After going through the first four innings hitless, the Lodi Grape Sox finally broke through and scored two runs in the fifth on one hit. They then exploded for six runs in the seventh on five hits and pulled away to with the Inaugural Santa Maria Valley Packers Invitational 8-3 over the Clovis Outlaws on Sunday afternoon at John Osborne Field.

Clovis scored single runs in the third and fifth to take a 2-0 lead. Meanwhile in the first four innings Outlaw starting pitcher Mark Haynes faced just one over the minimum, allowing a two-out walk in the third.

Lodi finally scored and tied the score a 2-2 when Tanner Moore walked then scored on a double by Jake Fuller. Fuller then scored on a sacrifice fly.

The Outlaws regained the lead in the top of the seventh on a double by Jeff Garidel - his second of the game - was followed by a passed ball and a sac fly.

The big blows in the bottom of the seventh for the Grape Sox were two-run singles by both Ryan Bernal and Moore.

Clovis made it to the championship game after completing pool play 2-1.

The final standings of the pool play ended with Lodi, San Luis Obispo and Clovis finishing at 2-1. The host Packers, East Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Seals ended at 1-2. The Packers win was a 7-0 shutout of Clovis on Saturday night.

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Santa Maria Valley will resume regular season play on the road Tuesday at 7:30 against the SLO Rattlers at SLO Stadium. They will return home Wednesday for the first of two games at John Osborne Field against the Rattlers.

Packers To Host Free Youth Clinic

After hosting a Fantasy Camp for adults 35 and over on Friday and Saturday, July 18 & 19, the Santa Maria Packers will hold a free youth clinic on Sunday, July 20 at John Osborne Field.

The clinic is designed for ages 9 - 15 and will feature instruction from both Packers coaches and players.

Signups for the camp can be made at any upcoming Packers game, beginning Wednesday when the Packers hosts the SLO Rattlers at 4:40 p.m.

For more information on the fantasy camp or youth clinic go to the Packers website at SMVPackers.com

Babe Ruth All-Stars

Santa Maria 13s win big vs. Arroyo Grande

The Santa Maria Babe Ruth 13-year-old All-Star team had its way with Arroyo Grande in District 6 All-Star action on Sunday, allowing only one ht and racking up 12 of their own in a 13-1 victory at Orcutt's Morrison Field.

Dallas Zepeda had the big blast of the day with a three-run homer in the third inning, while Ryan Mediano and Tommy Carrillo had two hits each in the victory.

Mediano also had a prime day on the mound, not allowing a hit in five innings of work on the mound. Steven Orozco worked the final inning in relief.

Santa Maria returns to action on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. against the winner of Sunday's Lompoc-SLO game.

Santa Maria 14s fall to SLO in District play

The Santa Maria Babe Ruth 14-Year-Old All-Star team suffered a 6-5 loss to San Luis Obispo in District 6 action at Atascadero on Sunday.

Ryan Bendele went 2-for-4 in the loss, while Eddie Cavazos and Marc Lopez each had a double in the defeat.

The loss comes one day after Santa Maria beat Paso Robles 4-3 on Jaime Camarena's sacrifice fly in the final inning.

Santa Maria returns to action today at 4 p.m. against either Lompoc or Orcutt.

July 7, 2008