Late in their SCCBL semifinal game, the Palm Springs Power trailed the Arroyo Second Sentinels 5-0.
In the sixth and seventh, the offense rallied for six runs to pull ahead before a Sentinel home run tied the game at six.
In the top of the ninth, the Sentinels had a runner on third with one out. Brian Menendez pitched out of the jam keeping the game tied going into the bottom of the ninth.
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, the Power rallied and won 7-6 to advance to the SCCBL Championship Series against the San Diego Force.
For those baseball fans that missed any of the first week of the SCCBL season, the Palm Springs Power have started the season 6-0. Check out the highlights from this week.
Opening Night 6/2
Saturday 6/3
Sunday 6/4
Wednesday 6/7
Friday 6/9
Wednesday June 14 will be the first true test for the Power as they face the San Diego Force, a team they lost to in last year’s SCCBL Championship Series.
Baseball fans in the Coachella Valley do not have to drive ninety minutes to see high quality baseball. Top college prospects from the Pac 12, Big West, SEC, Big Ten, and the Big 12 converge on downtown Palm Springs each summer to play for the Palm Springs Power.
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim held spring training at Palm Springs Stadium until 1992.
Elite college players compete each year in collegiate summer baseball leagues with teams like the Palm Springs Power. The most well known league is the Cape Cod League, with teams like the Chatham Anglers having produced Jeff Bagwell, Thurman Munson, and Evan Longoria in their 54 year history.
In only 13 years, the Palm Springs Power have had 93 players sign professional baseball contracts, 81 of those to Major League organizations. Notable former players include Brian Shaw (Cleveland Indians) and Tyler Saladino (Chicago White Sox).
Tyler Saladino played for the Palm Springs Power and now starts for the Chicago White Sox
The Power play in the Southern California Collegiate Baseball League, which includes six teams. The team has an overall record of 465-130 and has won seven league championships, including five straight from 2011 to 2015. Last year, the Power finished in second place in the league with a record of 28-11.
Andrew Starke is the founder and president of the Palm Springs Power. Starke continues to place great importance on community involvement, earning praise not only from the Palm Springs Chamber Of Commerce, but from Mayor Robert Moon as well.
While they are not the first team to play in historic Palm Springs Stadium, they have achieved the greatest level of success there since the Angels in 1961.
According to Starke, “The lack of success of previous teams was well documented, but there was one glaring mistake that they were all committing; none of those minor league teams were local, and the community couldn’t relate. I look at the success of Gene Autry’s Angels, and used that as a template for creating a hometown team that the community can really get behind.”
Earlier in the year, Starke named Casey Dill as manager of the Power. Dill has an extensive background in professional baseball and hopes to add to the already successful Palm Springs baseball franchise.
Casey Dill was named Power Manager in September
“This is a team whose success is determined by winning championships and promoting our players into MLB organizations” Dill said. “We aim to stay at the forefront of player development and knowledge of MLB scouting standards to continue to guide and lead our players into professional baseball.”
Dill has nine years of professional and summer collegiate managing experience, earning an overall record of 371-220 with four league championships. He is a graduate of Major League Baseball Scout School and also works as an Associate Scout with the Atlanta Braves.
“The greater Palm Springs community does a great job embracing the Palm Springs Power as the hometown team. Our mascot Rocky the Ram is one of the most recognizable characters in the community. It is an honor and pleasure to manage a team that is loved and supported as well as the Power are in Palm Springs.” said Power Manager Casey Dill.
On top of coming out to the ballpark for top level baseball from elite college players, fans can come out for an entertaining evening in Palm Springs. Kids can enjoy the bounce house and meet Rocky the Ram down the third baseline. Adults can enjoy dollar beer night throughout the summer on Tuesdays.
Tuesdays are Dollar Beer Nights at Palm Springs Stadium
“Power games are a blast and they’re affordable for the whole family to come. It is a wonderful social atmosphere and the kids always have fun in the bounce house and the race around the bases” said longtime Palm Springs resident Wendy Patterson.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question
Answer
Is the Palm Springs Power a A, AA, or AAA minor league team?
The Power is not a minor league team, it is a summer collegiate team made up of players from universities around the country. Collegiate summer baseball, or, “wood bat leagues,” as they are commonly known, are amateur baseball leagues that operate between the college baseball season in the spring, and the beginning of the fall college semester.
About what is the equivalent minor league level?
The Palm Springs Power play at a level roughly below AA ball. In other words, fans are seeing prospects 2-4 years away from the MLB.
Does the team play the Rancho Cucamunga Quakes or Inland Empire 66ers?
No. They play in the Southern California Collegiate Baseball League, which includes six teams In 12 years of baseball, the Power have an overall record of 465-130 (win percentage of .782), and have won seven league championships, including five straight from 2011 to 2015. Teams in the league include the San Diego Force and So Cal Bombers
Have Power players made it to the MLB?
Since the team’s inception, they have had a total of 93 players sign professional baseball contracts, 81 of those to Major League organizations. Notable former players include Brian Shaw (Indians) and Tyler Saladino (White Sox).
What is the history of the Palm Springs Power?
The Palm Springs Power is the brainchild of Andrew Starke, who remains owner and President. They aren’t the first team to play in historic Palm Springs Stadium, but they have achieved the greatest level of success there since the Angels in 1961. According to Starke, “The lack of success of previous teams was well documented, but there was one glaring mistake that they were all committing; none of those minor league teams were local, and the community couldn’t relate. I look at the success of Gene Autry’s Angels, and used that as a template for creating a hometown team that the community can really get behind.” Starke continues to place great importance on community involvement, earning praise not only from the Palm Springs Chamber Of Commerce, but from Mayor Robert Moon and Palm Springs Police Chief Brian Reyes as well. Both Mayor Moon and Chief Reyes threw out the first pitch at Power games in 2016
In an offensive battle, the New York Colonials eliminated the top seed Palm Springs Power today nine to six.
The Colonials jumped out to a five nothing lead in the bottom of the first. Kalani Brackenridge singled in two runs in the inning and finished with three RBIs.
The Power erased the lead in the next two innings with one in the first and four in the second. Nicholas Buckner led off the second with a mammoth solo shot to center.
Pitching took over the next few innings as the teams were tied at six going into the final inning. Martin Windisch threw six innings for the Power only allowing one earned run.
Errors in the top of the sixth by the Power allowed three Colonials to score.
Kyano Cummings shut down the Power 1-2-3 in the seventh as the Colonials won nine to six.
The Colonials will move onto play the Palm Springs Chill in the California Winter League finals at noon on Sunday.
In the sixth and seventh, the offense rallied for six runs to pull ahead before a Sentinel home run tied the game at six.
