On Last Try, North All-Stars Win, 9-8

The Northern California All-Stars, after two straight losses in their three-game baseball series, were wondering when they would get a break.

Then came the top of the eighth inning in the final game of the California North-South All-Star series Sunday.

With two out and the score tied, 7-7, the North’s Joe Caruso stuck his bat out and lofted a lazy pop-up behind second base. Mission Bay’s Tony Enomoto lost the ball in the sun, the ball landed a good seven steps behind Enomoto, and Caruso landed safely on first.

Then shortstop Brett Jenkins stepped to the plate, took one ball from La Habra’s Matt Lipscomb, and then cracked the second pitch over the left-field wall at San Diego State University’s Smith Field for a home run. The South got a run back in the bottom of the ninth, but the North picked up its first win, 9-8.

Jenkins batted .560 this year at Cordova High in Rancho Cordova. Sunday he went 3 for 4 and scored 3 runs and was chosen most valuable player for the North team.

Eric Brooks of La Mirada and Doug Saunders of Anaheim Esperanza were named winners of the award for the South team.

Much like the first two games, this one was full of miscues. There were seven errors, six wild pitches, and four balls lost in the sun fell in for hits. The lead changed hands five times.

The South had the tying and winning runs on second and third in the bottom of the ninth. However, Esperanza’s Jason Moler was intentionally walked and Madison’s Andy Williams grounded into a game-ending double play.

Afterward, the California All-State team, which will play a five-game series against all-stars from Oklahoma at SDSU beginning Friday, were announced. Mission Bay’s Sean Rees and Mt. Carmel’s Ron Kelly both made the team.

Notes

The 20 players named to the California All-Star team:

Tony Darden (Diamond Bar High School), Joey Eischen (West Covina), Sean Rees (Mission Bay), Mike Smedes (Laguna Hills), Eric Brooks (La Mirada), Sean Mulligan (Riverside Rubidoux), Randy Graves (Riverside Poly), Jason Moler (Anaheim Esperanza), Doug Saunders (Anaheim Esperanza), Joe Arredondo (Bellflower), Ron Kelly (Mt. Carmel), Kip Yaughn (Concord Clayton Valley), Joe Caruso (Petaluma Casa Grande), Max Valencia (San Francisco Balboa), Mike Harrison (Moraga Campolinda), Troy Tallman (Napa), Mike Fadelli (San Mateo Serra), Lou Lucca (South San Francisco), Brett Jenkins (Rancho Cordova, Cordova), and Peter Lawrence (Fremont Logan).