREN FACER knocked in four runs for the second time in a week. He started with a sacrifice fly in the 2nd, a run-scoring double in the 5th, then posted a 2-run single when the Stars scored four times in the 8th.

The opening contest saw East L.A. receive an unearned run in the 2nd before the Stars buzzed for 10 unanswered runs, including a 2-run homer by catcher CODY SOS (2-for-4, walk).

Anawalt struck out nine batters over his eight innings, then Lewis fired a 1-2-3 frame in the 9th.

East Los Angeles, the runaway leaders of the North Division in the Western Baseball Association, split its program into four separate teams for the tournament. The Stars (13-6 overall) are leaders of the WBA South.

The Stars conclude pool play with a 1 p.m. Friday contest against the Glendale Angelinos. However, the game site has been changed to Warren High in Downe.

By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (6-19-13) — Entering just the third week of Western Baseball Association play, have the San Diego Stars already eliminated defending champion San Diego Force?

For the fourth straight meeting in less than two weeks, the Stars forged ahead of the Force, including Tuesday's (June 18) 5-4 conquest in 11 innings.

KENNY BELZER, who hopes to resurrect his baseball career as a pitcher, closed the contest with 3 1/3 innings of shutout ball to gain the victory.

"I am strictly a pitcher from now on," said Belzer, who played a majority of his career at third base. 'Scouts always say they're impressed with my strong arm, so if I can learn to find the plate, I hope it will get me drafted."

After Belzer entered in the 8th inning, needing just one pitch to escape a jam and keep the ballgame tied, the right-hander received assistance from shortstop KYLE HOLDER to get out of the 10th inning.

Force center fielder Garrett Loud smacked a line drive to left which would've easily brought home the game-winning runner from third base. However, Holder leaped and barely snagged the ball in his glove's webbing.

"My stomach went up and down on that one -- Kyle made a great catch," said Belzer.

The Stars immediately answered to score the game-winning run -- by Holder -- to again frustrate the Force.

With two outs, Holder reached on an error, moving to second base on a line single to left field by leadoff batter KACY SMITH. Stars veteran ROBBY SCOTT, followed with a solid single to right field to send Holder home.

Scott, who batted 3-for-5, later fielded a Force grounder in the home-half of the inning to start a game-ending double play for the first-place Stars (11-6 overall, 7-3 WBA South). The Force fell to 4-4 in league.

Stars starting pitcher LUCAS WHITMORE registered 14 strikeouts in his seven innings of work.

Both teams also received disappointing news earlier in the day. The pairing for this weekend's NBC Southern California regional find the ballclubs meeting each other again in Thursday's 4 p.m. pool play game at Banning High in Wilmington.

© East County Sports.com
SCRIPPS RANCH (6-17-13) — The highly anticipated debut of San Diego Stars veteran pitcher PETE MALLOY proved worthy of the wait.

Malloy retired 15 of the 16 batters he faced in five innings of work, gaining the pitching victory after downing the San Diego Mavericks, 5-3, Sunday (June 16) at Alliant International University.

Malloy struck out six batters. The lone Mavericks hit was a lead double in the 4th by Cody Smith. ROBBY NESOVIC and BOBBY WILKINS tossed the final two innings, as just one of the three runs allowed were earned.

Meanwhile, the Stars staked Malloy to a 4-0 lead by scoring twice in the 2nd and 4th innings. In both rallies, hot-hitting DIEGO REYNOSO contributed an RBI.

Reynoso joined CURREN FACER in lifting consecutive sacrifice flies for a 2-0 advantage after DEREK RUSTICH (lead double) and WESLEY WALLACE (single) reached base.

Two frames later, BRIAN SOS bombed a lead double, scoring when Rustich followed with an RBI single. Rustich came home on a two-out single by Reynoso, who went 1-for-2 to lower his summer batting average to .565.

Wallace capped a 3-for-4 outing with a 9th-inning double, scoring one a one-out, pinch-hit single by TONY SPEARS.

The first-place Stars meet the San Diego Force at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Stars Field, then head to Greater Los Angeles for next weekend's NBC Southern California regional.

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (6-16-13) — Less than 24 hours after his uncle's 5-RBI performance, San Diego Stars designated hitter CODY SOS registered four RBI to share game honors with teammate KACY SMITH, leading to a 9-7 decision over the San Diego Mavericks in Saturday's (June 15) Western Baseball Association doubleheader.

Sos opened with a 3-run homer in the 2nd inning, then Smith pounded a 2-run double in the Stars' 5-run outburst.

In the 3rd, Sos singled home another run, then Smith singled home two more in the 4th to help mount a 9-1 lecushionad. The Stars then allowed six late runs, all unearned, due to four errors over the final three innings before hanging on.

CODY LEWIS pitched the first 6 1/3 innings, allowing just one earned run to collect his first victory of the summer.

The Mavericks took the opening game of the doubleheader, 10-1, thanks to five runs in the 1st.

Stars first baseman Brian Sos: 3=for-4, triple, 3-run HR, 5 RBI vs. Force (Photo by Linda Byerline)

On Thursday (June 13), Sos made a collection of wide-eyed collegians ballplayers take note. The 40-something first baseman drove in five runs, including a tape-measure, 3-run homer in the 8th inning, powering the Stars to a 11-9 conquest of the San Diego Force in Western Baseball Association action.

With the triumph, the Stars moved back into first place in the WBA South. Meanwhile, the defending champion Force (1-4) fell into last place.

Earlier, Sos first shocked his teammates with a triple. The blast into the right-field corner knocked in two runs for a 5-4 Stars advantage in the 7th. But when the Force answered to move even, the Stars responded with six runs in the 8th, capped by Sos' mammoth drive to left field for an 11-5 cushion.

For the ballgame, Sos batted 3-for-4, but was left on-deck in the 9th, still needing a double for what could've been his first career cycle at any level of baseball.

San Diego (8-5 overall, 4-2 WBA) also received strong pitching from BOBBY WILKINS. Over his six inning, he retired the Force in order five times.

The Stars will host the San Diego Mavericks in a doubleheader, starting Saturday at noon.


Bases-loaded walk dooms Stars, 1-0

By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (6-13-13) — After shutting out the South Bay System for 24 1/3 innings over four contests, it may not seem like a big deal when the pitching staff of the San Diego Stars finally yielded a run on a bases-loaded walk.

But when the base on balls produced the game's lone run, it proved to be a frustrating afternoon as the Stars fell 1-0, dropping out of first place in the South Division of the Western Baseball Association.

A one-out walk to Nick Carrillo was followed by a Nobo Gonzales two-out single, then walks to David Vega and Kevin Carreon (RBI) for the 8th-inning run.

Meanwhile, System pitcher Brian Jipp, who pitches for CSU San Bernardino after two seasons at Victor Valley College, moved within one batter of a 2-hit, complete-game shutout, but after allowing a KACY SMITH single and a walk to ROBBY SCOTT, relief pitcher Joey Vega was able to register the final out.

Both pitching staffs allowed just two hits; the other Stars basehit was a lead single by DALLAS SEIDEL in the 2nd, while System catcher Carlos "Oscar" Ochoa singled in the 5th.

Stars pitchers BRANDON DELANEY, SHARIFF PALMER and ZACH AMBROSE combined to allow just two ground balls through the hole at shortstop, one coming with the middle infielders pinched for a double play opportunity.

San Diego (7-5 overall, 3-2 WBA) return to action with a "road" game at Stars Field against the San Diego Force, Thursday at 5 p.m.

By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (6-12-13) — Grossmont College freshman outfielder CURRAN FACER finished second in more than a half-dozen offensive categories this past season, batting a solid .338 for the Griffins.

However, one area where he was no where close to the leaders is where he shares the top spot for the San Diego Stars.

Facer pounded his first pair of home runs on the early season Tuesday (June 11), giving him a share of the Stars' lead with WESLEY WALLACE, lifting San Diego to an 8-0 whipping of the South Bay System in Western Baseball Association action.

Facer belted a solo shot to left in the 2nd inning, then added a 2-run blast to a similar spot in the 5th. In between, an infield single brought home another run, giving him four RBI on the day.

"It was a good day," deadpanned Facer in his best Bill Belichick impersonation.

Meanwhile, starting pitcher LUCAS WHITMORE and three relievers combined on a 3-hit shutout of the System.

Whitmore struck out three in his six innings, followed by on shutout frame each by ADAM ANAWALT, BRANDON DELANEY and CODY LEWIS.

The victory allowed the Stars (7-3 overall, 3-1 WBA) to move into first place, as both co-leaders were upset. The Southern California SKLZ upended the Waves, while the San Diego Mavericks downed the Force, both by 2-1 counts.

By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (6-10-13) — San Diego Waves first baseman Kevin Shul, who is currently transferring out from the University of New Mexico, put on a batting exhibition for several scouts Sunday (June 9).

Shul was perfect at the plate and scored the go-ahead run, allowing the Waves to capture the inaugural Barona Bash tournament by downing the host San Diego Stars, 7-5, at Stars Field.

Shul batted 3-for-3 and walked twice, including a lead double in the 5th. Shortstop Brennan Jacobson's two-out single brought Shul home with the tiebreaking run for a 5-4 advantage.

Waves catcher Taylor Fish added a 2-run double in the 9th to cap a 3-RBI performance, as the Waves posted a 2-0-1 record to capture the round-robin event.

For the Stars, Wesley Wallace smacked a solo homer to knot the game at 1-all in the 2nd.

The Waves answered with three runs in the 3rd. But in the inning's home-half, left fielder DALLAS SEIDEL belted a 2-run double. Two batters later, DEREK RUSTICH (1-for-3 with a double in his Stars debut) walked with the bases loaded to again tie the ballgame.

Center fielder KACY SMITH batted 2-for-5 for the third straight outing.

The Stars return to action Tuesday with a 2-game home series against the South Bay System of Chula Vista. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. both days.

The Stars' Kacy Smith (20) steals second base against the Alaska Goldpanners in Barona Bash action Saturday. Camden, the Stars' Bat Boy. (Photos by Linda Byerline) ADDITIONAL PHOTOS HERE

By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (6-9-13) — In the first meeting between two iconic West Coast summer league ballclubs in more than a decade, the visiting Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks took advantage of a youthful San Diego Stars bullpen, taking an 8-1 decision on Saturday's (June 8) second day of the inaugural Barona Bash tournament.

Stars starting pitcher BOBBY WILKINS faced just 10 batters in three shutout innings, leaving on a pitch count as he rounds back into shape.

But in the 4th inning, the Goldpanners scored six times with the aid of just two hits -- including a 3-run home run by catcher Jimmy Sinatro, a 2012 draft selection by the Houston Astros -- and seven walks.

The Stars (6-3 overall) welcomed the return of shortstop ROBBY SCOTT, who smacked a lead double in the 7th, then scored the host's long run when DALLAS SEIDEL (2-for-4) followed with an RBI single.

Center fielder KACY SMITH batted 2-for-5 from the leadoff spot, while catcher BUBBA CRAIG also doubled for San Diego.

Alaska leads the round-robin event with a 1-0-1 record, including Friday's 2-2 tie with the San Diego Waves. The Stars meet the Waves in Sunday's tournament finale, starting at 4 p.m. at Stars Field.


The hidden ball trick... by an outfielder?

By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (6-8-13) — The San Diego Stars continued their defensive excellence, turning three double plays to keep the San Diego Force off the scoreboard over eight innings en route to Friday's (June 7) 6-3 victory in the opening round of the inaugural Barona Bash tournament.

However, it was the play that wasn't made which frustrated the Force the most, leaving ballplayers on both sides wondering if an outfielder can perform the hidden ball trick.

With the Stars coasting with a 5-0 lead in the 7th inning, Force second baseman Carter Laud sent a drive off the head of Stars left fielder Dylan Navarro Only Laud thought the ball was caught.

Navarro deaked the batter and pretended he made a basket catch with his back to the infield. The ball actually dropped, but Laud, believing he was robbed of a double, rounded the bag and starting jogging to the dugout.

Meanwhile, Navarro hit his cutoff man, in what turned into a strange 7-4-5-6 out following the double.

The Stars (5-2 overall) saw KACY SMITH and DALLAS SEIDLE stroked run-scoring basehits in the 3rd inning, then SPENCER JEFFEREYS and pinch-hitter AVY GONZALES registered an RBI each when the host scored three times in the 6th.

An inning later, DIEGO REYNOSO, one of five catchers battling for the No. 1 berth behind the plate, capped a 4-for-4 outing and an RBI single, driving home SPENCER NIELSEN (double).

On the mound, starter ADAM ANAWALT tossed four innings of 1-hit ball before coming out on a limited pitch count.

CURREN FACER went 3.1 innings without allowing a run, but when he got in trouble In the 8th, ZACH AMBROSE needed just one pitch to induce an inning-ending double play. Ambrose retired Force slugger Tim Leary, who registered seven RBI in two games against the Stars earlier in the week.

The Stars will meet the Alaska Goldpanners at noon Saturday.

By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (6-7-13) — The baseball career of Valhalla High alum CORY RUSSELL is anything but extensive.

In 2011, his second year with the Norsemen found just two references on this website: a groundout for an RBI, then a run-scoring single to tie another ballgame.

"Then I spent a year at Grossmont College as the bullpen catcher," Russell noted. "So I transferred and played last season at San Diego City College."

Fortunately for Russell, San Diego Stars owner/manager MICKEY DEUTSCHMAN for expressed that "talent speaks," so Russell took a chance by joining his ballclub for the summer season enough though he is competing with five other catchers.

On Thursday (June 6), Russell made the most of his chance by slugging a deep drive over the head of the center fielder, bringing home CODY SOS with a walk-off double in the 10th inning of an 8-7 victory over the defending Western Baseball Association champion San Diego Force.

"That's the first time I've ever did that," noted Russell of his heroic hit, "The Force pitcher was pumping the ball on the outside corner, so I just waited for a ball to come a bit more inside and smashed it."

The double was the final of six extra-base hits by the Stars in a see-saw contest.

In the 7th, WESLEY WALLACE snapped a 5-5 deadlock with a home run to right. After the Force answered to take the lead with two runs in the 8th, the Stars got even again when Sos doubled, then scored on a TONY SPEARS basehit.

The victory went to Stars reliever CODY LEWIS, who escaped the 10th when the Force loaded the bases, but failed to score when Lewis induced a double-play grounder to finish with three shutout innings.

Third baseman KENNY BELZER gained the pitching start, going six strong innings, then shortstop JAVY GONZALES went two innings to hold down the Force.

Force first baseman Tim Leary, who registered five RBI against the Stars on Wednesday, added on to his totals with an RBI single in the first and a solo homer in the 3rd. He was intentionally walked on his next three trips to the plate, including the free pass prior to the double play ball in the 10th.

The Stars (5-2 overall, 2-1 WBA) are now 3-0 in extra inning games this summer, including both of their WBA triumphs.

The ballclubs meet again Friday, but not in WBA action. Instead, it will be the opening round of the inaugural Barona Bash tournament, featuring the Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks.

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (6-6-13) — The San Diego Stars slipped out of first place in the Western Baseball Association, falling to the defending champion San Diego Force, 70, in Wednesday's (June 5) game at Stars Field.

Tim Leary staked the Force to an early lead with a 3-run homer. He later capped the scored with a 2-run double to finish with 5 RBI.

Meanwhile, pitchers Steven Messner and Bobby Schuman combined on a 3-hit shutout, allowing the Force to move a half-game ahead of the Stars in the South Division.

The ballclubs meet again on Thursday at 5 p.m., then play in Friday's 5 p.m. opener of the Barona Bash tournament.

© East County Sports.com
SCRIPPS RANCH (6-5-13) — The San Diego Stars allowed a late lead to slip away, but still scored twice in the 10th inning in nip the host San Diego Mavericks, 5-3, Tuesday (June 4) in the teams' opener of the Western Baseball Associaiton schedule.

MATT DeROSIER collected the pitching victory, while ZACH AMBROSE tossed a perfect 10th to garner the save for the Stars (5-1 overall).

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (6-1-13) — The already strong San Diego Stars pitching staff discovered a new arm to improve the semipro baseball team.

The Stars welcomed Southwestern College right-hander BRANDON DELANEY, who faced the minimum15 batters in his five innings of work, combining with releiver CODY LEWIS in a 1-hit shutout of the South Bay (Chula Vista) System, 9-0, Friday (May 31) at Stars Field.

The only hit off Delaney was an infield single in the 1st inning, but the runner was later erased on a double play, just like a System batter was walked in the 2nd.

Delaney struck out two batters. Lewis walked one batter in his stint, leaving South Bay with just one batter above the minimum. This contest went six innings before called on darkness.

The Stars received consecutive RBI singles in the 1st from CURRAN FACER. CORY RUSSELL and CHRIS ALLEN, with another run scoring on an error.

San Diego added five runs in the 4th, including two on basehit by CODY SOS, who is expected to be selected in next month's MLB amateur free agent draft.

The System won the first game of the doubleheader, 6-2, featuring a strange play which saw the guests score three times without the ball leaving in the infield or sail into foul territory on the same play.

With the bases loaded, Stars veteran first baseman BRIAN SOS fell to the ground to save an errant throw from an infielder, thinking he recorded the third out. However, the umpire said Sos' foot came off the bag, so while the team came off the field, two runners scored.

But when no one was covering any of the bases, the original runner at first came all the way around to also score to make it 5-0 in the 4th.

The Stars run came on a DIEGO REYNOSO sacrifice fly and an RBI basehit by KENNY BELZER.

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (5-28-13) — Over the first four years of the annual Stars & Stripes Memorial Day Weekend baseball tournament, the San Diego Stars semipro baseball team never failed to reach the championship game... until Monday (May 27).

New-look Stars pitcher LOUIE MARTUS, who lost 80 pounds since last summer, allowed eight runs in the 1st inning, as Team San Diego captured the semifinal ballgame, 11-7. The Stars moved to within 8-6 by the 5th inning, but TSD, coached by former Stars standout player and coach MIKE BUTTERFIELD, scored three times in the 7th to hang on.

Later, Team San Diego fell in the championship game, fumbling away alate 3-1 lead to a 4-3 loss to the Highland (Calif.) Raptors, which went a perfect 4-0 in the 5th annual event at Stars Field.

WESLEY WALLACE started the comeback with a 2-run double in the 3rd, then DYLAN NAVARRO slugged a 2-run triple in the 4th. However, since these are exhibition games, the reserved entered for the game's second hal as scheduledf, but managed just a composite two runs on three hits over the final four frames..

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (5-27-13) — The San Diego Stars semipro baseball team, following a pool play victory on Sunday (May 26), qualified for its fifth consecutive championship round appearance at its own Stars & Stripes Memorial Day Weekend tournament.

The Stars advanced by thrashing the Huntington Beach Grizzlies, 12-0, in a run-rule shortened, 7-inning affair at Stars Field. The victory left the hosts with a 2-1 record, gaining a date in Monday's semifinals against Team San Diego, starting at 11 a.m.

BRANDPN LAVSEN and SAHRIFF PALMER each tossed three shutout innings, then Serra High senior-to-be CORY ABBOTT capped the final inning with a pair of strikeouts in his first upper-level performance to cap the combined 2-hitter.

The Grizzlies started the game with a double, then got an infield single to start the 2nd before the Stars potching trio closed the contest with six consecutive no-hit innings.

Veteran Stars first baseman BRIAN SOS batted 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI. He singled home the game's opening run in the 1st, then slugged a double for another run in the 4th for a 7-0 lead.

Other big blows were a 2-run single by catcher CORY RUSSELL to cap the 1st with a 3-0 advantage, and a pair of RBI singles by SPENCER NIELSON, coming in the 3rd and 6th.

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (5-26-13) — The San Diego Stars semipro baseball team opened the exhibition season with extra-inning victory, utilizing a sacrifice fly by WESLEY WALLACE to bring home DALLAS SEIDEL for a game-winning run in the 13th, nipping Team San Diego, 2-1, at the 5th annual Stars & Stripes Memorial Day Weekend Tournament at Stars Field.

The Stars later fell to the Highland ( Calif. ) Raptors, 7-3, but if they capture Saturday's 10 a.m. contest against the Huntington Beach Grizzlies, they will advance to the title game for the fifth consecutive season.

For eight innings, an RBI single by Stars third baseman SPENCER ESQUIRRE to score Wallace (lead triple) in the 2nd would stand up. However, Team San Diego got even on an unearned run in the 9th.

The Stars received solid pitching efforts from ZACH AMBROSE (4.0 innings), ADAM ANAWALT (2.0), KENNY BELZER (2.0), CODY SOS (1.0) and BOBBY WILKINS (4.0), who all did not allow an earned run. Wilkins, a free agent struck out five batters and induced a double play grounder to gain the victory.

Wallace batted 2-for-5, plus his game-winning sac fly.

In Game 2, the Stars answered the Raptors, as both ballclubs scored three times in the 1st inning before both pitching staffs fell into a groove.

Wallace drove in the first run for the Stars to trim the deficit to 3-1. Two batters later, JAISON CRAIG lined a single to left field for a pair of RBI to tie it.

KACY SMITH batted 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored for the Stars.

By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (5-6-13) — Former San Diego State baseball coach JIM DIETZ, a long-time Spring Valley resident who had a son (Steve) play ball at Monte Vista High, announced his full retirement from the sport by stepping down as manager of the Alaska Goldpanners summer collegiate team.

Dietz, 74, who spent 16 years with the organization in three stints over a 43-season span, stepped aside with an overall record of 585 wins – which is not only the best among Alaska Collegiate League mentors. It's also among the best on the West Coast, trailing only MICKEY DUETSCHMAN of the San Diego Stars, who owns more than 900 victories.

At San Diego State, Dietz spent 32 seasons (1972-02) and captured more than 1,200 triumphs, posting a final mark of 1,231-750-18 with the Aztecs.

Dietz will be replaced by Santa Ana College assistant coach Bryan Harris, a two-time all-star in the Cape Cod League. Last summer, he managed the Southern California Blaze to the Orange County Collegiate League championship.

The Goldpanners will be appearing in San Diego next month for the summer-opening Barona Bash tournament, to be played at Stars Field at Barona and Escondido High on June 7-9.

© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (3-8-13) — The San Diego Stars semipro baseball club is searching for alumni from the past 30-plus years to join the ballclub for an Alumni Golf Tournament. FLYER

The inaugural event, slated for Sun., Apr. 28, at Cottonwood Golf Course, will also serve as a Bryson Lukacik Memorial Golf Tournament fund-rasier. The shotgun start is at 1 p.m., with advance registration requested by JOE LUKACIK, who is organizing the event in memory of his son who was lost following a snow boarding accident.

The tournament features a putting contest and other skills competitions.

The Stars are also seeking contact information on any former players during the 30-year reign of owner-manager MICKEY DEUTSCHMAN. Visit the Stars Website to join the alumni directory, or visit the team's Facebook page.

© East County Sports.com
TIERRASANTA (2-5-13) — SCOTT "Hoppy” HOPGOOD, the former head baseball coach at West Hills and Serra high schools, has been named a scout with the Boston Red Sox effective immediately. The appointment came following an unheralded release by Serra earlier in the school year.

"After I was pink-slipped for the third time in five years by the ( San Diego Unified School ) District, then transferred to another school, I was pretty low about losing my coaching job at Serra," admitted Hopgood. "But now I couldn't be happier – it turned out to be a blessing in disguise."

Following eight seasons of professional experience, Hopgood started his coaching career as a junior varsity assistant with Valhalla in 1996. Then he received a break by assisting Eric Borba in Northern California before the head coach took over and made Orange Lutheran a national power.

Hopgood then returned to San Diego County to coach the Wolf Pack and the Conquistadors.

"More importantly, I have to mention coaching with Mickey Deutschman and the San Diego Stars (semipro team)," he added. "He opened a lot of doors for me."

A year ago, Hopgood interviewed with the Red Sox, but there were no immediate openings.

"So when Serra let me go, I called all 30 major league baseball organization and talked to the scouting department, and two clubs called me back. I talked to the Sox scouting director for more than an hour, yet he still said they'd call me back."

This time, the wait was short – a mere 20 minutes.

"We had so many similarities in evaluating talent. It was a perfect match."

Hopgood spent most of his playing career with Sonoma County of the Western League, once batting .350 with the Crushers. He is noted for playing all nine positions (plus DH) one season.

Bendorf mishandled a tapper back to the mound to open his time on the mound, although the play was ruled an infield single. Five batters later, the Honkers of Shoreline, Wash., pushed across four runs.

Fortunately, Bendorf settled down and did not allow any basehits afterward. The Stars bullpen also dominated , as STEVEN TAFT tossed three innings of no-hit ball, then CHRIS JOLQUIN allowed a single in the 9th, but San Diego baseman NICK WAGNER turned a line-drive out into a game-ending double play.

Down 4-1 after one inning, the Stars got even with three runs in the 3rd, featuring a game-tying, 2-run homer by ALFONSO CASILLAS.

In the 6th, MICHAEL LANGE doubled to right field, later scoring the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. The Stars then posted four runs in both the 7th and 9th innings to win going away.

Casillas, the designated hitter, finished with three RBI on a 2-for-4 outing at the plate, also scoring twice. Meanwhile, center fielder CHRIS ALLEN went 2-for-5 and scored three times from the leadoff spot, while shortstop RYAN MARTIN went 4-for-5 with a pair of RBI.

The Stars, 1-1 in the tournament, need a win Saturday against the Thurston County Senators to guarantee a berth into Sunday's quarterfinals. All final four games will be held on Monday, which is also Labor Day ("Labour" Day) in Canada.

© East County Sports.com
GRAND FORKS, B.C., Canada (8-31-12) — The San Diego Stars semipro baseball team loaded the bases in the 9th inning Thursday (Aug. 30), but settled for just a single run in falling to the Trail (B.C.) Oriloles -- the defending Western Canada champions -- in a 4-2 setback during the opening pool-play contest of the Grand Forks International Classic.

The Stars must sweep their final two pool contests to advance to the money round of the tournament,being held at historic James Donaldson Park.

With one out in the 9th, catched CODY DOYLE singled up the middle, first baseman MIKE LANGE doubled to right field, then designated hitter MICHAEL SCHARBARTH was hit by a pitch to load the bases and bring the potentional go-ahead run to the plate. Doyle would score on a wild pitch, but the Orioles, escaped with a pair of strikeouts.

The other Stars run also scored without the aid of an RBI in the 6th, as CHRIS ALLEN singled and stole second base, then scored on an error on a ball hit by Doyle to give San Diego a 1-0 advantage.

The Stars meet the Northwest (Shoreline, Wash.) Honkers on Friday, then the Thurston County (Wash.) Senators on Saturday.