STARS PHOTOS WBA South Standings 2012 W   L  GB Pct Force Waves STARS Team SD SKLZ Mavericks Hustle 22 16 13 11 8 6 1 2 8 11 13 16 18 23 —  6.0 9.0 11.0 14.0 16.0 21.0 .917 .667 .541 .459 .333 .250 .042 W-L reflect. double forfeits by Team SD (6), SKLZ (5) and Hustle (3) for games not played.

WBA South Standings 2011 W   L  GB Pct x-Force y-STARS Waves Mavericks SKLZ Team SD Samurai 19 14 14 12 12 7 2 5 8 10 11 12 14 20 —  4.0 5.0 6.5 7.0 10.5 16.0 .791 .636 .583 .542 .500 .333 .091 x-clinched league title y-won NBC So.Cal. tourny WBA South Standings 2010 W   L  GB  Pct. STARS Force Waves Mavericks Heroes 13 10 7 7 3 3 6 9 9 13 — 3.0 6.0 6.0 10.0 .813 .625 .438 .438 .188 WBA South Standings 2008 W   L  GB  Pct. 1.STARS 12 5 — .705

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GRAND FORKS, B.C., Canada (9-2-12) — The San Diego Stars faced their Pacific Northwest counterparts, the Thurston County (Wash.) Senators, which is also a semipro baseball team playing in a predominately collegiate circuit - the Puget Sound Collegiate League. Both sides possess a mixed share of former and current professional players, plus a host of small college and community college athletes.

On paper, the match-up seemed extremely even, so it would be little mistakes which determined the winner when the ballclubs met in consecutivbe encounters at the Grand Forks International Baseball Classic at James Donaldson Park.

In the teams' final pool play contest, an 8th-ining error by the Stars allowed Thurston County to score five times in Saturday's (Sept. 1) 7-4 victory. The decision left the ballclubs facing each other in Sunday's (Sept. 2) quarterfinals, with the Senators posting a narrow 4-3 triumph.

Thus, the Stars end the summer even with a 23-23 overall record, which includes another championship in the Western Regional qualifying tournament to the National Baseball Congress World Series.

In the first game, catcher CODY DOYLE, shortstop RYAN MARTIN and second baseman NICK WAGNER all batted 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Stars, including a 2-run homer by Doyle.

In the following day's elimination game, the Stars scored three times in the 4th inning to tie the contest at 3-all, featuring RBI hits by the same trio of Doyle, Martin and Wagner.

However, Senators catcher Maxx Garrett opened the bottom half of the frame with a solo homer. The Stars placed runners on base over the next five frames, yet could never get even again as the Thurston County bullpen danced through several jams.

STARBURSTS: Named to the all-tournament team from the San Diego Stars were CODY DOYLE, who batted at even .400 at the event, and NICK WAGNER, who batted .385. The team's batting leader was RYAN MARTIN, who went 7-for-14 (.500).

Bendorf mishandled a tapper back to the mound to open his time on the mound, although the play was ruled an infield single. Five batters later, the Honkers of Shoreline, Wash., pushed across four runs.

Fortunately, Bendorf settled down and did not allow any basehits afterward. The Stars bullpen also dominated , as STEVEN TAFT tossed three innings of no-hit ball, then CHRIS JOLQUIN allowed a single in the 9th, but San Diego baseman NICK WAGNER turned a line-drive out into a game-ending double play.

Down 4-1 after one inning, the Stars got even with three runs in the 3rd, featuring a game-tying, 2-run homer by ALFONSO CASILLAS.

In the 6th, MICHAEL LANGE doubled to right field, later scoring the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. The Stars then posted four runs in both the 7th and 9th innings to win going away.

Casillas, the designated hitter, finished with three RBI on a 2-for-4 outing at the plate, also scoring twice. Meanwhile, center fielder CHRIS ALLEN went 2-for-5 and scored three times from the leadoff spot, while shortstop RYAN MARTIN went 4-for-5 with a pair of RBI.

The Stars, 1-1 in the tournament, need a win Saturday against the Thurston County Senators to guarantee a berth into Sunday's quarterfinals. All final four games will be held on Monday, which is also Labor Day ("Labour" Day) in Canada.

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GRAND FORKS, B.C., Canada (8-31-12) — The San Diego Stars semipro baseball team loaded the bases in the 9th inning Thursday (Aug. 30), but settled for just a single run in falling to the Trail (B.C.) Oriloles -- the defending Western Canada champions -- in a 4-2 setback during the opening pool-play contest of the Grand Forks International Classic.

The Stars must sweep their final two pool contests to advance to the money round of the tournament,being held at historic James Donaldson Park.

With one out in the 9th, catched CODY DOYLE singled up the middle, first baseman MIKE LANGE doubled to right field, then designated hitter MICHAEL SCHARBARTH was hit by a pitch to load the bases and bring the potentional go-ahead run to the plate. Doyle would score on a wild pitch, but the Orioles, escaped with a pair of strikeouts.

The other Stars run also scored without the aid of an RBI in the 6th, as CHRIS ALLEN singled and stole second base, then scored on an error on a ball hit by Doyle to give San Diego a 1-0 advantage.

The Stars meet the Northwest (Shoreline, Wash.) Honkers on Friday, then the Thurston County (Wash.) Senators on Saturday.

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SANTEE (8-1-12) — Following the lead of many other collegiate and semipro baseball organizations, the San Diego Stars semipro baseball team and the San Diego Baseball Academy are joining forces by starting a youth program to develop a composite, all-age group line-up of ballclubs.

Headed by longtime Stars owner/manager Mickey Deutschman, who spent more than 20 years as a scout in the Atlanta Braves organization, the program is already looking to put together ballclubs for play in Fall ball, building toward the 2013 summer season.

Assisting Deutschman will be other coaches with professional playing and coaching experience, including current Serra High head coach Scott "Hoppy" Hopgood, and many others, including players from the Stars.

The first set of tryouts will be for the 13-and-under ballclub, which will be held on Aug. 22-23, from 6-8 p.m., and on Sept. 8 from 10 a.m. to noon. All will be held at Stars Field, located on Wildcat Canyon Road, just one mile north of Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino (behind Barona Museum).

To register for tryouts or for further information, contact the Stars at (619) 608-7730.

The Stars recently completed its summer-ball regular season, posting a winning record for the 31st time in 32 seasons. They will complete their season over Labor Day weekend, participating in the invitation-only Grand Forks International Classic, to be held in Grand Forks, B.C., Canada.

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BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (7-26-12) — TAYLOR EICHHORST, a three-time All-East County performer for Christian High in 2007-09, belted a pair of home runs Wednesday (July 25), including a 3-run shot when the Stars posted seven runs in the 7th inning, helping the San Diego Stars to sail past Team San Diego, 12-8, in a Western Baseball Association finale at Stars Field.

The victory allowed the Stars to cap the regular season with four straight WBA triumphs, finishing the season at 22-20 overall (13-11 WBA).

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BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (7-25-12) — It was a ballgame for the Old Timers of the San Diego Stars.

PETE MALLOY, the longest-tenured member of the pitching staff, tossed a mammoth 162-pitch complete game, while BRIAN SOS, the oldest player in Western Baseball Association history, slammed a 2-run homer Tuesday (July 24), leading the Stars past the South Division champion San Diego Force, 2-1, in the Stars' final official home game of the season.

The Stars complete the season Wednesday with a "road" game against Team San Diego, but it will also be played at Stars Field, starting at 5 p.m.

Malloy carried a shutout through 8 2/3 innings before the Force finally loaded the bases with two outs. Malloy then hit a batter on an 0-2 pitch to force in a run, but retired the next batter on a pop-up to MICHAEL STOWERS in shallow center field to cap his complete-game effort.

Meanwhile, the Stars collected all of their runs with two outs in the 1st inning. ALLEN BRACE laced a single in front of the left fielder, then Sos drilled a 3-1 fastball over the barrier in left for a quick 2-0 advantage.

Malloy did the rest even as his pitch count continued to rise.

"Petey is a big boy and knows when he needs to come out," said Stars manager MICKEY DEUTSCHMAN. "He knows to give the sign if we have to come get him."

Acting manager SCOTT "Hoppy" HOPGOOD knew, too, only visiting the mound in the 8th inning to pass along some information. The meeting was extremely brief.

"I came in to tell Pete that the Force pinch-hitter (Colby Everett) was their best hitter," noted Hopgood. "If he got a hit, fine, but I would've felt terrible if I didn't at least tell him."

Malloy ended up walking Everett, then coaxed a ground ball to leave two runners stranded to maintain his shutout through eight innings. Add in the three Force runners left on base in the 9th and the visitors finished with 12 runners on, including half in scoring position.

By downing the Force, the Stars remain owners of the best record in WBA history (19-1 in 2006) in handing the Force their second league setback of the season.

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BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (7-23-12) — Shota Kanoh of Tokai University in Tokyo, a left-handed pitcher who recently turned 19, needed 138 pitches yet still tossed a complete game to lead the All-Japan Samurai to a surprising 8-1 victory over the San Diego Stars. The non-league game was held Monday (July 22) at Stars Field.

Kanoh, utilizing a knuckleball, yielded just six hits to the Stars, which scored their lone run on a sacrifice fly by MICHAEL STOWERS to bring home ALLAN BRACE (triple) with the game-tying run in the 3rd inning.

However, the Samurai countered with three runs in the 6th and four more in the 7th to post their first-ever victory over the Stars (20-20 overall).

Brace went 2-for-4 against the Samurai, as did TAYLOR EICHHORST, who pounded a pair of doubles. Otherwise, the rest of the batting order went just 2-for-25 against Kanoh, striking out 10 times.

The Stars complete the regular season with a pair of "road" games, yet both will be at Stars Field. They meet the San Diego Force on Tuesday, then Team San Diego on Wednesday, both starting at 5 p.m.

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BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (7-23-12) — Finance officials announced last week that the average citizen of Canada is wealthier than the typical American.

Canadians, last week, also proved they are making vast improvements playing baseball, handing the San Diego Stars four straight losses, beginning a record stretch of eight consecutive losses by the Stars.

The skid finally ended Sunday (July 22) after the Stars swept the San Diego Waves, 5-4 and 7-5, in a Western Baseball Association doubleheader at Stars Field.

In the opener, the Waves scored twice in the 8th inning to grad a 4-3 lead, only to be countered by a 2-run homer by TAYLOR EICHHORST in the bottom half of the inning to pull out the victory.

In game two, Stars newcomer JARED HUNT, an All-East County product out of Granite Hills High who now plays for San Diego State, opened the game with a solo homer, jump-starting the Stars to a 4-1 advantage.

The Waves got even in the 8th at 5-all, but the Stars answered again with two runs in the 8th, including a tie-breaking basehit by Hunt. The second baseman went 3-for-3 and was hit by a pitch, driving in a pair of runs.

By Nick Pellegrino
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SANTEE (7-6-12) — The San Diego Stars semipro baseball team, which qualified for yet another National Baseball Congress World Series earlier in the week, will head on the road for a week-long Tour of British Columbia when they open a 2-game series against the Trail (B.C.) Orioles. The dates for the set has been moved and will now start on Monday (July 9) from historic Butler Park.

"We were going to play them over the weekend, starting tonight (Friday), but our other non-league games before the tournament fell through," said Stars manager/owner MICKEY DEUTSCHMAN. "That meant we would have four days off before the Kamloops Tournament, which would have been expensive for us to just sit there."

"Fortunately, the folks with the Trail Orioles were nice enough to move the games to accommodate us. That just goes to show you the type of hospitality you find in Canada."

Following the Trail series, the Stars will play three round-robin games to open the 40th annual Kamloops International Baseball Tournament. The Stars open play against the Thurston County (Wash.) Senators on Thursday.(July 12). The other preliminary ballgames are against the national power Seattle Studs, then the Kelowna (B.C.) Jays before "money round" play over the weekend.

The Orioles (3-9 overall, 2-8 league), members of the Pacific International League, will seek to defend their Western Canadian title in Winnipeg in August.

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (7-3-12) — Behind a combined 5-hit shutout by pitchers ROB NESOVIC and LUCAS WHITMORE, the San Diego Stars semipro baseball secured a berth to the National Baseball Congress World Series after claiming the Western Regional crown following Tuesday's (July 3) 9-0 blanking of the South Bay System, the defending regional titlists.

Stars first baseman BRIAN SOS was anointed the MVP of the tournament by the media for his play on both offense and defense throughout the event. Along with several catches at first base to prevent errors and register outs on opposing batters, Sos batted .400 (6-for-15) with five RBI (including at least one in each contest), allowing the Stars to sweep through the event with an undefeated mark (4-0, 17-10 overall).

"Brian showed the younger players how it's supposed to be done," said Stars manager MICKEY DEUTSCHMAN on the 40-year old veteran. "He not only hit, he hit in clutch situations while also making a bunch of plays with his glove, hustling the whole time despite playing while obviously hurt."

The Chula Vista-based System, which defeated the Stars in a 2011 first-round game en route to a surprising regional crown, registered 38 runs in three contests leading to the final, including a 14-0 pasting of the San Diego Mavericks in the challenger bracket final earlier on the day. However, Nesovic escaped some early nervousness to settle in and overpower System batters.

"Robby hit the first batter, then threw a wild pitch, so we sent 'Hoppy' (Stars pitching coach SCOTT HOPGOOD) out to the mound to talk to him," noted Deutschman. "After that, things went well."

Nesovic escaped with a strikeout, then catcher CODY SOS nailed the System leadoff batter in his attempt to steal third base, firing a strike to defender TAYLOR EICHHORST. An inning later, Stars second baseman HILARIO GARCIA started an inning-ending double play.

Following Nesovic's stint on the mound, Whitmore entered to retire all six batters he faced.

Garcia also helped the Stars get on the scoreboard. He lifted a sacrifice fly in the 3rd to open the scoring, then later scored on a sacrifice fly by SHELDON GABRIELS in the 5th for a 4-0 cushion.

The Stars then essentially clinched the tournament title with five runs in the 8th.

Garcia walked with the bases loaded to force in a run, then MICHAEL STOWERS capped the rally with a 2-run single. Both Garcia and Stowers finished with two hits and a pair of RBI, while designated hitter ALAN BRACE went 3-for-3, including an RBI double in the 4th to score Gabriels (double). Brace reached base on all four of his trips to the plate.

The Stars have now captured the Western Regional three times over the past four seasons (also in 2009-10). In 2011, they were the Southern California Regional champions, giving them automatic berths to Wichita, Kan., home of the NBC World Series.

Stars Stuff — The Western Baseball Association announced that The System will join the league immediately, replacing the San Diego Hustle, which folded just prior to the Western Regional tournament. The System will assume the schedule and league record left over by the Hustle.

NBC Western Regional bracket

NBC World Series' Western Regional qualifying tournament. CLICK on bracket for enlargement.

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (7-3-12) — PETE MALLOY and STEVEN TAFT combined for the third consecutive solid pitching performance by the San Diego Stars, moving the ballclub to within one step of another National Baseball Congress World Series appearance after advancing to the final round of the NBC Western Regional following an 11-4 pasting of the San Diego Mavericks at Stars Field.

Meanwhile, the offense ignited early with two runs in each of the first three innings, highlighted by a 2-run homer by designated hitter ALAN BRACE in the 2nd inning. And when TAYLOR EICHHORST pounded a 3-run homer in the 6th, the Stars advantage burst to 9-3.

The Stars needed just four batters to get on the scoreboard, when first baseman BRIAN SOS lifted a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to deep center fiel;d, scoring CHRIS ALLEN. An out later, WESLEY WALLACE registered an RBI single.

In the 2nd inning, a walk to catcher CODY SOS was followed by Brace's line shot over the left-field fence. An inning later, Wallace scored on a triple by shortstop SHELDON GABRIELS, who then came home on a Brace basehit for his third RBI on the afternoon.

The Mavericks finally answered with three runs in the 5th to make it 6-3, but the Stars got all of those runs back in the 6th when, in what one scout called a bunting situation, Eichhorst drilled his 3-run homer to left-center field.

"Even when it was 6-0, you kind of felt that the Mavericks would make a run," said Stars manager MICKEY DEUTSCHMAN. "But when 'Ike' (Eichhorst) hit his homer, that was it."

The Stars will meet the winner of the challenger bracket final between the Mavericks and the South Bay System. The System advanced after eliminating the San Diego Force. 10-5, in the challenger semifinals.

In four victories is an many games this season, the Stars have out-scored the Mavericks, 49-20, going for a 5-game season sweep in the teams' final scheduled contest on July 20 at Alliant International University.

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (7-2-12) — The fastball of UCLA bound pitcher CODY POTEET is currently topping out around 92 miles per hour, which is good enough to register outs on the majority of batters. But it wasn't good enough to retire key members of the San Diego Stars semipro baseball team.

Sos got off the deck to blast a line drive single to center field, one of his game-best three hits on the afternoon. Gabriels then answered with a massive 2-run homer to right field, powering the Stars past the Southern California SKLZ, 4-3, in Sunday's (July 1) winners bracket semifinals of the NBC Western Regional at Stars Field.

San Diego (16-10) advances to Monday's 4 p.m. winners final against the upstart San Diego Mavericks, who thumped the All-Japan Samurai, 9-2, in the other semifinal.

Poteet registered all three outs in the 3rd inning on strikes, giving him six Ks entering the 4th. But the Stars made the adjustment, proving Poteet, the 2009 East County Sports Rookie of the Year, needs to develop a second pitch if he hopes for long-term success with the Bruins or beyond.

In 2009, Poteet became the third freshman to gain first-team status on the All-East County team (either by this website of The Daily Californian), joining BRIAN HUMPHRIES (Granite Hills, 2005) and TODD CADY (Grossmont, 1988) on an impressive list of young phenoms.

However, Sos, who recently turned 40, has seen his share of fastballs in his 20-plus year career with the Stars, redeeming himself following his brushback to answer back with his line drive. Moments later, the 0-2 pitch to Gabriels wasn't as far inside, but the message was sent... then quickly responded to when the Stars shortstop belted his second homer of the summer to snap a 1-1 ballgame.

Meanwhile, Stars pitcher ALLEN TOWNSEND, in his longest outing of the summer, gained the victory in a 7 1/3 inning stint. He struck out nine batters.

The SKLZ finally chased Townsend on an RBI double by Dillon Dooney in the 8th to trim the deficit to 4-3. However, the Stars got the run back on Sos' third hit, a double off the fence in left to score designated hitter DALLAS SEIDEL (walk).

Reliever JOHN BASNIGHT tossed the final 1 2/3 innings to garner the save, registering three strikeouts. He did allow a run-scoring single to the SKLZ' John "Bubba" Jensen-Johnson, who went 3-for-5 with a run and a pair of RBI.

However, Basnight ended the game with a called strike three to cap his longest appearance of the season, too.

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (7-1-12) — The third time proved to be the charm for the San Diego Stars during Saturday's (June 30) opening round of the NBC Western Regional.

After twice rallying to move even, the Stars would again trail in the 11th inning, 6-5, yet received an RBI double by SHELDON GABRIELS to again tie it. But when the relay throw skipped into the San Diego Waves' dugout, WESLEY WALLACE was award home plate to give the Stars a dramatic 7-6 victory over their WBA rivals.

"I don't think we've ever won a game like that before, with the throw going into the dugout to just let the winning run walk in," said veteran Stars manager MICKEY DEUTSCHMAN. "It showed how our team wouldn't roll over."

The Stars rallied back from deficits of 4-1 and 5-4 to move even, but when Waves reserve catcher Craig Shul hit a solo homer with two outs in the 11th, the hosts would need some skill and luck.

They got both.

DALLAS SEIDEL opened the 11th with a line single to center, but the Waves retired the next two batters. However, Wallace sent a smash off the leg of the third baseman for a single, then Gabriels followed with his third hit of the ballgame.

Gabriels, who earlier roped a 2-run double to right-center field in the 7th, sent another double down the right-field line. Seidel scored to tie the game, while Wallace advanced to third.

The Waves defense then suffered a communication breakdown. The relay from the outfield was cut-off, but the first baseman fired the ball home instead of the anticipated run-in. Neither the catcher or pitcher backing-up the play were ready for the ball, which bounced directly into the dugout.

Gabriels, the shortstop, finished the game by going 3-for-5 with three RBI. Seidel and BRIAN SOS each added a pair of basehits, featuring a game-tying, two-out single by Sos in the 8th to force extra innings.

LOUIS MARTUS pitched the final 5 2/3 innings to collect the victory in relief. Martus now shared the ballclub's lead with his third win of the summer.

The Stars advance to Sunday's (July 1) 4 p.m. winners bracket semifinals at Stars Field, facing the Southern California SKLZ, which downed defending regional champion South Bay System, 7-2.

In the other half of the draw, the San Diego Mavericks shocked the WBA leading San Diego Force, 11-10, while the first-round game between the San Francisco Seals and All-Japan Samurai will be played Sunday morning at Alliant International University.

Stars Stuff — Seidel, the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference's Triple Crown winner out of Grossmont College, utilized connections by the Stars coaching staff to secure a baseball scholarship to Sonoma State, an NCAA Division II program. At least one other member of the Stars is also shortly expected to sign with the Seawolves.

© East County Sports.com
PRIMM, Nev. (6-23-12) — The San Diego Stars 3-game roadtrip to Las Vegas was delayed by a day following a major chemical spill on Interstate 5, which shut down the freeway just south of the state line for six hours on Friday (June 22).

The traffic jam lasted well into the evening as California Highway Patrol officials worked to clean up the ferric chloride solution that leaked when a tractor-trailer overturned, causing traffic to back up for miles in both directions.

Thus, the Stars game against Team Las Vegas was postponed with the team's motorhome (with more than half of the team's roster riding inside) stuck in the desert. The game will be made up as part of a Saturday doubleheader, starting at 4 p.m. at Basic High School in Henderson, Nev.

According to The Las Vegas Review Jorunal, authorities had to close all lanes after a truck carrying 4,100 gallons of ferric chloride solution collided with a sedan in the northbound lanes about 6:30 a.m., CHP officer Adam Croxton said.

The crash caused the driver of the tractor-trailer to lose control. The vehicle overturned into the median, spilling more than 3,000 gallons of the substance onto the desert before authorities plugged the hole about 11 a.m.

Nobody was injured in the incident, and police were still working to find who was at fault in the crash, Croxton said. The driver of the truck, based in Mojave, Calif., was allowed to transport the substance.

Ferric chloride can burn the eyes and skin and irritate the respiratory tract if inhaled, according to Brian Hoeft, director of the Freeway and Arterial System of Transportation. It can be used in sewage treatment, drinking water production and in the etching of copper-based metals.

One northbound lane reopened about 10 a.m., but both southbound lanes remained closed until about 12:30 p.m., when health officials deemed the spill posed no threat to passing motorists, he said.

By 5 p.m., however, traffic heading to Las Vegas remained heavy. Thr backup was reported to be up to 16 miles long,with motorists needing upwards of four hours to get around the spill.

© East County Sports.com
ESCONDIDO (6-22-12) — It didn't carry the importance of last weekend's tournament final, yet the San Diego Stars could still point to several individuals for standout efforts, all leading to a solid 5-4 come-from-behind triumph over the previously undefeated San Diego Waves.

After getting blanked in a 3-0 decision during Sunday's NBC Southern California regional final, the Stars erupted for two runs after just three batters in Thursday's (June 21) Western Baseball Association ballgame, yet soon were down, 4-2, to the Waves at historic Coscarart Field.

However, left fielder WESLEY WALLACE belted a game-tying, 2-run homer in the 6th inning, part of his 4-for-4 outing, then CHRIS ALLEN singled home CODY SOS to take the lead in the 7th.

The 1-run cushion was all that was needed for pitcher PETE MALLOY, who is normally a starter, yet was called upon to toss 4 1/3 innings of shutout ball from out of the bullpen. The effort featured three strikeouts in the 9th, giving the southpaw five Ks to earn the victory.

The Stars' fast start saw Allen (safe on error) and MICHAEL STOWERS (hit by pitch) reach to open the contest, then TAYLOR EICHHORST singled to left to score Allen. But when Eichhorst intentionally strayed off first base to get caught in a rundown, a heads-up Stowers also raced home.

In the 6th, Wallace hooked the ball down the left-field line, staying fair by about 4-5 feet.

The winning run could, arguably, not have scored when CODY SOS initially reached base on a throwing error by the shortstop, then Sos was picked off by the catcher, only to remain on base when the shortstop dropped the ball on the tag. Two pitches later, Allen lined a single to center, with Sos racing home with the go-ahead run.

Meanwhile, Mallow only allowed an 8th-inning single, facing just one batter above the minimum in registering his 13 outs. Stars starting pitcher LOUIS MARTUS struck out eight Waves in his 4 2/3 innings of work, but was hampered by a pair of unearned runs when the Waves scored three times in the 2nd to take the lead.

The Stars open a 3-game weekend series at Team Las Vegas on Friday, starting at 7:30 p.m.

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (6-21-12) — Entering Wednesday's (June 20) Western Baseball Association game, STEVEN TAFT owned just two brief appearances for the San Diego Stars, one as a pinch-hitter (a 3-run triple) and one as a relief pitcher (faced one batter).

So when he received the surprising call to start on the mound against the San Diego Mavericks, Taft, a product San Dieguito Academt, proved to be more than ready.

Taft faced the minimum 15 batters through five innings, getting help on a double play grounder and a runner caught stealing, as he mowed down the Mavericks. Meanwhile, the Stars offense mounted a 10-0 advantage, en route to a 12-7 thrashing of the Mavs.

Taft lasted 5 2/3 innings before tiring in collecting the victory. AUSTIN SEIDEL closed out the 6th inning to maintain the lead, then CHRIS ESTOPIER tossed the final 2 1/3 innings, allowing just a pair of unearned runs,

On offense, right fielder WESLEY WALLACE and third baseman KENNY BELZER each registered three hits, including a 2-run double by Belzer and 2 -run triple by shortstop SHELDON GABRIELS in the 3rd, when the Stars posted six runs to extend their lead to 7-0.

Gabriels finished with three RBI, including a sacrifice fly to open the scoring in the 2nd. Later, reserve catcher NICK SICA knocked in a pair of runs with an 8th-inning double.

The Stars conclude the first half of their WBA schedule with a road game against the San Diego Waves, slated for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Escondido High School.

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (6-20-12) — San Diego Stars pitcher AARON RICHARDSON tossed four innings of 1-hit ball, extending his summer scoreless streak to a steallar 17 consecutive innings. But that fifth inning of work proved costly.

Following a lead error by the Stars defense, the San Diego Force scored five times in the 5th, going on to Tuesday's (June 19) 6-1 Western Baseball Association victory at Stars Field.

Richardson, a left-hander, registered six strikeouts against the Force, giving him 29 for the summer (more than two per inning). But when he tired, the Force took advantage to overcome an early 1-0 deficit.

For the Stars, HILARIO GARCIA scored their lone run when the Force dropped the ball on a pickoff play at first base, allowing Garcia to scoot home from third base in the top of the 5th.

The Stars host the San Diego Mavericks on Wednesday at 5 p.m.

© East County Sports.com
WILMINGTON (6-18-12) — The San Diego County division of the Western Baseball Association again proved dominated over the northern division neighbors from Los Angeles and Orange counties, as the San Diego Stars and Escondido's San Diego Waves advanced to the final of the NBC Southern California regional.

The Stars utilized dominating pitching to sweep three opponents en route to the final, while the Waves subdued four foes to gain a berth in the regional championship. Both ballclubs still had plenty of arms left, but Waves left-handed Matt Stalcup of Pittsburg State (Kan.) was a touch better, tossing a 4-hit shutout in a 3-0 triumph over the defending regional champion Stars.

Stalcup retired 15 straight batter before Stars shortstop HILARIO GARCIA singled, followed by the second hit of the ballgame by first baseman BRIAN SOS in the 7th inning. However, Stalcup (Wellington, Kan.) escaped on a double play grounder.

In the 8th, Stars left fielder WESLEY WALLACE stroked a double, but Stalcup stranded the runner en route to his complete-game shutout.

The Stars advanced to the final with a 7-3 Sunday (June 17) afternoon victory over the East L.A. Dodgers' "SS" team -- no word on what "SS" means.

San Diego broke open a 1-0 ballgame with six runs in the 5th for a 7-0 lead. The outburst included a 2-run single by ROB NESOVIC and an RBI double by TAYLOR EICHHORST (3-for-3, plus two walks)

Stars starting pitcher LOUIS MARTUS tossed five solid innings, then TAYLOR KLUGMAN went the final four frames without allowing a run for the save.

In Saturday's pool play contest, the Stars downed the West Coast Storm for the seventh straight time over three seasons, 3-1. San Diego received run-scoring hits by Wallace, Sos and NICK PARISI.

© East County Sports.com
WILMINGTON (6-16-12) — JUSTIN DISBRO and AARON RICHARDSON combined for a 4-hit shutout, powering the defending champion San Diego Stars to a 6-0 pasting of the East Los Angeles Dodgers' Gold team in Friday's (June 15) opening round of the National Baseball Congress Southern California regional. The contest was held at Banning High School.

Disbro struck out five batters over his six innings of work, then Richardson fanned six more in his three innings to garner the save.

For Disbro, he now shares the ballclub's lead with his third victory of the season. Meanwhile, Richardson has now tossed 13 innings this summer without allowing a run – earned or unearned – with 23 strikeouts.

In addition, center fielder CHRIS ALLEN fueled the offense with a 4-for-5 outing at the plate, while KENNY BELZER, TONY SPEARS and TAYLOR RICHHORST added two hits each.

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (6-13-12) — The San Diego Mavericks were gracious visitors with plenty of gifts for the San Diego Stars, who gladly accepted all of them.

In the 3rd inning of Tuesday's (June 12) Western Baseball Association ballgame, the Mavericks failed to tag up for an easy run on a ball which should have gone for a sacrifice fly, then the Mavs pitching staff bounced a wild pitch, allowing the game-tying run to score.

And when the Stars followed by unloading for seven runs in the 4th inning, they raced to a comfortable 15-5 run-rule decision in seven innings at Stars Field. In two meetings this season, the Stars have out-scored the Mavs by a composite 26-6 count.

The key wild pitch allowed veteran first baseman BRIAN SOS (1-for-1 plus three walks, scoring three times) to waltz home to make it 4-4. An inning later, the first eight batters reached base, featuring a 2-run single by center fielder CHRIS ALLEN for a 6-4 lead which later was extended to 11-4.

In the 5th, Stars newcomer STEVEN TAFT, in his first official at-bat with the semipro ballclub, drilled a bases-loaded triple to put the contest out of reach.

Relief pitcher ALLEN TOWNSEND tossed 4 1/3 innings to gain the victory. CHRIS ESTOPIER tossed two innings of 1-hit ball, enough to garner the save in a run-rule situation.

The Stars (8-5 overall) next partake in the NBC Southern California region, placed in the bracket which will play at Banning High in Wilmington (1.5 miles west of downtown Long Beach), starting Friday (times and opponents TBA).

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (6-12-12) — Under the leadership of former San Diego Stars player and coach MIKE BUTTERFIELD, Team San Diego continued its surge in the Western Baseball Association standings, running their record to 4-0 after scoring twice in the bottom of the 9th to shock the Stars, 3-2, in Monday's (June 11) game at Stars Field.

Team San Diego's Eric Peruzzi executed a successful safety squeeze to score Brett Ackerman with the tying run, with Peruzzi safe on an error. Then the Stars booted the ball on a potential double play grounder to force extra innings, but instead saw the team's fourth error of the contest allow the walk-off run to score and waste strong pitching performances by JUSTIN DISBRO and TRAVIS WOLF.

On offense, Stars third baseman KENNY BELZER belted a pair of doubles in a 3-for-4 outing. However, the rest of the team managed just four singles, while striking out 10 times -- eight with runners in scoring position.

The Stars (7-5 overall) complete their week-long homestand Tuesday, hosting the San Diego Mavericks in a 5 p.m. start.

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (6-11-12) — San Diego Stars shortstop SHELDON GABRIELS proved worthy of his new role as the ballclub's leadoff batter.

In 10 plate appearances Sunday (June 10), Gabriels reached base with three hits, including a triple, and three walks, helping the Stars gain a Western Baseball Association doubleheader split with the Southern California SKLZ at Stars Field.

Gabriels' run-scoring triple capped a 3-run outburst in the 2nd inning of the opener, as San Diego took a 4-2 triumph.

In the nightcap, despite six innings of 2-hit, shutout ball by Stars relief pitcher LUCAS WHITMORE, the SKLZ again utilized seven pitchers to hang on to a 5-4 decision.

With the split, the Stars remain in a 3-way tie for second place in the WBA South, a half-game behind front-running Team San Diego, who the Stars meet on Monday at 5 p.m. The game will be held at Barona, but TSD will be the home team since Grossmont College is not available.

The Stars complete the stretch of game on their own field with a 5 p.m. Tuesday meeting with the San Diego Mavericks before entering tournament play with the NBA Southern California Regional in Wilmington and La Habra.

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (6-10-12) — Nine ballgames into the summer season, the starting pitcher of the San Diego Stars -- sans just a single inning -- has been solid, including efforts by a pair of left-handers in Saturday's (June 9) doubleheader.

The relief pitching, not so much.

Despite a pair of strong efforts by starting pitchers KENDALL LINDLEY and ALLEN TOWNSEND, the Stars saw early leads disappear in dropping a Western Baseball Association twinbill to Team San Diego, 9-8 in 10 innings, and 15-10.

Lindley struck out three in six innings or work, leaving with an 8-2 lead, built behind MICHAEL STOWERS and KENNY BELZER, who each drove in three runs, while TAYLOR EICHHORT drove in two additional runs.

However, the Stars bullpen yielded seven runs over the final four innings, including the tie-breaking tally by Tyler Amundsen in the 10th.

Game 2 saw Twownsend strike out nine batters in his 6 1/3 innings, but Team San Diego bounced back with three runs in the 7th and 8th, then four more in the 9th. Three of the runs were unearned as the Stars defense committed a season-low five errors.

The Stars fell to 6-3 overall (5-3 in WBA). They host the Southern California SKLZ in another doubleheader Sunday at noon.

Stars shortstop Hilario Garcia hauls in a hot grounder ticketed for left field. (Photo by Nathan Price, youatplay.com) VIEW / PURCHASE ADDITIONAL PHOTOS HERE

One poor inning proves costly in Stars' first setback

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (6-8-12) — The San Diego Stars semipro baseball team suffered through one poor inning Thursday (June 7), but it was enough to snap their season-opening, six-game winning streak.

The San Diego Force unloaded for three consecutive doubles among their six hits in the 2nd inning, scoring six times en route to a 7-4 victory in Western Baseball Association action at Stars Field.

Force left-fielder Collin Forgey started the streak with a 2-run double to open the scoring,

The Stars rallied with run-scoring singles by TAYLOR EICHHORST and KENNY BELZER in the 5th inning, trimming the deficit to 6-3, then brought the potential game-tying run to the plate in the 8th before the Force escaped the jam by turning a double play.

Despite the setback, the Stars (6-1 overall, 4-1 WBA) still lead the defending WBA champion Force (4-0, 2-0) by one game in the South Division standings.

The Stars host a pair of doubleheaders this weekend, meeting Team San Diego on Saturday, then the Southern California SKLZ on Sunday. Both start at noon.

The Stars' Nick Spears (left) and bat boy Camden Sos. (Photo by Frank Price, youatplay.com)

© East County Sports.com
SCRIPPS RANCH (6-7-12) — The San Diego Stars semipro baseball team is off to its best start since its memorable 1999 campaign when they placed third at the National Baseball Congress World Series, blitzing the San Diego Mavericks, 11-1 in 8 innings, in Western Baseball Association action Wednesday (June 6).

The run-rule triumph raised the Stars overall record to 6-0, including five straight to take command of the WBA South Division.

DALLAS SEIDEL posted three basehits in his fourth straight start, raising his summer batting average of .591 (13-for-22), while TAYLOR EICHHORST registered an RBI on three different trips to the plate with a 1st-inning sacrifice fly to jump-start the Stars, plus a run-scoring double and an RBI single.

Meanwhile, the Stars' power numbers continue to improve, including a 2-run homer by RYAN BROSNAN, when San Diego scored four times in the 5th to blow it open for a 7-0 advantage. An inning later, KENNY BELZER also went deep with a solo shot, also to left field, for his second in WBA play.

The Mavericks were handcuffed by Stars starting pitcher ROB NESOVIC, who tossed 5 1/3 innings of shutout ball before coming out after six full innings of 4-hit ball. The lone run came home on a wild pitch.

Stars newcomers TRAVIS WOLF and STEVEN TAFT added one shutout inning each to allow San Diego to run its winning streak at Alliant International University to six straight games.

The Stars return home Thursday to meet defending WBA South champion San Diego Force, starting at 5 p.m.

Dallas Seidel

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (6-6-12) — Santana High product DALLAS SEIDEL, coming off a Triple Crown season at Grossmont College, is continuing his torrid hitting this summer with the San Diego Stars.

For the ballgame, Seidel batted 3-for-5, lifting his summer average to .556 (10-for-18) to help the Stars to a fast 5-0 start (4-0 in WBA South) this season.

Shortstop Hilario Garcia staked the Stars to a 2-1 lead with a 2-run single in the 2nd inning, scoring both KENNY BELZER (double) and WESLEY WALLACE (walk).

An inning later, Wallace went deep to right-center field with a 2-run triple, then RYAN BROSNAN came off the bench in the 5th with a pinch-hit double for another RBI to allow the Stars to pull away and out away the Sharks for the fifth straight occasion.

Meanwhile, Stars pitching allowed just one hit over the first 6 1/3 innings, as Stars newcomer ROLAND McLAREN collected his initial victory with the semipro ballclub. He tossed a (pre-game announced) three innings.

AARON RICHARDSON, who threw two perfect innings with five strikeouts over the weekend against the San Diego Hustle, continued to dominate. He collected four additional strikeouts in a pair of no-hit innings, allowing his first baserunner of the summer on a close 3-2 pitch for a walk. However, Richardson retired the Sharks runner, who tried to steal, but the left-hander was able to step off the rubber and fire to second baseman TONY SPEARS.

In addition, the Stars equaled a season-high by turning three double plays.

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (6-4-12) — San Diego Stars veteran manager MICKEY DEUTSCHMAN is known for player development -- more than three dozen former members of the semipro baseball club later advanced to The Show -- but he also helps his coaches, too.

In a pair of Western Baseball Association ballgames Sunday (June 3), Deutschman took over the third base coach's box in the 9th inning, both times helping the Stars to mammoth innings to post two more victories to his impressive ledger.

Tied at 4-4 in the opener, the Stars registered seven runs in the 9th in an 11-7 triumph over the San Diego Hustle. In game 2, after the Hustle scored four times in the 8th to mount a 8-4 advantage, the Stars posted four markers in the 9th to eventually claim an 8-7 decision to complete the sweep.

The Stars, which opened WBA play two weeks sooner than usual in preparation for a 3-week tour of Canada later in the month, now are 4-0 out of the game, two full games against the rest of the league (four games up on the 0-4 Hustle).

In the 7-run uprising, TAYLOR EICHHORST drove in the tie-breaking run with a 2-run single, scoring RYAN BROSNAN (lead single) and CHRIS ALLEN (hit by pitch).

The outburst was capped on a base-loaded triple by SHELDON GABRIELS, making a winner of relief pitcher KENDALL RYAN LINDLEY (no relation to the Arizona Cardinals quarterback from Lakeside) in his Stars debut.

In game 2, the Stars failed to turn a double play, allowing the Hustle to score twice to take an 8th-inning lead, but Deutschman's return to the field saw his team bounce right back with three doubles in the 9th.

Reserve catcher NICK SICA led-off with a two-base hit, then shortstop HILARIO GARCIA reached on an error. ROB NESOVIC, who displayed power earlier in the 4-game series, then surprised the Hustle with a sacrifice bunt, setting up a 2-run double off the top of the right-field fence by DALLAS SEIDEL (3-for-5, three RBI) to tie the ballgame.

CODY SOS followed with a basehit, then WESLEY WALLACE smacked another double to drive in the go-ahead run.

TAYLOR KLUGMAN survived an error in the 9th to gain the save. Earlier, AARON RICHARDSON retired all six batters he faced, five on strikeouts.

The Stars return home Tuesday, hosting the Lake Elsinore Sharks at 5 p.m.

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (6-3-12) — Left fielder MICHAEL STOWERS registered three extra-base hits, including a pair of triples, in a solid afternoon at the plate, lifting the San Diego Stars semipro baseball team to a season-opening, doubleheader sweep of the San Diego Hustle, 12-3 and 8-2, in Western Baseball Association action Saturday (June 2) at Stars Field.

Stowers batted 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI and three runs scores, as the Stars (2-0) built an early 9-2 lead in the opener, then sprinted to a 7-0 advantage after three innings of the nightcap.

In Game 1, UC Santa Barbara bound pitcher ROB NESOVIC tossed five solid innings, with TRAVIS WOLF throwing four innings of shutout ball to register an impressive save.

Meanwhile, third baseman KENNY BELZER finished off a 3-for-5 outing with a solo homer in the 8th. In addition, TAYLOR EICHHORST and WESLEY WALLACE registered a pair of basehits.

In Game 2, Stars starting pitcher JUSTIN DISBRO fired five innings of shutout ball, allowing just a pair of singles to dominate the Hustle.

Eichhorst gave the Stars an early lead with a 2-run double in the 1st, then scored on the first of three hits by designated hitter DALLAS SEIDLE.

Center fielder CHRIS ALLEN registered singles in the 1st and 3rd, reaching base on his first seven at-bats of the twinbill.

The ballclubs meet in another doubleheader on Sunday (June 3), also at Stars Field, starting at noon.

© East County Sports.com
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION (5-29-12) — The San Diego Stars semipro baseball team finish third among six teams after hosting its fourth annual Stars & Stripes Memorial Day Weekend Tournament, a series of exhibitions games held at Stars Field and Alliant International University.

Fielding most of their regulars, the Stars opened the round-robin event with three victories, but then dropped their final two games with a line-up featuring an assortment of players challenging for roster berths.

Game Highlights:
Stars 10, West Coast Storm 1: Former Grossmont High performer ROBBY NESOVIC tossed five innings of shutout ball in his longest pitching outing in nearly a year, striking out nine batters and allowing just one basehit to dominate the visitors from Huntington Beach.

Stars 18, SD Wood-Bat League 4: Former Christian High standout TAYLOR EICHHORST slugged a pair of doubles for three RBI, as the Stars scored seven times in the 2nd inning to put away their amateur opponents.

Stars 6, SD Shockers 5: In a game which needed to be completed Monday morning after darkness fell on Sunday, the Shockers scored three times in the 8th, then came back the following day to score another in the 9th, but a great defensive stab by Stars first baseman BRIAN SOS allowed the Stars to hang on.

U.S. Military All-Stars 8, Stars 4: Brain Sos belted a 2-run double among his two hits, but the Stars newcomers collected just three hits in a loss to the team formerly known as Heroes of the Diamond, the eventual tournament chamion.

South Bay System 18, Stars 4: The System, which represented the area at the National Baseball Congress World Series last summer, took advantage of the Stars youngsters to collect the run-rule win. Nesovic belted a tape-measure homer to left field in the 2nd inning,

Ballgames will be held at Stars Field, located 1.5 miles north of Barona Ranch Resort & Casino, and at Alliant International University in Scripps Ranch. SCHEDULE

The Stars will open the event with two games on Saturday, hosting the West Coast Storm of Huntington Beach at 1:30 p.m., followed by a game with Heroes of the Diamond at 4:30 p.m.

Monday's featured ballgame finds the Stars, defending NBC Southern California champions, meeting the NBC Western Regional titlist South Bay System of Chula Vista, also at 4:30 p.m.

CLICK for Tryout Infomation Stars announce trips to Canada, tryout schedule © East County Sports.com SANTEE (3-26-12) — The San Diego Stars will play their most ambitious schedule in years, including plans for a 3-week tour of British Columbia, Canada, which features a pair of international, invitational-only tournaments this summer, owner/manager MICKEY DEUTSCHMAN announced. MORE In addition, the tryouts schedule in May will be on Sat., May 12 and Sun., May 20, starting at 10 a.m.; registration is at 9 a.m. There will also be practices for the ballclub on Sun., May 13 and Sat., May 19.

Mitchell passes, former Astros prospect By Nick Pellegrino © East County Sports.com SAN DIEGO (4-20-12) — TOMMY MITCHELL, 48, the younger brother of former National League MVP Kevin Mitchell, died on Friday (Apr. 20). The former minor league ballplayer also spent time in semipro ball with the San Diego Stars and the Reno (Nev.) Astros, most recently serving as an Astros assistant coach in 2010. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Houston Astros in 1983, Mitchell spent four seasons in Class-A ball for both the Astros and Detroit Tigers organizations, playing both third base and the outfield. After retiring in 1986, he gave pro ball another shot, spending two seasons with independent teams before calling it quits with Reno of the California League in 1991. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound right-hander was born on July 26, 1963, in San Diego. The cause of death was throat cancer. A memorial service will be held Fri., Apr. 27 at 1 p.m. at Bethel Baptist Church, 1962 North Euclid Ave., San Diego 92105. Any alumni wishing to make a donation to Tommy's mother, please contact us at 619-608-7730 or contact the Stars. Kevin Mitchell, now 49, broke into the majors with the New York Mets in 1986, where he was third in the voting for National League Rookie of the Year. He moved to the San Diego Padres in 1987, then was dealt the following offseason in a trade with Craig Lefferts and Dave Dravecky to the Giants for Alpine resident Mark Grant, Mark Davis, Keith Comstock and Chris Brown Later career stops were with Seattle, Cincinnati (twice), Boston, Cleveland and Oakland. He prepped at Clairemont High School. The Stars will dedicate the season to their former No. 4.