GFI regulars face off in Kansas this week
By Gerry Foster
Two teams who are GFI regulars and fan favourites are presently participating in the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kansas. This annual 32 team, two week extravaganza, is considered the most prestigious summer baseball tournament in America. This year the San Diego Stars and Seattle Studs are on a bit of a roll at the NBC and as this is written both teams have reached the final eight. Last night (Monday, Aug. 9) the Studs blew a 5-0 lead but regained their composure and defeated the Gunnison Colts from Colorado 8-7, scoring the winning run in the eighth inning. The Stars meanwhile made the headlines in the Wichita Eagle newspaper this morning. The headlines announced, “Stunning rally puts San Diego back in NBC spotlight.” The Stars rallied from an 8-0 deficit after two innings to overcome the Valley Center Diamond Dawgs from Kansas 12-11. Mickey Deutschman, San Diego’s manager said afterwards, “Disneyland scripted that game.” Seattle and San Diego played each other earlier in the tournament and can you believe it, tonight they will have to face each other again with the winner moving on and the loser heading home. The Studs beat the Stars on Aug. 5 10-1. Whatever happens tonight the question for GFI fans is, “Will they meet again in Grand Forks in the first week of September?” They will be in different divisions so it won’t be in the round robin. But the matchup could take place in the Money Round. Now wouldn’t that be something!
The above story in itself is a great reason to be at the 30th anniversary of the Grand Forks International. Seattle and San Diego combined have more history at the GFI than any other two teams.
