Stars appear at WBA All-Star Game

By Ramon Scott
Updated: July 14, 2026

Manny Miranda pitches for the National sqaud at the WBC All-Star Game.

2026 SAN DIEGO STARS BASEBALL

STARS TAKE PART IN WBA ALL-STAR GAME

San Diego players represent club at Palomar College

SAN MARCOS — Ten San Diego Stars players represented the club Saturday in the Western Baseball Association All-Star Game at Palomar College.

The American team defeated the National team, 8-3, in the league showcase.

The Stars were listed on the National roster with Haden Deanda, Jacob Lanza, Carter Lockwood, Manny Miranda, Nate Moloney, Carson-Kai Lewis, Hunter Kaul, Travis VanDyke, Phil Jones and Nick Reed.

San Diego Stars’ Travis VanDyke pitches for the National team in the WBA All-Star Game at Palomar College on Saturday.

Miranda and VanDyke both pitched in the game, while Lewis, Kaul and Reed were also among the San Diego players who appeared.

Ethan Bembenek (Palomar CC) of the West Coast Bulldogs was named the game’s MVP after going 1-for-1 with two walks, a run scored, a sacrifice fly and an RBI.

Brandon Bollerer (Hawaii-Hilo) of the San Diego Waves was named pitcher of the game after throwing two shutout innings and earning the win.

The All-Star Game followed a productive return home for the Stars, who came back from their five-game Fairbanks, Alaska series against the Alaska Goldpanners, where they went 2-3 in a terrificly close series, and won twice before the league showcase here on Saturday..

STARS RALLY PAST HUSTLE

SANTEE — San Diego came home from Alaska and immediately won a close one, rallying late to defeat the San Diego Hustle, 6-5, on July 8.

The Stars trailed early, then tied the game in the third inning on a bases-loaded walk by Jacob Lanza.

The Hustle moved back in front, but Gavin Gamino helped San Diego tie the game again in the seventh with a run-scoring single.

After the Hustle took a 5-4 lead in the top of the eighth, the Stars answered in the bottom half. Nate Moloney singled to center field to tie the game, and San Diego scored the go-ahead run on an error.

Gamino drove in three runs for the Stars. Moloney and Carson-Kai Lewis each had two hits.

Manny Miranda started for San Diego and allowed two runs over three innings. Nate Cena added a scoreless inning in relief.

The Stars finished with nine hits, 11 walks and no errors. Nick Reed stole two bases.

STARS ROUT HUSTLE

EL CAJON — The Stars followed with a much easier win one day later, rolling past the San Diego Hustle, 14-1, on July 9 at Grossmont High School.

San Diego scored four runs in the first inning and never let the game get close.

Hunter Kaul hit a solo home run to left field in the second inning, and Liam Herrera added an RBI single in the third.

The Stars broke the game open with five runs in the fourth. Moloney doubled in two runs, Gamino drove in another with a ground ball, and Rey Ramirez singled in two more.

Moloney earned the win, allowing one run on four hits over four innings. He struck out seven and walked one. Travis VanDyke and Sam Smith each threw scoreless innings in relief.

San Diego finished with 15 hits. Gamino, Carter Lockwood, Kaul, Ramirez and Phil Jones each had two hits. Ramirez went 2-for-3 and drove in three runs.

The Stars also drew 10 walks and played error-free defense for the second straight game.

WBA RACE

The San Diego Waves are 15-2 and have apparently clinched the regular-season championship.

The Stars are 11-7 and in second place, 4 1/2 games back. San Diego was scheduled to close the regular season with home games against the Hustle and the Waves at Santana High School.