Villa Park Coach Burt Call, the coach of the North team, talks to the North all-stars during practice Sunday at Irvine Valley College. (PHOTOS: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).
The 57th annual Orange County All-Star Baseball game is on as scheduled for Wednesday, June 4 at 6:30 at the Great Park Stadium, according to Guy Lemmon of the Ryan Lemmon Foundation.
Lemmon said Wednesday morning that crews were working diligently to prepare the field after Tuesday night’s surprise rain and lightning storm and he expects it will be ready for play.
To see additional photos, click on the first picture:
South leads series
The South leads the series 31-23-1 and has won the last two games, including in 2024 when the South won 3-2. It was the first year the game was played at the Great Park and run by the Ryan Lemmon Foundation.
Burt Call honored
Villa Park Coach Burt Call is expected to coach in the game, according to Lemmon. Call led the Spartans to a 5-4 road victory over Granite Hills in the opening round of the CIF Division I So Cal regionals. According to CIF rules, Call can coach in the game but two of his players Nate Lewis and Shawn Romero are not able to play because the team’s season continues Thursday vs. St. John Bosco.
The players can come to the game and may be honored, Lemmon said.
“It’s great honor and it’s always nice to coach the top talent in Orange County and I appreciate the Ryan Lemmon Foundation for asking me, it’s always special to be on the field and coach these guys,” Call said.
“It’s the second time, I did it in 2007 when it was the Kiwanis Club ran it. I appreciate my time back in 2007 and now. I was head coach of the South and we beat the North.”
Call’s message to the all-stars:
“Just have fun and enjoy the moment and enjoy kind of your last game before you go off to college,” he said. “I can coach the game but my players can’t play because of the CIF rules.”
Caira leads North
Pacifica Coach Mike Caira is looking forward to coaching the North team.
“It’s always an honor to do this,” he said. “This is my second time being the head coach and third time overall. The Kiwanis Club was awesome, something special about Glover {Stadium} but the Ryan Lemmon Foundation is awesome and everything they touch is first class, so they’re keeping this tradition. To be around the best in Orange County and be out here and having a good time is really special.
“The goal is to have everyone have fun, play and we will see what happens at the end of the game.”
Pacifica will be represented by shortstop Victor Cardona.
“He played three years, was all-league all three years and he’s going to NYU,” Caira said.
Two Barons selected
Fountain Valley players second baseman Mikey Patterson and pitcher/infielder Tyler Peschke were selected for the game. But the two will be playing Wednesday for Fountain Valley in a resumed CIF So Cal regional game at 3:15 p.m. That game will pick up in the second inning after being suspended Tuesday.
Depth at catcher
The North has a lot of catchers on the roster, including Zack Bretza (Segerstrom), Miguel Velazquez (Fullerton), Lawson Olmstead (Mater Dei) and Izaiah Posada (La Habra).
All-star assistants
The North assistants are Benji Medure (Huntington Beach), Ricardo Cepada (Garden Grove) and Bob Marshall (Calvary Chapel). South assistants are Chris Malec (Santa Margarita), Dave Gellately (San Clemente) and Josh Lee (Newport Harbor).
Ticket info
Gates open at 3:45 p.m. and fans are invited to watch pre-game workouts.
Tickets are $15, $5 for senior citizens and $3 for students, cash or Venmo.
Game coverage
OC Sports Zone will have special coverage of the game. Check back throughout the night and after the game. Tim Burt, Jacob Ramos and Adam Kunin will have updates and stories.
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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