STOCKTON — Several area baseball standouts took the field in the 22nd Annual High School All-Star Baseball Classic, and it was the North squad that pulled out the 4-2 victory at Klein Family Field on the University of the Pacific campus Friday.

The South squad opened the contest by pushing across the game’s first run in its half of the first, when Escalon High standout Josh Miguel came around to score. The North would answer immediately, taking the lead for good in its half of the inning on a 2-run shot from Josh Bailey of Bret Harte.

The North never looked back, adding a pair of runs in the second inning and getting dominant pitching the rest of the way. Including a quality one-inning outing out of Southern League Most Valuable Player, Ripon Christian’s Colby DeVries.

DeVries did not have any trouble in his one inning of work, holding the South squad hitless and getting a strikeout after opening the summer classic as the North squad’s starting first baseman.

“The jitters were definitely going,” DeVries said. “I was real excited and really pumped and I was able to locate out there today. Towards the end of the year I was struggling a little bit with location, but today I was able to put it right where I wanted.

“It was an honor to be out here with all these guys; it was fun.”

The South’s squad got major contributions from East Union High standout Brock Swift, who contributed in nearly every inning, making great defensive plays at shortstop and third and also giving the club a scoreless inning of relief after pulling themselves to within two runs.

“Coach said the lineup was going to be fair and it took him two and a half-hours to do it,” Swift said of Escalon High coach Greg Largent’s lineup card. “Once I saw where I was at I just wanted to play hard and give 100-percent the whole time.

“It didn’t matter if it was an all-star game or a showcase, I just wanted to give the max effort the whole time.”

Swift did all he could in his final at bat to help the South’s chances at a comeback, smashing a laser to left field that was mishandled, getting Swift into scoring position. He would advance to third and eventually come around to score on a wild pitch.

“I didn’t want to leave the all-star game going 0 for 2,” Swift said. “I just really concentrated that last at bat and wanted to square-up one with a line drive.”

Manteca High’s Danny Gouveia made his presence felt in minimal action, reaching first base on a fielder’s choice and promptly swiping second and third on consecutive pitches only to be stranded at third on a North popout.

Weston Ranch’s Tyler Scharnow made his debut in the classic in a strenuous position, getting the call from the bullpen with a runner in scoring position and two outs. Scharnow would drill the first batter and then retire the next to get out unscathed. He would toss a scoreless third inning before getting time at shortstop late in the contest.

The Lathrop Spartans found themselves represented at the classic with Gabe Castellanos and Ernie Garcia both getting significant playing time. Garcia put together a great at-bat and reach on a walk, while Castellanos hustled down the line to beat out a fielder’s choice. The two Spartans are continuing an inspiring trend with the up-and-coming Lathrop High baseball program.

“It feels good to be recognized coming from a small, new school that not too many people know about,” Castellanos said. “It was an honor to be out here and just try to do my best and compete with some of these other really good schools that are more established. For so long you play against all these guys and you never know them; it was cool to talk some of the players and get to know them.

“That was most special about the opportunity."