League-less youth baseball team finds opponents

CANAL WINCHESTER, OHIO - A baseball team of 11- and 12-year-olds kicked out of a league in A Columbus, Ohio suburb is fielding offers from all over to play, including some in Georgia.<br> <br> The Columbus Stars were removed from their league last month because they were too good. In some of their last games, the Stars beat the Red Sox 18-0, World Harvest 13-0, Sugar Grove II 24-0 and Sugar Grove I 10-2.<br> <br> Other teams began complaining and canceling.<br> <br> Michael Mirones, board chairman for the Canal Winchester Joint Recreation District, pulled the Stars from the league and returned their $150 entry fee. He suggested the Stars play in a travel league against better teams.<br> <br> Now the Stars have received offers from teams all over central Ohio and in other states.<br> <br> Clay Branch, a parent in a youth league in Atlanta, said he offered to arrange for the team to play in Georgia.<br> <br> ``I&#39;d never heard of anything like that, and it blew my mind,&#39;&#39; he said. ``I wish we were closer.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> The Stars already have a couple of games coming up against teams in central Ohio. They also plan on playing in two tournaments next month.<br> <br> Georgian Heights, a team from the Columbus area, defeated the Stars 5-4 last week to give them their first loss this season. The Stars had defeated Georgian Heights in two earlier meetings this year.<br> <br> Stars pitcher Josh Dameron, 12, said the team learned from the loss.<br> <br> ``The mood of our team is the same,&#39;&#39; he said. ``We don&#39;t care about the loss. The next time we play them, we hope we win.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> <I>(The Associated Press)<I/>

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