Stars need win 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

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