Stars advance to regional semifinals

By ECS Staff
Updated: July 3, 2017

2017 SAN DIEGO STARS BASEBALL

Stars power-fest subdues Crush

By Nick Pellegrino
Special to East County Sports

SANTEE (6-3-2017) – The San Diego Stars stroked a season-high 2 1/2 home runs – we’ll explain why in a moment – to advance to the semifinals of the NBC Western Regionals after taking down the San Diego (Poway) Crush, 5-3, in Sunday’s (July 2) quarterfinals.

Despite the asterisk, half of the Stars’ six hits went for 2-run homers.

Shane Coleman went deep to right field in the 4th inning, giving the Stars a 2-1 lead. It was Coleman’s club-leading fourth homer of the summer — but his lead was short-lived.

An inning later, Dallas Seidel lifted his 2-run blast, also to right, and also his fourth to match Coleman and grab a 4-1 cushion.

The Crush answered with a pair of runs in the 5th, but then more Stars craziness occurred in the 7th.

Following a lead, line single by Michael Stowers, shortstop Johnny Valdez went with the wind at West Hills High’s Wolf Pack Park, jacking the ball out of the park. The only thing was, Stowers wasn’t sure where the baseball was, so he retreated back to first base to potentially tag up.

Only one problem, Valdez passed him on the basepath and was ruled out following an appeal by the Crush.

Instead of a home run, Valdez officially received credit for a RBI single, then was ruled out for passing his teammate.

However, Stars relief pitcher Jeremiah Wylie had enough left in the tank to keep the Crush scoreless for the final four frames. The hurler from San Diego Christian College (by way of San Jose State) finished the final 6 2/3 innings out of the bullpen to garner the victory for the Stars (14-5 overall).

Both Wylie and Stars newcomer Marco Bautista, who previously pitched or both Butte and Southwestern community colleges, each struck out four batters.

Wylie, who won just two games for the Hawks this past spring, now tops the Stars staff with four wins in 31 innings this summer.

The Crush collected eight hits, including two each by the bottom duo of their lineup, second baseman Tristan Toronto ad right fielder Jeff Pellegrino.

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