IVBN All Star game set for Thursday
BRAWLEY — The Imperial Valley Baseball Network’s annual pre-season High School All Star baseball game is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Ed Wiest Field here.
All Valley high schools will be represented, presenting a unique opportunity for players to compete, yet bond, before the upcoming season.
“The beauty of bringing kids together for these events is that they build camaraderie through the IVBN and while the games are competitive, the players value the sport and friendships,” said Renato Montaño, IVBN vice president. “It makes the experience more meaningful and the bonds they develop are special relationships.”
Players are nominated and talent-wise the IVBN attempts to balance the rosters of the two teams.
“The rosters start with the high school coaches and priority is given to active participants in our IVBN programs, our age-level teams, camps and other activities,” said game organizer and IVBN board member Pedro Carranza. “The teams will be divided equally so everybody gets to play and it’s intended to be a preseason, kick-off type activity.”
The All Star game also traditionally highlights the best of the Valley’s talent for the coming season.
“The game gets the players the acknowledgment as being players to watch for this upcoming season … sort of our pre-season All Valley teams,” Carranza said. “It’s as competitive an all star game as you will find anywhere … the talent pool is high here in the Valley.”
Two IVBN Hall of Famers, Holtville’s Paul Serna, who will also throw out the first pitch, and Calexico’s Henry Beltran, will serve as honorary coaches of the teams.
The Imperial Valley Umpires Association will once again donate their services to umpire the game.
Normally a fund-raising event, this year’s game will be free to the public and a snack bar will be available.
Established in 2008, the IVBN core mission is to ensure that Valley youth have opportunities to play baseball at a high level by events such as the All Star game and to attain an education, providing college scholarships to that year’s graduating seniors.
“As a parent and an educator I appreciate that the scholarships are awarded to players for what they do on the field but also what they do in the classroom,” Montaño said.
“It rewards them for doing well in both areas and in our camps or with our teams the emphasis is on education; that if you are successful beyond high school or college in baseball, that’s just an added benefit to a good education.”
The next IVBN activity will be the annual Hall of Fame Banquet and scholarship presentations which will be held after the high school baseball season.