By CHRIS BRANAM
Valley Press Staff Writer
After two years, the experiment pitting the best players in two of the top Class A minor leagues against each other seems to be working.
In three years, it could be one of the minors' top all-star games. It also could be in Lancaster.
Joe Gagliardi, the California League president, said Tuesday that the California League-Carolina League All-Star Game will most likely continue for another year.
"We would like to extend and go on with that arrangement," Gagliardi said from his office near San Jose. "It will come back. Both of us want to do it, but we have to adjust the cost factor."
The Cal League All-Stars won this year's game, which was televised by Home Town Sports, 6-5 at Durham, N.C. on June 17. Gagliardi said he doesn't think future games need to be on TV, which would cut a large part of the cost of putting the game on.
Right now, Lake Elsinore would host next year's game at The Diamond. Keeping in the tradition of the matchup, the game in 1999 would return to a Carolina League site.
The JetHawks have the inside track on hosting the game in 2000.
"I would like to consider Lancaster. . . they've expressed a desire to do it," Gagliardi said.
Even if the interleague plans somehow fall through in the next couple years, Gagliardi said Lancaster would still be the prohibitive favorite to host an intraleague all-star game in 2000.
"I would probably say that's a good bet," he said.
Gagliardi also discussed the Cal League's chances of being reclassified as a Class AA league when Class AA expands in 1999. The Cal League, which is considered by the National Association as an "advanced" Class A league, has already applied to move up a notch in the minor leagues' ladder.
"Most likely, we would not be considered for reclassification," Gagliardi said. "(The association) wants to realign Triple-A. Yes, we would like to go to Double-A. To me, we should be Double-A."