PHOTOS: South survives North’s late threat for third straight win in OC All-Star Game

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South players and coaches before Wednesday’s all-star game at the Great Park. (PHOTOS: Jacob Ramos, For OC Sports Zone).

Outstanding pitching, a big home run by Aliso Niguel’s Jarett Sabol for the South in the sixth inning and an exciting finish were all part of the 57th annual Orange County All-Star Baseball Game Wednesday night at the Great Park Stadium.

The South held on for a 3-1 victory.

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

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Members of the North team before the game.

Members of the North team, including No. 25 Zack Bretza (Segerstrom) are introduced.

North and South players shake hands after the game.

Mikey Gray of Trabuco Hills shows some emotion on the mound after earning the save with a strikeout to close Wednesday’s victory for the South.

South MVP Jarret Sabol with Dick Owens (left) and Rex Lyon of the Ryan Lemmon Foundation.

Trevor Goldenetz (Huntington Beach) won the North team MVP. He was joined by Dick Owens (left) and Rex Lyon of the Ryan Lemmon Foundation.

Miles Scott of Servite received the hustle award, joined by Dick Owens (left) and Rex Lyon of the Ryan Lemmon Foundation.
PHOTO: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone

Aiden Franco of Cypress fires a pitch for the North. He pitched two innings.

Jordan Marian (JSerra) dives back safely on a pickoff attempt Wednesday.

Omaha the Bat Dog retrieves a bat pregame.

Trevor Goldenetz of Huntington Beach moves into second base with a double.

Toby Kwon (Servite) delivers a pitch for the North.

Drew Nelson (San Juan Hills) throws a pitch for the South.

North players Wyatt Rosales (left), Kevin Reyes Mejia (Katella) and Victor Cardona (Pacifica).
PHOTO: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone

Kennedy’s Tyler Onofre is welcomed by North teammates Mikey Patterson and Tyler Peshke of Fountain Valley (blue).
PHOTO: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone

Vlla Park Coach Burt Call (far left) coached the South team. Two of his VP players could not play in the game because the Spartans are still in the CIF So Cal Regional.
PHOTO: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone

Woodbridge outfielder Nevan Namgoong heads out for introductions.
PHOTO: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone

Youth players joined the all-stars on the field Wednesday night.
PHOTO: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone

From the Ryan Lemmon Foundation, Guy Lemmon, right with Rex Lyon and Dick Owens (middle).
Photo: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone

Players from both teams gathered for a group photo before the game.
PHOTO: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone

It was the second year the event has been run by Guy Lemmon’s Ryan Lemmon Foundation and the Orange County community responded with an estimated turnout of 600, according to Dick Owens of the foundation.

The South has won three games in a row and leads the series 32-23-1.

Sabol, who’s home run put the South ahead 2-1, was named the South MVP. Trevor Goldenetz of Huntington Beach who had a double, single and three steals, was named the North MVP.

Miles Scott of Servite, who reached on an error, stole third and scored on a throwing error for the North’s only run in the fifth inning, received the hustle award.

The North was able to bring the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning. Tyler Peschke had a single and Goldenetz walked with two outs. But Trabuco Hills Mikey Gray, who started the game at second base, struck out the final batter to earn the save.

“Pitchers pitched really well today,” Gray said. “Our hits came in the clutch when we needed it. Good defense, good pitching, all-around just a great game.”

Gray was thrilled to be able to end the game with a strikeout.

“I got him down to two strikes,” Gray said. “Our catcher called a fastball and I thought it was a great idea and I kind of just let it rip and he swung and missed and it worked out nice.”

The game was scoreless through three innings. In the top of the fourth inning, the South moved ahead. Gavin Lauridsen (Foothill) singled to lead off, Lucas Perez (Newport Harbor), walked and Blake Helsper (Canyon) doubled to put the South ahead 1-0.

Scott scored the North’s only run in the sixth inning before Sabol launched his home run in the sixth to give the South a 2-1 lead.

The South then extended its lead to 3-1 with a run in the seventh inning. Becker Sybirski (Laguna Beach) doubled and came home when Jordan Marian (JSerra) reached on a fielder’s choice,

Then it was up to the final three South pitchers, Brennan Bauer (Santa Margarita), Sybirski and Gray to finish it out.

“It’s fun to see a lot of kids you competed against and with and just get a chance to kind of share a dugout with guys and celebrate the success they’ve had over the course of four years and honor the seniors who love to play the baseball game, we share this common bond and we compete on field,” said Santa Margarita Coach Chris Malec, one of the South assistants. “But to be able to share the common bond of baseball and bringing us together is just a tremendous experience for Orange County baseball.

Villa Park Coach Burt Call coached the South team but two of his Spartan players Shawn Romero and Nate Lewis were not allowed to play under CIF rules because Villa Park is still in the CIF So Cal Regional. Players from Fountain Valley, Santa Margarita and Mater Dei did participate because their teams lost in the regionals.

North Coach Mike Caira from Pacifica also enjoyed coaching in the game.

“It was well played by both teams,” Caira said. “It was fun, it was a close game, it could have gone either way, it’s just good to be out there and fun to be out there. Sabol can hit, all his brothers were very good.”

Caira was pleased with the effort of Scott.

“Miles is a tremendous player, great athlete and Goldenetz was unbelievable and he was able to extend the inning there (in the ninth) we had one of the best guys in the county up, and whenever you can get the tying run up that was pretty special,” Caira said.

Tristan Dalzell (Los Alamitos) started for the North and Mike Erspamer (San Clemente) for the South. Seventeen pitchers were used with Aiden Franco (Cypress) pitching two innings.

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