By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
The Crestline Highlanders – members of the SoCal Vintage Base Ball League – won their first game of the 2026 season, defeating the Fullerton Fire Knockers, on July 18. They are looking forward to another successful season of play.
The Highlanders swashbuckled the Fullerton team on their home field and will face them again at the end of the month up on the mountain at Harich Field in Twin Peaks, where they hope to repeat the win. The Most Valuable Player for that first game of the season was David Gutierrez who hurled (pitched) a complete seven-bracket (inning) game, plus he hit a grand-slam homerun as the Highlanders defeated the Fire Knockers, 20-5.
The next three games in August will be played by the Highlanders at Harich Field at 675 Grandview Road in Twin Peaks. The first game is against Temecula on Aug. 1 at 10 a.m., followed two weeks later against their rivals, the Riverside Smudgepots, on Aug. 15.
In the third game at Harich Field – on the fifth Saturday of August, Aug. 29 – the Highlanders will face off again against Fullerton. This rematch against the Fullerton Fire Knockers will be exciting as the Fire Knockers will be seeking revenge from the defeat they experienced in the first game this season. The September games will be away games at the fields of the opposing teams. All games are fun and free for the spectators to attend.
The SoCal Vintage Base Ball League plays by 1886 rules using replica balls, gloves and wearing old-style uniforms. They only play seven brackets (innings) per game. The “hurler” (pitcher) may throw seven balls for a walk, but it is still three strikes for an out. The “Sir” (umpire) stands next to the hurler when determining balls and strikes, which also places him in a good position to call outs and saves at bases.
Players never argue a call by the Sir as this is a gentleman’s game and the Sir’s calls are always correct. In 1886, the Sir would have been the town’s judge or a respected doctor, so no one would dispute their opinion. That level of respect is continued throughout these games. The Sirs take their responsibility very seriously.
Spectators are fondly nicknamed “cranks.” They are invited to attend all of these games for free, spending the day in the cool mountain air. The teams from down the mountain often look forward to these games played at Harich Field as their down-the-hill games are often played on a hot, sun-drenched Little League or high school field.
It is suggested that cranks bring an umbrella or wear a hat as the sun can shine on them as they sit in the bleachers. Some fans sit in the outfield under the shade of trees for a different perspective on the game. Attendance is free and encouraged.
The Crestline Highlanders are one of the founding teams of the SoCal Vintage Base Ball League back in 2019, founded by “The Commish” Wes Abarca. The Highlanders have been League champions twice. Abaca was also commissioned by the Rim of the World Recreation and Park District to paint a forest scene mural under the baseball backstop next to the front parking lot a year ago.
The Highlanders are sponsored by the Crestline Chamber of Commerce. A team photo of the Highlanders taken at the historic Thousand Pines Camp and a mannequin wearing the Highlander’s team uniform are prominently displayed in the Crestline visitors center in the Crestline Chamber of Commerce office at 24385 Lake Drive. The visitors center is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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