26th annual Modesto Sunrise Rotary Baseball Classic set for Saturday

Beyer High School pitcher Micah Hall will never forget the way his high school career ended.

Leading the Sac-Joaquin Section in wins with a perfect 12-0 record and vying to tie for the state lead, Hall was – gasp! – pulled from a game.

In each of his previous starts during his senior season, Hall went the distance. And won.

But against Pitman in the third round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I South tournament, the unthinkable happened. Hall left the game three runs down and was the pitcher of record in the Patriots’ devastating 7-2 loss to the Pride.

Hall will have one last opportunity to get that taste out of his mouth Saturday night in the 26th annual Modesto Sunrise Rotary Baseball Classic.

“That last game’s always going to be on my mind because I didn’t perform like I can,” said Hall, who will play for the East team. “I’ve put it behind me, it’s over with, and there’s nothing I can do about it now.

“I’m just going to gout there Saturday and throw like I can.”

There are five Pitman players on the West squad – Central California Conference MVP Zach Wichman, the winning pitcher in the playoff meeting, Matt Carrigg, Coleton Horner, Colton Evans and Darren Finney – and it’s possible Hall could find himself staring in at one, or more, of them.

“That’d be a little nice,” said Hall, who finished the year 12-1 with a 1.61 ERA. “Like I told you after that game, I’m confident I can get those guys out. I beat myself that game.”

The Classic will be played at Cal State Stanislaus this year after it became too difficult to find an open date at the game’s traditional home, John Thurman Field. The game starts at 7:05 p.m. with gates opening at 5.

The East will be coached by John Bussard of Ceres, while Pitman’s John Acha will guide the West.

Hall, who was chosen for last year’s game but pulled out because of travel-ball commitments, is looking forward to playing in his first all-star game, especially since it’s being played at Stanislaus, with which Hall signed a letter of intent for next season.

“I’m excited most that I’m going to be playing on the field where I’m going to be for the next four years,” Hall said. “It’ll be a fun experience.”

In all, 44 players from 22 Stanislaus County schools will compete. Admission is $5 and free for kids under 4.

This story was originally published June 9, 2015 at 8:15 PM with the headline "26th annual Modesto Sunrise Rotary Baseball Classic set for Saturday."