Beaumont All Stars Sharp in Bronco Division 8-5 Win Over Orangecrest

In a few years Val Schicke is going to look back and may be able to say that 2011 is when his baseball career all fell into place.

Schicke, in his seventh season of youth baseball, hit the first home run of his career during his team’s 8-5 win over Orangecrest on the third day of play in the 9^th annual Beaumont Youth Baseball Warm Up Tournament.

It’s been that kind of season for Schicke, a starting outfielder for the Beaumont All Stars in the Bronco Division.

Schicke’s game heated up during the recently completed youth baseball season. He batted ninth but worked his way up the lineup and eventually was named an all-star for the first time.

“I was surprised,” said Schicke, whose home run trot included an enormous smile that stretched from ear to ear. “Right now…it’s just awesome.”

Schicke’s home run blast towered over the left field fence.

“He is a true example of what can happen with hard work,” Beaumont coach Josh Torrance said. “He batted ninth for us in rec ball and now he is hitting a shot 320 feet. That is neat to see."

The game itself provided some positive energy for the Beaumont All Stars, who won for the first time in the tournament. Beaumont was aggressive at the plate where it produced 12 hits – four players had multiple hit games, including Josh Torrance, Gilbert Juarez, Jeremiah Bennett, and Schicke.

The trio of pitchers, Torrance, Vince Alvarez and Robert Rodriguez held Orangecrest to five hits.

“We are very happy with the win,” Coach Torrance said. “Orangecrest is a program that has sent players to the professional level. Anytime you beat them it’s a major accomplishment.”

Pony Division

Palm Desert All-Stars 6, Redlands 0.

Palm Desert scored in five of the six innings and finished with a 6-0 win over Redlands.

Palm Desert belted out nine hits and got multiple hit games from Andrew Bash (3 for 3), Sheldon Bordsen (2 for 3) and Kevin Jervis (2 for 3).

And Palm Desert pitchers Johnny Houston, Elliott Weintraub and Trent Covel combined for a 1-hitter and 10 strikeouts.

Bronco Division

Beaumont scored 15 runs in the first four innings and cruised to a 16-3 win over Orangecrest.

When it was over Beaumont had gone through its lineup three times and all 13 players had crossed the plate. Beaumont stole 17 bases and seven players had multiple hit games.

Steve Halladay was 2 for 3 with a home run. Others to go 2 for 3 included Hunter McLaughlin, Martin Sanchez, Connor Geraghty, Bijan Khotadadi, Alex Ward and Noah Ponce.

Other Bronco Division scores: Colton 11, Redlands 1.

Mustang Division

Palm Desert 12, Redlands 1.

Kid Pitch

Redlands 5, Palm Desert 3.