South Rallies for Victory

The were plenty of memorable moments and a few wacky ones in the 31st annual Kiwanis all-star baseball game Monday.

An estimated 800 spectators at Cal State Fullerton watched the South team grab a seven-run lead after six innings, saw the North rally for eight runs in the final three innings to go ahead by a run then witnessed the South score two runs in the bottom of the ninth for a 14-13 victory.

Mission Viejo’s Chris Willmer delivered the game-winning sacrifice fly to score Corona del Mar’s Ryan Achterberg. Moments before, Achterberg had tripled home Santa Margarita’s Nick Mosich, who walked with one out.

It was a big relief for Willmer. His throwing error on a ground ball by Katella’s Tony Alcantar with two out in the top of the ninth had given the North its only lead of the game.

It was one of nine errors made by the teams.

“I should have gone to first,” said Willmer, who was trying to get a force play at second when he threw the ball into right field. “But I wasn’t thinking straight. And then I rushed the throw.

“It was great to be able to come up and have a chance to win it.”

Despite the ragged play, both coaches called it a fun night.

“This was fun, one of the best high school all-star games I’ve been around,” said South Coach Dave Demarest of La Quinta. “None of the players got down,” North Coach Tom Tereschuk said. “They just wanted to come up, take their hacks and see what happened.”

South catcher Gerald Laird of La Quinta, who had three hits, two runs batted in and a stolen base, threw out one runner and was named the game’s most valuable player.

North infielder David Munoz of Esperanza, who had two hits, an RBI and several nice plays at second and shortstop, received the most hustling player award.

The South’s Chad Chop had a one-out home run to right to cut the lead to 3-1. But shortstop Jeff White’s second error helped the South score four more runs to lead, 7-1.

Randall Shelley’s throwing error gave the North two runs, and Chop’s second hit--an RBI single--got the North close again at 7-4.

But the South scored four more runs in the bottom of the third--Laird got his third single and second RBI during the rally--before the North could get an out.

ORANGE COUNTY ALL-STAR GAME

South 14, North 13

North: 013 001 413--13 15 5

South: 344 001 002--14 14 4

Herbert, Davis (3), Cody (5), Pushkor (7), Cauley (8) and Duarte, Serna (5); Carey, Beavers (3), Gallup (5) Tucker (7), Parkin (9) and Laird, Kay (5). W--Parkin. L--Cauley 2B--N: Morales; S: Crosby. 3B--N: Roman, S: Achterberg. HR--N: Chop.