California State Games : Rees Finds New Job With Relief Effort

Sean Rees wasn’t used in relief much during his days at Mission Bay High School.

However, considering the results of his past couple of days pitching in the California State Games, Rees might consider spending more time in the bullpen.

Rees came on in the fifth inning Saturday and earned the victory as the Padres, a team of high school all-stars from San Diego and Orange counties, defeated the Brewers of San Fernando Valley, 9-8.

Rees earned a save Friday in the Padres’ 7-6 win over the Cubs, a team from the Sacramento area.

In 6 innings of work in the tournament, Rees has struck out 11. The left-hander, who led Mission Bay to this year’s San Diego Section 2-A championship, will attend Arizona State in the fall.

The Padres, with the help of seven walks by Brewer pitcher Roger Salkeld, held a 7-6 lead after four innings. In the bottom of the fifth, pitcher Brian Klemaski ran into trouble when he hit a batter, gave up a single and walked another man to load the bases.

Rees entered the game at that point and struck out Steve Dailey. He walked Brian Eldridge, however, to force in a run, then allowed the lead run to score on a wild pitch. But he was able to end the rally with two more strikeouts.

The Padres pushed the tying and winning runs across in the sixth on a two-out, two-strike, two-run single by center fielder Jim Austin.

Rees retired the side in order in the bottom of the sixth but had to work his way out of another jam in the seventh to secure the win.

With two out and the tying run on second, Rees staged a long battle with powerful Joel Wolfe, a third baseman bound for UCLA. Wolfe fouled off four two-strike pitches before grounding out sharply to short to end the game.