July 18, 2007

Stars shine tonight
All-Star Game, homerun derby on dispaly in Palm Springs

Patti Myers
The Desert Sun

PALM SPRINGS - Thirteen members of the Palm Springs Power lead the Southern California College Baseball Association All-Star Game roster tonight at Palm Springs Stadium.

The Power have the most players selected to the East vs. West game and boast two players participating in the home run derby. The Power, SoCal Bears and SoCal Glory (East) take on SoCal Fire, East L.A. Dodgers and South Bay Saints (West).

"We took a look at what positions we needed once the managers decided which players would be their all-star representatives," said Power owner Andrew Starke. "In working with Estevan Valencia (Power manager) we looked at the overall roster and felt we needed a couple of pitchers and a few other position players."

USC teammates Darren Gemoll and Mike O'Neill have seen selected as two of the Power's all-stars.

The Power's Wes Oberlin of Sacramento State and Ryan Wheeler of Loyola Marymount will compete in the seven-player home run derby which begins at 6:35 p.m., prior to the league's inaugural all-star game (approximately 7:35 p.m.).

The players will be allowed to use aluminum bats for the all-star game - the same they are able to use during the college season. The SCCBA summer league plays with wood bats.

"This will be a fun event that we really wanted to have here," said Starke. "We are the most prepared with the facilities, the staff, to be able to showcase the players."

At the all-star break, the Power lead the SCCBA with a 13-4 record, 27-10 overall.

The Fire is a game back at 12-5, but has already wrapped up a berth to the National Baseball Congress World Series with their qualifying tournament victory at Cal State Fullerton this past weekend.

Last summer, the Fire placed fourth in the NBC event in Wichita, Kan.