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Sports

PHOTO GALLERY: Local High School Baseball All-Stars Shine Equally Bright

Despite ending in a 3-3 tie, the game at The Diamond allows Lake Elsinore, Murrieta and Temecula players strut their stuff.

Although the first annual Sunbelt-Southwestern League All-Star Game ended in a 3-3 tie Friday at The Diamond, the Sunbelt League can walk away knowing it led 3-1 going into the top of the ninth inning.

That’s when Sunbelt closer Aryton Costa of Temescal Canyon hit Southwestern hitter Kyle Davis of Great Oak, which scored Joven Afenir of Vista Murrieta for the game-tying run.

Lake Elsinore Storm vice president and general manager Bruce Kessman and team president Dave Oster brainstormed the idea.

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“There’s nothing in this area to showcase our local athletes,” Kessman said. “We’d like to make this an annual event and allow it to grow.”

Kessman said it’s possible players from teams from a greater area than Lake Elsinore, Murrietta and Temecula – teams that primarily made up Friday’s game -- could end up playing in the event.

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“We’ll see how it goes,” Kessman said. “There’s room for expansion. One of the things we wanted to make sure was we included the four private schools (from the local area).”

The All-Star Game attracted approximately 700 parents, family members and overall fans in attendance.

“This is Year One,” Kessman said. “We’ll reevaluate; hopefully we can gain community involvement.”

The coaches and players said they loved the professional baseball setting, complete with pro-style seating, concession stands and promotional sales tents.

“It’s great, because all season long you battle these teams,” said Sunbelt coach Mark Carlston, whose Temescal Canyon Titans reached the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Playoffs. “To all come together and coach together as a team and put on a good show like this, especially the seniors, it’s a great showing. You give them a chance to compete with their peers. You have a Division 3 school playing a Division 1 school. It’s a tough way to go, but we hung in there and battled for most of the game.”

Southwestern coach Monty Jones of Murrieta Valley also enjoyed the game played at the home field of the advanced Class-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres.

“When you get a bunch of All-Stars together, that’s what it’s about,” Jones said. “The pitchers stepped up on both sides. Everybody played (good defense) and it’s a great first game. They should keep this thing on. The Sunbelt League and Southwestern League are providing some awesome talent. For these guys to be able to come to this venue and be able to play here … we’re glad to be a part of the inaugural All-Star Game here. It’s the right place, right time.”

Sunbelt slugger Ryan Young of Paloma Valley delivered the big hit, a two-RBI double in the bottom of the fourth inning that made it a 3-1 Sunbelt League lead. Young’s big hit scored Costa, who was hit by a pitch, and Ethan Hattersley of Elsinore High, who earlier singled.

The Southwestern League had a prime opportunity to answer in the top of the fifth, by loading the bases with no outs. Joe Ortuno of Vista Murrieta walked, Brett Clark doubled and Dennis Morton walked. But Josh Tomazin of Temescal Canyon answered, striking out Tim Kossman of Temecula Valley, Brian Christensen of Cal Lutheran and Austin Bailey of Great Oak – a University of San Diego signee – in order.

The Southwestern League scored two in the seventh. Afenir was hit by a pitch, then Holger Robalino of Vista Murrietta singled him home. Ortuno singled to center to score Robalino to cut Sunbelt’s lead to 3-2.

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