Palm Springs, CA – Coined by Manitoba manager Bryan Kloppe, the North Stars were aligning for the 2023 California Winter League playoffs. Entering the postseason as the last seed in the Canadian Division, the North Stars had their top two arms set up to pitch. In game one yesterday Trey Morrill tossed a complete game allowing just a single run in the win. Today, Brett Taucher carried the torch. Taucher went the distance in a 109-pitch effort to upset the number one overall seed, Alberta Grizzly 3-2. It was a back-and-forth affair from the very beginning, as both teams led throughout the contest. An RBI triple down the right field line off the bat of North Stars outfielder Taz Worrell scored Chih Hao Tu in the top of the sixth inning to give Manitoba the lead. Denver Blinn also drove in a run for the Stars, his fifth of the season. For Alberta, Travious Ford and Jackson Murphy had RBI singles in the loss. The top seed in each division has now been eliminated following the Blue Sox win over the Lumberjacks on Thursday, and the North Stars victory over the Grizzly. Manitoba advanced to the Canadian semi-finals tomorrow with Braden Quesinberry, Tristin Cummings, and Braden Bonner lined up to pitch.
Half a dozen runs crossed the plate in the bottom of the third inning for the British Columbia Bombers, propelling them to a 7-2 victory over the Canada A’s. It was the A’s who jumped out to the early lead as Anthony Flores scored on a Danny Carnazzo groundout in the top of the first frame. The Bombers answered on a Matthew Holliday single in the bottom of the second. Then came the massive third inning. Six of the first seven men to bat in the inning reached base for British Columbia. Jordan Schulefand drilled a double off the center field wall to drive in a run, Scout Knotts knocked in a run with a single, and Holliday would bring home two more runs with a single of his own. After a pitching change, Harrison Fullerton drew a walk, then proceeded to score all the way from first on an Aaron Hurd opposite field double. The Bombers pitching would settle in from there on as Nik Galatas, Mark Berryman and Jordan Schulefand would allow just one run over the final four innings, leading to the win. Holliday enjoyed another multi-RBI day, driving in three runs, which extended his CWL lead in runs batted in to 15. Spencer Taack is the expected starter for British Columbia tomorrow against Manitoba.
The California Winter League’s Postseason continues tomorrow with both semifinal matchups. The British Columbia Bombers are set to host the Manitoba North Stars at Palm Springs Stadium at 10:00 a.m. Our second semifinal is the Washington Blue Sox at the Palm Springs Chill at 12:30 p.m. All games at the stadium are available live on YouTube on the California Winter League YouTube channel. Tomorrow’s promotion at the stadium Two for Tuesday, where fans get two tickets for the price of one. The California Winter League playoffs begin this Thursday. For more information about promotions, visit californiawinterleague.com
