Orange County all-star baseball game was about the players and memories of a lifetime

Members of the South team celebrate after Tuesday’s victory over the North (Photo: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)

While fans in the stands started to worry about whether the 52nd annual Orange County All-Star Baseball Game would be played in its entirety Tuesday night, the select group of high school all-stars tuned out the distraction, had fun and put forth a tremendous effort.

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo

Connor McGuire (left) and Trevor Ernt represented Beckman on the South team.
PHOTO: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone

Irvine's Bubba Filia visits with Tommy Wilcox of Corona del Mar before the game.
PHOTO: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone

Cameron Repetti (left) and Mike Marsh represented Cypress playing for the North.
PHOTO: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone

In case you missed it, there was an electrical issue with the lights at Glover Stadium in Anaheim. Organizers were told there was a possibility the lights wouldn’t come on for the game, so the start time was moved up from the original 7 p.m. start to 6:35 p.m.

As it turned out, the lights did turn on about 7:30 p.m., although it appeared some were not on, making it a challenge for fielders.

The uncertainty didn’t seem to bother the players and the coaches involved. And the volunteers of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Anaheim pressed on, determined to get the game in and continue their goodwill in the community, which they’ve been doing since 1968 when the all-star game started.

Was it perfect? No.

There were some misplayed balls because of the lights and some people missed the start but in the end the game provided the lifelong memory it set out to do.

All you had to do was see the smiles on the players before, during and after the game.

The organizers, the players and the coaches and the fans who came out in big numbers deserve a standing ovation!

If you haven’t already, we hope you will check out our coverage, which includes more than 30 photos and a full game story.

FOR PHOTOS AND A GAME STORY, PLEASE CLICK HERE

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com