18-Grip Shield Glory Days

The Caribbean Stars ended the Estilo Twins' 18AAA League championship streak at four consecutive seasons by beating them 1-0 in ten innings at the Lantana Sports Complex. It was the Stars' sixth league championship, but their first since the Fall 2003 campaign. Earlier, the Dobson Roofing Hurricanes put together back to back five run rallies to beat the Texas Rangers 13-3 to win their second league title. The Stars scored the only run of the game with two outs in the bottom of the 10th. Andres Rodriguez was hit by a pitch, and was thrown out trying to steal second. Francis Dinzey struck out. With two outs, Christian Tabos singled to right. Luis Andrade followed with a single to right, sending pinch runner Will Gomez to third base. The Twins issued an intentional walk to Jose Espino, but the next batter Juan Veras hit a slow roller to third base, and Rafael Rodriguez in a hurry to make the play, bobbled it, allowing Gomez to streak home with the winning run. Lefthander Juan Prado of the Stars and Jose Acuna of the Twins hooked up in a terrific pitcher's duel, both shuting their opponents through nine. Prado allowed just four hits, and had only one jam to deal with. Daniel Blanco led off the sixth inning with a double, and was sacrificed to second by Melvin Bruno. The Stars walked Ricky Dominguez to set up a possible double play, but Dominguez stole second. Prado then struck out Nelson Sanchez and right fielder Veras made a diving catch of Emilio Vargas' foul fly to right to end the threat. Prado wound up with six strikeouts before giving away to reliever Wilson Ciprian, who earned the win with a scoreless tenth inning. Acuna gave up only two hits in the first eight, and wound up with six strikeouts. He dodged a bullet in the 8th. After Taboas' one out singlel, Luis Andrade hit a comebacker, but Acuna's throw to second to start a possible double play resulted in an error by shortstop Geraldo Vasquez. The Stars tried a delayed double steal, but the Twins handled it and threw out courtesy runner Francis Dinzey at the plate. Acuna also escaped in the 9th inning when he gave up back to back singles to Veras and Johenny Concepcion. However, pinch hitter Dennis Martinez bunted into a double play, breaking the back of a Stars rally. The luck ran out for Acuna and the Twins in the fateful tenth inning with Acuna losing his first championship game since3 2003. In the 18AA title game, the Hurricanes broke a 2-2 tie with five runs in the fifth. Two of the runs scored on an overthrow of home plate with the bases loaded. Craig Spatara then cracked a three-run homer for a 7-2 lead. The Canes added five more in the next inning. Carlos Sanchez singled in one and Spatara singled two more to highlight the frame. Jose Pena went the distance for the Hurricanes, scattered eight hits and striking out. Shawn Arena took the loss, going four full innings and leaving with no outs in the fifth. Four of the runs he gave up were unearned. Ronel Diaz finished up. Veras, who had two hits and made a spectacular diving catch in right field was chosen as the AAA title game Most Valuable Player. Spatara, who was 3 for 5 with five RBIs won the AA MVP honors. Johnny Carmona led the Hurricanes with four hits, including a run scoring triple. Bobby Alonso had two hits, Chuck Tooch and Carlos Sanchez had an RBI hit each, and Brian Schwal had one hit, but scored four times. Andrew Fariello and Alex Larriu had two hits apiece, Bryan Ready and Larriu with RBI singles, and Vince Jenco had a two bagger.