Best of Three All Star Series to be Decided in Rubber Game, Sunday at 10am

The South came back to win the nightcap 6-5 (the same score as the North won Game 1 by), so there will be a rubber match to decide the 2006 California (All Star) Challenge at 10am Sunday morning, at Dave Frye Field in Bakersfield.

The split of the first two games mirrored the “Pick-the-Winner” poll conducted at Fastpitchwest.com. Voters tabbed the North to win by a 113-103 margin, with voting see-sawing all week long.

WP-Travis Price, South
LP-Ed Gaspar North
HR-Todd Garcia (Bombers), North

The South led 3-2 after 4 innings, enroute to the 6-5 victory.

Watch the Morning Brief for the results of the deciding Game 3.

Reports from the players have been very favorable, with the players seeming to enjoy themselves, and the spirited competition. The All Star Series concept was hosted by David Weldin, Brian Teeters, Greg Hicks and the rest of the California Lumberkings, to help support their 2007 program which has them headed back to Kitchener, Ontario, Canada for the ISC II Tournament of Champions. The Lumberkings were the first ever California team to compete in the presitigious tournament, advancing to the second round of the playoffs in the 2006 tournament.

The Lumberkings’ Brian Teeters made special All Star uniforms up, with the North dressed in blue and the South in Red. Nice job, guys.

California Challenge All Star Series – Game 1 –
Final Score: North 6, South 5
Summary: North scores 4 in the bottom of the 7th to win.
(All star players’ 2006 teams listed parenthetically)

Starting pitchers: Tony Peeples (Bombers) for the North; Mark Bennett (Portland) for the South

Scoring:

North, B3: Todd Garcia (Rainey) RBI single; North leads 1-0

South, T4: Paul Rosebush, (The Farm) bunt single; Todd Budke (The Farm) HBP; Brian Teeters, (Cal Lumberkings) opposite-field 3-Run Homer. South leads 3-1.

South, T7: Shawn Mandolesi (Cal Lumberkings/Taylor Farms), 2 run HR, South leads 5-2.

North, B7: South pitching change, Travis Price (Bombers) replaces Mark Bennett (Portland)
Zack Abernathy and another both reach base; Jeff Reich 2-run triple, South lead cut to 5-4; Jeff Reich scored on WP, score tied, 5-5. Steve Pinnochio (Bombers) walked, stole second, reached third on wild pitch, scored on passed ball. Game over, North wins 6-5.

WP– Tony Peeples, went the distance;
LP – Travis Price, in relief of Mark Bennett;
HR – Brian Teeters (Cal Lumberkings), South; Shawn Mandolesi (Cal Lumberkings/Taylor Farms), South.

Click Here for more information
at the Morning Brief blog at Fastpitchwest.com:

It’s North vs. South in All-Star Series This Weekend

California Challenge Info at Fastpitchwest.com:

The first ever “California Challenge” North vs. South All Star Games will be played this weekend in Bakersfield, California. A best of three series will begin Saturday at 4:30pm, with game 2 slated for 7:30pm. Longtime fastpitch supporter Dave Frye will throw out the first pitch before the 7:30pm game, with ISC Broadcaster Ron Chambers, a former catcher for the legendary Dave Frey teams of the 1970’s and 1980’s doing the honorary catching duties for the first pitch. The third “if” game will be played on Sunday, if necessary. The series is being sponsored and put on by the California Lumberkings, the first California team to compete in the ISC II Tournament of Champions. Tickets are $5.00 and T-shirts are available, with proceeds going to help the team. The Lumberkings fared well in the ISC II Tournament, qualifying for the playoff round, and winning their first round playoff game before being eliminated. The team plans to return to Kitchener, Ontario, Canada to compete in 2007.

Click the link above for a look at the rosters of the two squads, featuring most of the best players in California, including ISC and ISC II players. You can also cast your vote in the “Pick-the-winner” poll on that page, right up until the first pitch at 4:30pm tomorrow. The poll has been neck and neck all week, with a one or two vote lead for the South until yesterday, when the North surged ahead, taking a double digit lead for the first time since the poll opened last week. The North crossed the century mark last night, garnering 100 of the nearly 200 votes cast.

Click the link below for satellite photo of the field, and to get driving directions to the field:

Satellite Photo of Dave Frye Field, Bakersfield, CA.