Cal natives shine in Stockton

STOCKTON, Calif. -- The California/Carolina League All-Star Game showcased seven players from the Golden State, and being a California native was a good luck charm of sorts.

A trio of Cal League pitchers -- Inland Empire's James McDonald, San Jose's Taylor Wilding and Visalia's Dan Stange -- each excelled during his inning on the mound.

McDonald earned the win after striking out one in a hitless second. Wilding and Stange combined to throw 27 of 37 pitches for strikes during their stints.

Lancaster JetHawks outfielder Bubba Bell said that seeing a different pitcher each inning made it difficult as a hitter, especially against an All-Star pitching staff.

"We're seeing them for the first time," he said. "You're going up there guessing, blind almost, so it's a huge advantage for them. It's an odd situation."

The Carolina League's California natives included Winston-Salem first baseman Micah Schnurstein, Frederick shortstop Blake Davis, Salem's Mitch Einertson and Kinston's Chris Gimenez.

With his 1-for-5, two-RBI performance, Davis garnered his team's Most Valuable Player award.

Gimenez won the Home Run Derby, smacking five long balls in the first round and seven more in the finals.

BEANE (IN) TOWN: Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane was the keynote speaker at an All-Star luncheon catering to players and league executives held at Brookside Country Club.

Beane spoke highly of the talent level of the players filling the All-Star rosters and of how the Minor League process has changed since his own experience during the 1980s. Beane was selected in the first round [23rd overall] by the New York Mets.

NOT A GAME OF SLOW PITCH: Gimenez may have won Home Run Derby with 12 roundtrippers, but he came up short in the All-Star Game. He struck out against Wilding as a pinch-hitter for Schnurstein in the sixth inning.

SHIFTING EAST: The Midsummer Classic will shift back to a Carolina League park next season with Coastal Federal Field, home of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, set to host the 2008 event on June 24. This year's game was the first held at a California League facility in three years due to scheduling conflicts.

NEWS N' NOTES: Official attendance was 5,064. ... The game lasted two hours, 42 minutes. ... Winds blew out to left-center field for most the night but became swirling around game time. ... There were six errors in the contest, four by the Carolina League. ... A total of 303 pitches, 179 for strikes, were thrown.