Andrews ignites pair of big Stars rallies

By ECS Staff
Updated: August 5, 2018

Members of the San Diego Stars prior to Sunday game

2018 SAN DIEGO STARS BASEBALL

84th annual National Baseball Congress World Series

East County Sports staff report
WICHITA, Kan. (8-6-2018) — San Diego Stars infielder Adrian “Ty” Andrews possesses a baseball resume that spans both coasts and many locations in-between.

After playing his high school baseball in Wisconsin, Andrews initially played his summer ball in Jacksonville, Fla., before transferring to the Stars this summer. So playing in south-central Kansas at historic Lawrence-Dumont Stadium would seem to be of little consequence for the versatile Andrews, who can play as a corner infielder and catcher.

Coach Mickey Deutschman talks to his team before Sunday’s game in Wichita.

On Sunday (Aug. 5), Andrews fueled the Stars offense, batting 3-for-4 with four RBI and scoring twice in a come-from-behind 16-8, run-rule victory over the Clarinda (Iowa) A’s in a pool play contest at the 84th annual National Baseball Congress World Series.

“I’m grateful to play in a great tournament like this,” said Andrews. ” To get the opportunity to get into the lineup makes it all even better.”

The Stars rallied from a 6-0 deficit to get even with six runs in the 4th inning. But when the A’s reclaimed the advantage at 8-6, San Diego responded with 8 runs in the 6th inning, then added two more in the 9th in invoke the run rule.

“After our unfortunate loss in the first game, to was great to see the team come together and redeem themselves,” said owner/manager Mickey Deutschman, who once guided the Stars to a third-place finish at the NBCWS in the 1990s.

Stars members prior to the game on Sunday.

Andrews proved integral in the first two rallies, starting the comeback with a 2-run double to trim the deficit to 6-2. Emilio Escobedo followed with an RBI single, Ryan Kouba hit into a fielder’s choice which was booted to allow two more runs to score, then Johnny Valdez smacked a game-tying, RBI double.

Clarinda countered with two runs in the home-half of the inning, but San Diego took charge with its 8-spot in the 6th.

Ryan Culp drilled a double to right to bring home Brant Schaffitzel, then Dallas Seidel singled home pinch-runner Brady Joslyn to knot the ballgame at 8-all.

Andrews then collected what proved to be the game-winning RBI by sending a 2-run base hit to left, scoring Seidel and Tristan Salinas. For his efforts, the NBC named Andrews as the Player of the Game.

“The NBC (World Series) is a great tournament, so it’s quite an honor to be named the MVP of the game,” he added.

In addition to Andrews’ four RBI, five other Stars — Schaffitzel, Joslyn, Culp, Seidel and Valdez — registered two RBI each. Joslyn and Cabot Van Til each batted 3-for-5 to fuel a 17-hit attack.

The winning pitcher was reliever Ryan Skillman (2-0), who fired the final 5 2/3 innings, only allowing a pair of runs. And with the run rule triggered, the bullpen saved an inning to mathematically eliminate the A’s, which is 0-2 in Pool C.

Looking ahead

Meanwhile, the Stars (26-7 overall, 1-1 in pool play) must win their final pool contest, meeting the Hays (Kan.) Larks.

“It was a team victory overall and gives us something to look forward to,” added Mickey D.

Tuesday’s (time TBA) encounter with the Larks is a must-win occasion for both sides to guarantee a berth into the money round (quarterfinals) to join the event’s Final Eight.

About the Larks

The Larks were national finalists in 2016, falling to the Santa Barbara Foresters, and 2007, losing to the Havasu Heat (now the Wellington, Kan., Heat). In fact, Hays has reached the title game on five occasions (all since 1995), but have yet to capture the crown.