SCCBA News

POWER Clinch Regular Season Title

This week the Palm Springs POWER faced off against the O.C. Pioneers in a four-game conference battle for first place.  The POWER took the upper hand by winning the first game of the series 4 – 0 as Bahramzadeh, Dalton, Kondo, and Aguilar were able to hold the Pioneers scoreless by scattering six hits over nine scoreless innings.  The Pioneers then fought back in the second game of the series beating the POWER 4 – 2 by touching up the POWER pitching staff for ten hits. 

After playing the first two games at Palm Springs Stadium, the series then moved to Vanguard University for a Thursday double header.  The POWER took care of business in the first game and clinched a share of the regular season SCCBA title by beating the Pioneers 4 – 3.  The POWER wasted no time in clinching sole possession of the regular season SCCBA title by beating the Pioneers 6 – 1 in the final game of the double header to improve their remarkable conference record to 16 – 1.  After Fridays 4 – 3 win over the S.D. Force, the POWER’s overall record stand at 26 – 2.

The East L.A. Dodgers were able to move into third place in the division by beating L.A. Thrashers in back to back games this past Tuesday and Friday.  The Dodgers conference record improved to 7 – 9 while their overall record stands at 15 – 15.  After the POWER, Pioneers, and Dodgers, the SoCal Cardinals, Trombly Thunder, and L.A. Thrashers round out the rest of the league standings.

SCCBA Standings Starting to Take Shape

While the view from the top has been consistent and enjoyable for the POWER since Opening Night, the rest of the SCCBA standings have started to take shape.  The SoCal Cardinals entered their weekend series in Palm Springs in second place and also undefeated in conference play prior to being swept in a very close and competitive four games by the POWER.  In the meantime, the POWER seem to be winning games any way they can.

“That’s the sign of a good team, that (we) can do that,” said POWER Pitching Coach Harry Gurley.  “We’re winning the close games, we’ve had a couple blowouts, we can come from behind, and we can hold our lead.  All in all, the guys have done everything we’ve asked them.” 

Much credit can go to Gurley for what has been a dominant performance in almost every game this season by the POWER pitching staff.

Taking advantage of the Cardinal slump in Palm Springs were the O.C. Pioneers, who jumped up to second place in the SCCBA.  On Wednesday, the Pioneers took advantage of the sliding Cardinals and defeated them in impressive fashion by a final score of 7-1.

The battle for second place seems to be narrowing down between the Pioneers and the Cardinals.  The two highly competitive teams have split the two games they have played against each other and two crucial games remain in their season series that could ultimately decide who makes the best-of-three championship series.

In other SCCBA action this week, the Trombly Thunder picked up their first two victories of the season after defeating the East L.A. Dodgers and the L.A. Thrashers.

Summer Season in Swing

June 21, 2010- Southern California Collegiate Baseball Association’s teams have began conference play, and several have jumped to early leads in the standings.

The Palm Springs POWER is currently sitting in first place in the league with a 7-0 conference record and 11-1 record overall. They swept the Trombly Thunder and the East L.A. Dodgers in conference games. This week they will face the East L.A. Dodgers and the LA Thrashers each in single game competitions. 

The POWER will move on to face the SoCal Cardinals this weekend. They are the only other undefeated team in conference play.  The Cardinals are in second place in league play with a 5-0 conference record, and a 10-3 mark overall.

The OC Pioneers are hitting their stride with a 4-2 record in conference play. After dropping two games to the East L.A. Dodgers, they rallied to win their last game against the Dodgers 3-1.  The East L.A. Dodgers are in 4th place in the conference and have a 2-5 record.

The LA Thrashers and the Trombly Thunder are currently winless in conference play. The Thrashers have one non-conference win, and are at a 1-8 mark overall. The Thunder have dropped all 6 of their conference games, but are looking to improve.

SCCBA play will continue until the end of July, where the season will be wrapped up with three days of playoff games and a All-Star Game and Home Run Derby on Saturday, July 24th.

When the Ocean and the Desert Clash

June 6, 2010 – The 2010 SCCBA summer season has finally arrived and teams are back in the swing of things in Southern California. The league returns five teams and welcomes a new team, the So Cal Cardinals. League Commissioner Andrew Starke is excited that games are underway. “I am very excited about the SCC’s fourth year and the growth in league wide talent and team stability we have seen in the two years I’ve been commissioner,” Starke said.

The So Cal Cardinals are looking to make an impact immediately in the SCCBA and are ready to contend, starting the season off with a 3-0 record. “One of the things you worry about in being a startup team are the unknowns, not knowing your competition,” Cardinals coach Tony Riviera said. “We’re looking to bring in highly talented players to help us achieve our goal of a league championship.”

Returning teams are also looking forward to a new season with the hopes of a league championship up for grabs. The O.C. Pioneers & L.A. Thrashers start their seasons this week, while the Palm Springs POWER have gotten off to a 2-0 start.  The East L.A. Dodgers have started 1-1 while the Trombly Thunder is 0-2 thus far.

Each team hopes to be competing in the SCCBA playoffs in late July as one of the top two teams that will meet for the championship July 20-22.

THE SO CAL CARDINALS JOIN THE SCCBA FOR THE 2010 SEASON

March 12, 2010, Palm Springs, CA – As the 2010 summer season approaches, the SCCBA is proud to welcome a new team to the league. The So Cal Cardinals will begin their first season of play in Southern California.

After spending a season in the SCCBA, the California Mariners have folded. However, with the addition of the Cardinals, the league will remain at six teams.

Andrew Starke will return as league Commissioner of the SCCBA and is very excited to continue developing a strong feeling of stability to the league and its members.  

SCCBA ALL-STARS SHUTDOWN PACIFIC WEST LEAGUE
ALL-STARS, 7-0

July 25, 2009, Palm Springs, CA – The Southern California Collegiate Baseball Association dominated the Pacific West League 7-0 on Saturday night inside Palm Springs Stadium in front of one of the largest crowds of the year to see the Home Run Derby and All-Star game. 

Palm Springs POWER ace Aaron Brooks earned his way onto the All-Star game and was selected as the starting pitcher and showed why he was given the honor as he struck out the side to open up the top of the first inning.  The SCCBA looked to score in the bottom frame with the bases loaded and no outs.  California Mariners’ Chris Lum hit a fly ball to centerfield as POWER infielder P.J. Jimenez tried to score, but PWL outfielder Javier Solis gunned him down for the double play.  POWER catcher Sharif Othman walked before L.A. Thrashers Adrian Martinez flew out to right field as the SCCBA stranded the bases loaded with no runs. 

The SCCBA plated four runs in the bottom of the third with three base knocks including a triple from Trombly Thunders Eric Wright.  With one runner on Wright drilled the ball over the right fielders head to drive in a run and grab a 3-0 lead.  Jimenez followed the triple with a single he sprayed down the right field line for a 4-0 advantage.  They scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth.

POWER closer Bryan Longpre pitched the fifth inning and ran into a little trouble when the Pacific West League had the bases loaded with only one out.  Longpre showed why he has not allowed a run all season and promptly struck out the next two hitters to get out of the jam.  Every pitcher on the SCCBA staff threw one inning during the All-Star game and Longpre earned the win.

CALIFORNIA MARINERS’ ROBBIE ROBINSON
WINS HOME RUN DERBY

July 25, 2009, Palm Springs, CA – Fans were treated to an exciting Home Run Derby before the All-Star game as California Mariners’ outfielder Robbie Robinson hoisted the trophy with six total long balls in the two rounds. 

Robinson beat out Palm Springs POWER first baseman Josh Manzano in the final round with three home runs.   

2009 SCCBA SEASON IN REVIEW

Palm Springs, CA – The Southern California Collegiate Baseball Association provided another successful run with some stern competition from the six teams in the league as the Palm Springs POWER defeated the Orange County Pioneers in the championship for their first outright SCCBA title. 

It was a storybook year for the league especially for a team like the Pioneers.  The Pioneers started off the season 0-6 before they put it in gear and snatched up second place winning 10 of their last 14 games. 
The POWER came in as the heavy favorites in the conference, but for nearly half of the season the California Mariners were stepping on their toes.  The POWER faced the Mariners in a two game set on the July 4th weekend inside Palm Springs Stadium.  The POWER jumped out to a three game lead after defeating the Mariners in both games.  The Mariners tumbled after their trip to Palm Springs and the POWER locked up the regular season title. 

As the Mariners started losing games the Pioneers had the opposite effect.  The Pioneers were not originally thought to be a threat, but they made some late season acquisitions to poise them for a run in the SCCBA.  They went from last to second place and gave the POWER their second and last loss in the conference. 

As the games drew to an end the Pioneers had one game left on the season and needed the win for a playoff spot.  They won their last game and tied the Mariners in the conference standings.  The Pioneers snuck ahead for the playoff spot after splitting with the Mariners, but they scored more runs in the four games played against each other for the tie breaker. 

The final weekend of play was a big weekend for not only the Mariners and Pioneers, but also the East L.A. Dodgers.  The Dodgers had a tough task of trying to sweep the POWER for a spot in the playoffs.  The POWER looked to play a new opponent come playoff time and crushed the Dodgers 20-0 and 11-6 to end their season. 

Teams like the Los Angeles Thrashers and Trombly Thunder finished under .500 for the year, but were tough teams winning seven conference games each. 

POWER DEFEAT PIONEERS FOR THE OUTRIGHT SCCBA TITLE

July 22, 2009, Palm Springs, CA – The Palm Springs POWER are now the Southern California Collegiate Baseball Champions after a strong offensive outing against the Orange County Pioneers to win 10-5 inside Scolinos Field at Cal Poly Pomona University on Wednesday afternoon. 

The POWER won their first outright title in the SCCBA with solid performances from starting pitcher Travis Blankenship and Tyler Saladino had three base knocks including two doubles, was hit by two pitches, and scored three runs.  Blankenship (7-0) earned the win after going five innings, allowing one run, and had five punch outs on the day.   

“We are very proud to be the undisputed conference champs,” POWER Owner Andrew Starke.  “This is a championship that has eluded us for the past three years, but these players and coaches have done an outstanding job to get us to this point of the season and we are very proud to represent the community.”   

After a solid first inning from both teams, the POWER were able to get on the score board in the top of the second.  Mercer University infielder John Moreland walked to start the inning before Max Willett grounded into a fielder’s choice.  Brett Christopher had a seeing eye single up the middle and P.J. Jimenez hit a gapper into right-centerfield to score both Willett and Christopher to grab a 2-0 advantage.

Two singles from Sharif Othman and Jay Ponciano put runners on for Brian Heere who popped up in left field for a sacrifice fly and a 3-0 lead in the third inning. 

The POWER separated themselves in the fifth frame, plating five runs during the inning.  Saladino led off and smacked a double to left field, Othman then hit a flair that dropped into right field to score Saladino.  Brett Hambright continued with another single and Jay Ponciano beat out a throw that went over Pioneers first baseman Bryan Knapp’s head and scored Hambright.  Heere stepped up and singled on the second pitch on a grounder that just missed the outstretched glove of second baseman Robert Cortwright’s glove and plated two runs.  A few batters later Willett hit a sac fly to score Heere for the 8-0 lead. 

After the POWER scored five runs, the Pioneers made a comeback attempt in the bottom of the fifth.  Blankenship saw seven batters in the inning and surrendered three hits and three runs (one earned) in the inning after the Pioneers first two hitters reached on errors.  Knapp hit a double with the bases juiced that scored two runs before Erik Hempe was gunned down by Hambright in a collision at the plate.  Runners are not allowed to run into the catcher and Hempe was tossed out of the game along with two other Pioneer players and trailed 8-3. 

The POWER scored two more runs in the game before Dylan Lightell and Bryan Longpre shut the door for the win. 

The 2009 SCCBA Champions will have a nonconference game on Friday with the Bay Cal Yankees with the first pitch set for 7:05 p.m.  Angel Mata is the likely starter for the POWER.

July 21st

POWER and Pioneers to compete for 2009 conference title.

July 17th, 2009

As the 2009 regular season comes to a conclusion a true dog fight has emerged for the second playoff position.  With the POWER wrapping up the #1 seed each of the other 5 teams in the SCCBA all have a legitimate shot at finishing the regular season in second place and qualifying for the playoffs.  The playoff format is a best of 3 game series with the #1 seeded team hosting game 1 and game 3 if necessary of the playoffs on Tuesday July 21st and Thursday July 23rd.  The #2 seeded team will host game two of the series and if the series is tied after game two, Thursday night will crown the league champion.  If the series wraps up on Wednesday night 2-0 then Thursday will not be necessary. 

Going into the final weekend of regular season play only two games separate the 5 teams fighting for the final playoff spot.  This weekend the POWER will be taking on the Dodgers in a two game series in Palm Springs while the Pioneers have two games against the Mariners and one against the Thrashers.  The Thrashers also have one additional game against the Thunder that will all determine who is in and who will be out.  If two teams conference records are the same after the weekend is over then the team with the best head to head record will compete in the playoffs. 

June 22, 2009

As the 2009 SCCBA conference season has begun, three teams have jumped out with winning records at or just shy of the halfway point.  The Palm Springs POWER, California Mariners, and L.A. Thrashers have all collected 6 wins in their first 8-10 games respectively.  The East L.A. Dodgers and O.C. Pioneers have started the year off with a heavy non-conference schedule and will be competing in the bulk of their league games over the next four weeks. The remaining league team, the Trombly Thunder has started off slow in their first 6 league games but have an improving team with quality pitching that can not be overlooked. 

February 13, 2009

With the 2009 summer season approaching, the SCCBA is proud to welcome three new teams to the league: The L.A. Thrashers, Orange County Pioneers, & the Trombly Thunder. These highly competitive teams are run by David Yamane, Jamison Wicks, & Steve Trombly respectively, who are all no strangers to collegiate baseball in Southern California.

Each of these teams will bring to the league the opportunity for all league teams to compete in some of the best baseball facilities in So Cal, both between the lines and in the stands. Additionally, the 2008 evaluation team, the California Mariners have officially joined the league as a full time member and will host home games at both Dedeaux Field on the USC campus and Blair Field the host venue for Cal State Long Beach.

With a new year also comes a reorganization of league leadership. Andrew Starke has taken over as league Commissioner of the SCCBA and is very excited to bring a strong feeling of stability to the league and its members.