Stars drop Series opener to Larks

2026 SAN DIEGO STARS BASEBALL

LARKS POWER PAST STARS IN NBC WORLD SERIES OPENER

Hays collects 16 hits, ends San Diego’s opening game in seven innings; Stars face familiar Goldpanners next

By Ramon Scott
EastCountySports.com

WICHITA, Kan. (7-25-26) — The San Diego Stars needed a strong start to contain one of the National Baseball Congress World Series’ most experienced programs.

Instead, the Hays Larks scored four times over the opening two innings and continued pulling away for an 11-3, seven-inning victory Saturday at Wichita State’s Eck Stadium.

Hays collected 16 hits and ended the Pool D opener under the tournament’s eight-run rule. Seven Larks recorded two hits apiece as San Diego used several important defensive plays to remain within striking distance before Hays broke the game open over its final two at-bats.

The game was played in oppressive conditions. The temperature reached 95 degrees with an on-field heat index of approximately 105, and play was delayed during the fourth inning when the home-plate umpire became overheated and had to be replaced. The remainder of the game was worked by a two-man crew.

San Diego fell to 0-1 in Pool D and will face the Alaska Goldpanners at 6 p.m. Central Sunday. The Stars won two games during a five-game series in Fairbanks earlier this summer.

HAYS BUILDS EARLY ADVANTAGE

Hutch Russell opened the scoring with a first-inning RBI single following a six-pitch at-bat.

Hays added three runs in the second, with Taber Stokes and Owen Coil delivering run-scoring singles. Stars starter Manny Miranda encountered consistent traffic while also being charged with a balk and two pitch-clock violations.

Miranda ultimately allowed five runs on nine hits over four innings. He struck out two and walked four.

The Stars answered with two runs in the third.

Liam Herrera and Jacob Lanza reached base before Hunter Kaul singled to right, driving home Herrera with San Diego’s first run. Carter Lockwood then reached on a fielder’s-choice error as Lanza scored, cutting the Hays lead to 4-2.

San Diego’s defense prevented the deficit from becoming larger during the middle innings.

Lanza made an important running catch toward deep right-center to end the third.

In the fourth, Kaul charged an RBI single from right field and threw out Russell at home when he attempted to score an additional run with a headfirst slide.

Later in the fourth, with the bases loaded and two outs, Lanza ranged deep into center field to secure the final out and keep the Stars within 5-2.

LARKS BREAK IT OPEN

Jorge Rijo replaced Miranda in the fifth. The 6-foot-4 right-hander, who previously pitched for Oklahoma Panhandle State and Tabor College, also worked 31 innings for the Wichita Aviators this summer.

Hays scored three times during the inning, including a home run by Brand Wilson, extending the lead to 8-2.

San Diego threatened in the sixth after putting its first two batters aboard, but a sharply hit one-hopper to shortstop resulted in a 6-3 double play.

Phil Jones kept the inning alive by beating out a softly hit infield single as Lockwood scored, cutting the deficit to 8-3. Jones hit .321 for San Diego Mesa last season.

Logan Aguilar, a former Patrick Henry and Grossmont College standout committed to Penn State, struck out to end the inning.

Hays then delivered the decisive rally in the bottom of the sixth.

Cooper Holtorf launched a solo home run high toward the light pole beyond left field, with the strengthening wind carrying out toward 21st Street. The Larks later loaded the bases and added two runs on a single to center before San Diego escaped with a 4-6-3 double play.

The Stars were retired without scoring in the seventh, activating the tournament’s eight-run rule.

LANZA, HERRERA COLLECT TWO HITS

Lanza and Herrera each recorded two of San Diego’s seven hits. Kaul, Lockwood and Jackson Witt were credited with the Stars’ three RBI.

Lanza, who hit .277 for San Diego Mesa last season and will play at Chaminade in Honolulu, also supplied San Diego’s best defensive work with two important catches in center field.

Kaul, a former Christian High standout, added an outfield assist with his throw to the plate.

Cooper Holtorf, Tanner Norman, Max Flowers, Rayner Beene, Russell, Stokes and Coil each collected two hits for Hays. Beene, Coil and Wilson finished with two RBI apiece.

Trent Baker earned the victory after allowing three runs on five hits over five innings. He struck out four and walked one.

STARS STILL HAVE A PATH FORWARD

The opening loss does not place San Diego on the brink of elimination. Three of the four teams in each pool advance to the single-elimination bracket.

The Stars advanced from pool play with a 1-2 record during the 2025 NBC World Series before finishing 2-3 overall and tied for seventh.

San Diego also arrived in Wichita with considerable momentum after defeating the Bulldogs and Waves on the same day to capture the Western Baseball Association championship.

The Stars will attempt to begin another recovery Sunday against Alaska, a team they have already faced five times this summer. San Diego won twice in Fairbanks and played the Goldpanners closely in two other losses, falling 8-6 and 9-8.

After facing Alaska, the Stars will complete pool play against Tess’s Army at noon Central Tuesday.

STARS BOOKEND BASEBALL ’ROUND THE CLOCK

Saturday’s game against Hays marked the beginning of one of the NBC World Series’ most distinctive traditions: Baseball ’Round the Clock.

Established in 1990, the promotion features 11 games and events over a continuous 33-hour stretch at Eck Stadium. Games begin at noon Saturday and continue through the night with first pitches at midnight, 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. before extending into Sunday evening.

The Stars occupy both ends of the marathon. San Diego opened Baseball ’Round the Clock against Hays at noon Saturday and will play its second Pool D game against the Alaska Goldpanners in the final scheduled slot at 6 p.m. Central Sunday.

Between the two Stars appearances, the schedule includes eight additional pool games and a vintage baseball exhibition. Fans are encouraged to “check-in” at time-stamp locations to document their achievement of being at the entire event.

Baseball ’Round the Clock schedule — all times Central

• Noon Saturday — San Diego Stars vs. Hays Larks
• 3 p.m. — Alaska Goldpanners vs. Tess’s Army
• 6 p.m. — TPA Texas vs. Hutchinson Monarchs
• 9 p.m. — Lonestar Baseball Club vs. Seattle Blackfins
• Midnight — BTL Hornets vs. Santa Barbara Foresters
• 3 a.m. Sunday — Junction City Brigade vs. Seattle Cheney Studs
• 6 a.m. — Great Bend Bat Cats vs. Liberal Bee Jays
• 10 a.m. — Bulldozers vs. Red Stockings, vintage exhibition
• Noon — Oklahoma Lookouts vs. Austin Gold Sox
• 3 p.m. — Hays Larks vs. Tess’s Army
• 6 p.m. — San Diego Stars vs. Alaska Goldpanners

BASEBALL THE WAY IT WAS PLAYED IN 1876

The Sunday-morning schedule includes a vintage exhibition between the Bulldozers and Red Stockings played under rules from 1876—the year the National League was founded.

Pitchers deliver underhand from a flat box positioned 45 feet from home plate, with no mound or curveballs. A batted ball caught on one bounce records an out, while players use wool uniforms, thick-handled wooden bats and limited period equipment.

The exhibition also embraces the terminology and etiquette of the era. Pitchers are called “hurlers,” batters are “strikers,” catchers are positioned “behind,” and the arbitrator settles disputes. Cursing and spitting can result in fines, and handshakes replace modern high-fives.

POOL D SCHEDULE

Saturday’s results

• Hays Larks 11, San Diego Stars 3
• Alaska Goldpanners vs. Tess’s Army, late

Sunday

• 6 p.m. Central/4 p.m. Pacific — San Diego Stars vs. Alaska Goldpanners

Tuesday

• Noon Central/10 a.m. Pacific — Tess’s Army vs. San Diego Stars

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