18-Grip Shield Glory Days

INDIANS' CHAMPIONSHIP ONE FOR THE BOOKS-Click headline for full story and Indians' team photo. The Palm Beach Indians won a record sixth Palm Beach league championship, topping Los Tigres 7-0 Sunday, Feb. 9, behind the shutout pitching of lefthander Brian Holden, who handcuffed the usually potent Los Tigres’ offense on five hits, notching nine strikeouts. The Tribe broke a scoreless tie with four runs in the bottom of the fourth, added another in the fifth, then put it on ice with three more in the eighth inning. In the fourth, Chris Murphy who led the Indians with a 3-for-3 performance, singled with one out. Nestor Sanjurjo was inserted as a runner and was involved in the key play of the game. When Matt Bautz bounced out to third, Sanjurjo dashed for third and was ruled safe when the base umpire ruled that he was obstructed by Los Tigres’ shortstop Ariel Rodriguez. That opened the floodgates, as Jared Green doubled to right to score Sanjurjo with the only run the Indians would need. Chad Baran singled to left, followed by run scoring singles by Derek Alleman and Rob Wiley to give the Indians a 3-0 lead. Sanjurjo doubled in the fifth and scored on Murphy’s RBI double to deep right field. In the ninth, Andy Lewis banged a double to left and Murphy singled with a run scoring on a throwing error. Matt Bautz singled to right to score another, and after Alfonso Paradas took over the on the mound for starter Carlos Joel Gonzalez, Wiley hit a sacrifice fly to right to close out the scoring. Los Tigres mounted only two serious scoring threats against Holden. Eduardo Moreno was hit by a pitch and Jose Espino singled in the first inning. Antuan Bunkley hit into a force play, putting runners at first and third, but Holden responded by striking out Amado Dinzey looking. In the fifth, Ibrahim Navarro drew a walk and Dagoberto Perez singled, but Holden picked Navarro off second. It proved to be a costly mistake by Los Tigres. Orlani Araujo singled, which most likely would have scored Navarro. Murphy led the Indians’ 13-hit offense with a double, two singles and a walk. Lewis had a double and single and Chad Baran had two singles. Green (RBI) and Sanjurjo had doubles, Matt Bautz, Alleman and Wiley contributed RBI singles and Craig Bautz added a base hit. The Indians played flawlessly on defense, while Los Tigres committed two errors, one of them leading to an unearned run in the fifth. Holden walked only two and hit one batter and finished up strong by striking out the side in the ninth inning. He was chosen as the game’s Most Valuable Player and will receive a personally inscribed MVP plaque. Espino, Navarro, Perez, Araujo and Rodriguez had the only hits off Holden, all singles. GAME NOTES—Los Tigres turned the game’s only double play, a picture perfect round the horn twin killing from Moreno to Navarro to Araujo in the second inning. The Indians’ victory gave them a sweep of the 2002 championships. They downed the Tigres (Caribbean Stars) 6-1 in the spring championship game. Coming into Sunday’s game, they had been tied with the now defunct Young Guns, who dominated the league’s early years, for the most league championships at five each. SMOOTH SAILING FOR SPONSOR The Indians wish to express their thanks to Rybovich-Spencer Yacht Sails & Service for their sponsorship again this season. Rybovich-Spencer has helped with sponsorship twice, and the Indians have won the league championship twice.