Stars seek victory to advance at NBCWS

2026 SAN DIEGO STARS BASEBALL

HISTORY REPEATS: STARS FACE ANOTHER WIN-AND-ADVANCE POOL FINALE

GOLDPANNERS HOLD STARS TO ONE RUN

EastCountySports.com staff report

WICHITA, Kan. — For the second consecutive year, the San Diego Stars will enter their final game of pool play at the National Baseball Congress World Series with an 0-2 record—and an opportunity to extend their season with one victory.

The Alaska Goldpanners defeated San Diego, 6-1, Sunday at Wichita State’s Eck Stadium, leaving the Stars tied with Tess’s Army at the bottom of Pool D.

San Diego and Tess’s Army will meet Tuesday at noon Central time, 10 a.m. Pacific. With the top three teams from each four-team pool advancing to the single-elimination bracket, the winner will finish third in Pool D and move on. The loser will be eliminated.

Alaska scored in each of the first two innings Sunday. Kaleb Derosier delivered an RBI single in the first before Lucas Bonham doubled home another run in the second.

Goldpanners starter Colt McKibben kept San Diego scoreless through four innings, allowing only one hit while striking out four and walking one.

Travis Van Dyke started for the Stars and allowed four runs—three earned—on seven hits over four innings. The right-hander struck out two and did not issue a walk.

Rey Ramirez supplied two of San Diego’s hits in a 2-for-3 performance from the ninth spot in the order. Gavin Gamino drove in the Stars’ only run.

Bonham went 3-for-5 from the leadoff spot for Alaska, while J.R. Bedford added two hits. The Goldpanners finished with 11 hits and improved to 2-0 in pool play.

A FAMILIAR ROAD FOR THE STARS

San Diego faced nearly the same situation at the 2025 NBC World Series.

The Stars opened last year’s tournament with a 13-5 loss to the eventual national champion Hutchinson Monarchs. They then fell 7-2 to the Seattle Cheney Studs in a 3 a.m. game during Baseball ’Round the Clock, dropping to 0-2 in Pool B.

San Diego needed to defeat the Dodge City A’s in its pool finale—and receive a favorable result in the Seattle-Hutchinson game—to remain alive.

The Stars built a 9-0 lead through two innings against Dodge City but watched the A’s erase the entire deficit. San Diego eventually entered the bottom of the ninth trailing before Joe Anderson delivered a two-run, walk-off single for a dramatic 10-9 victory on July 28, 2025.

Landen Bailey was named the Evergy Player of the Game as the Stars secured Pool B’s third seed and advanced to the single-elimination bracket. San Diego then won its opening bracket game and finished the tournament tied for seventh with a 2-3 overall record.

This year’s route is more direct. San Diego controls its own fate: beat Tess’s Army and advance again.

HAYS REMAINS UNBEATEN

The Hays Larks improved to 2-0 in Pool D with a 7-4 victory over Tess’s Army earlier Sunday.

Hays scored in each of the first three innings and built a 6-0 advantage. Rayner Beene and Sean Keenen drove in two runs apiece, while Cooper Holtorf led the Larks with two hits. Beene also stole two of Hays’ four bases.

Tess’s Army attempted to rally behind Diego Cardenas, who hit a two-run homer in the fifth and finished with two hits. Abdiel Alcea also collected two hits, while Jackson Ellison and Cardenas each drove in two runs.

Tess’s Army drew 11 walks but left opportunities unfinished against a Hays defense that turned two double plays and committed no errors.

Hays and Alaska are both 2-0 and will meet Tuesday for the Pool D championship. The Stars and Tess’s Army are both 0-2 and will play for the pool’s final bracket berth.

POOL D STANDINGS

Hays Larks: 2-0
Alaska Goldpanners: 2-0
San Diego Stars: 0-2
Tess’s Army: 0-2

TUESDAY’S POOL D GAMES

Noon Central/10 a.m. Pacific: Tess’s Army vs. San Diego Stars
6 p.m. Central/4 p.m. Pacific: Alaska Goldpanners vs. Hays Larks

MONDAY ROUNDUP: HEAT REMAINS A FACTOR IN WICHITA

Extreme heat continued to affect the NBC World Series as play resumed following the completion of Baseball ’Round the Clock. Temperatures exceeded 100 degrees during the weekend, with teams relying on large dugout fans and added hydration measures. Tournament officials continued the schedule, while allowing spectators to bring sealed or refillable water bottles and leave the stadium for additional water before re-entering. The first game on Monday was moved to 8 a.m. to try and beat the afternoon heat.

BRIGADE COMPLETES UNBEATEN POOL RUN

The Junction City Brigade claimed Pool B with a 9-1 victory over the Austin Gold Sox, completing pool play at 3-0. Hayden Oviatt homered during a four-run second inning, Erik Tapia struck out six over three scoreless relief innings and the Brigade stole 10 bases. Austin finished pool play at 2-1.

TPA STUNS LONESTAR IN 10 INNINGS

TPA Texas scored six runs in the 10th inning to upset previously unbeaten Lonestar Baseball Club, 11-6. Jackson Merritt’s two-run double highlighted the decisive rally, while Tanner Carson went 4-for-6. Corbyn Torti delivered six scoreless relief innings with 10 strikeouts as TPA finished pool play 1-2 and Lonestar fell to 2-1.

CHENEY STUDS FINISH WITH A WIN

Jeramiah Crain drove in four runs as the Seattle Cheney Studs defeated the Oklahoma Lookouts, 9-5. Crain delivered an RBI single in the fifth and a three-run double in the eighth, while Cooper Weygandt pitched five scoreless innings. Seattle finished Pool B at 1-2, while Oklahoma completed pool play at 0-3.

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS ROUT BLACKFINS

The defending champion Hutchinson Monarchs collected 17 hits in a 15-5 victory over the Seattle Blackfins. Hutchinson erased an early 4-1 deficit with four runs in the third and seven in the fourth. Jackson Schanuel, Brice Wallar, JJ Spafford and Jaden Gustafson collected three hits apiece as the Monarchs improved to 2-1; Seattle finished Pool A play at 1-2.

Related Posts

• 
  Braves explode for 41 in season opener
• 
  2026 Flag Football Scores/Schedule
• 
  2026 Prep Girls Volleyball Scores