UPDATED: 4A may have pitching advantage against 5A in All-Star Classic baseball game

Pride is on the line Twhen the area's best baseball players square off in the 48th annual Colorado Springs City/Suburban Senior All-Star Classic at Memorial Park's Spurgeon Field. The game was rescheduled due to steady rain over Memorial Day weekend.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday

The showcase event received its name because players from Colorado Springs faced their counterparts from the suburban schools.

Six years ago, the format was changed to feature players from Class 5A against a team from 4A, with stars from lower classifications added to both rosters.

"I don't know if either team has an advantage," said game organizer Mark Swope, an assistant at 4A Cheyenne Mountain and former coach at 5A Doherty. "The 4A team has never beaten 5A in five years, but I think they will this time."

Swope's reasoning is based on the guys on the mound.

"I think 4A pitching has an edge and that's why they've got a good chance to beat 5A," he said. "In a nine-inning game like this, you're going to see seven, eight pitchers so depth really matters."

Of the 45 players scheduled to participate, 14 are known to have college scholarships to continue their careers on the diamond.

Headed to Dodge City Community College are Rampart pitcher Zane Watkins, Rampart outfielder Miguel Ortega, Liberty catcher Dan Talley and Cheyenne Mountain pitcher Kevin Kimball.

A trio of Doherty players signed with Lamar Community College: pitcher/outfielder Jesse Porras, pitcher Dakota Barr and infielder/pitcher Forrest Klausmeier.

Others who have scholarships are Doherty first baseman Beau Kelly (Nebraska Wesleyan), Cheyenne Mountain second baseman Colin Bates (Indian Hills Community College), Cheyenne Mountain catcher Mitch Magrini (Doane College), St. Mary's infielder Jimmy Park (Wisconsin Whitewater), Lewis-Palmer shortstop Caleb Wade (Glendale Community College), Widefield outfielder Evan Kenebrew (Maple Woods Community College) and Manitou Springs catcher/pitcher Alex Reiter (Northeastern Community College).

Also slated to play for the 4A team are Cheyenne Mountain's Mitch Aguilar, Nick Schoon, Sean Jergensen and Trent VanHorn; Manitou Springs' Erik Engberg, Jeremiah Struble and Zach Johnston; Wasson's Jared Trester and Charlie Palmer; Woodland Park's Zack Snider, Bryant Szabo and Jared Giambalvo; Falcon's Mike Smargie; Lewis-Palmer's Zach Pedrick; Mitchell's Gabe Salas; and Castle View's Jason Yarnell and Joe Ferris.

The 5A squad includes Air Academy's Tyler Maples, Josh Montano and Mike Bartlett; Rampart's Austin Kaiser and Jeff Karlik; Pine Creek's Jordan Loudenback and Ryan Ventura; Sand Creek's Cory Keaton and Jeremy Monty; Doherty's Justin Monger; Fountain-Fort Carson's Chris Howard; Palmer's Josh George; Peyton's Tyler Patterson; and Chris Collura of Colorado Springs Christian School.