Trinity stars put on powerful display

IRVINE - One huge inning propelled the Trinity League All-Stars to a 13-6 victory over the Sunset League All-Stars in the final game of the Ryan Lemmon Showcase on Saturday at Ryan Lemmon Stadium.

The Trinity Stars erupted for nine runs in the third inning, an inning in which nine consecutive batters reached base and six runs scored before the first out was recorded.

Santa Margarita's Robert Kelly, the second batter of the inning, ignited the rally with a two-run home run to deep center. The Trinity Stars sent 15 hitters to the plate and collected eight hits in the inning.

On Friday, Kelly finished in second in a home run derby that was staged as part of the event.

"I was trying to find something fat (to drive)," said Kelly, who drove in the Trinity Stars' first run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the first. "It was great to get with these guys for one last big bang."

Kelly also pitched the second inning, retiring all three hitters he faced.

Six players drove in at least one run for the Trinity Stars and six different pitchers took the mound.

"They did a good job of putting the ball in play," said Trinity Stars manager Brett Kay of JSerra. "We were fortunate enough to get all our kids three to four at-bats."

Ryan Bergman of Esperanza led the Sunset Stars with a home run and three RBIs.

J.J. Baccari of Marina had a single and scored two runs.

The Sunset Stars were leading, 3-1, before the third inning outburst by the Trinity Stars.

Showcase officials said 1,500 turned out over the two days of the event, which featured the top players in six of Orange County's top leagues.

On Friday, the South Coast League defeated the Century League, 3-0, and the Sea View League came away with a 12-2 victory over the Pacific Coast League.

Contact the writer: lponsi@ocregister.com