18-Grip Shield Glory Days

CHAMOS, SUGAR KINGS WIN THEIR FIRST LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Oasis Pool Service Chamos, playing only their third season in the Palm Beach League, won their first championship by defeating the Home Run Sports Dodgers 6-5 for the 18AAA title in the Fall 2007-2008 League. The Cuban Sugar Kings also won their first crown, beating the Dobson Roofing Hurricanes 3-1. Both games were played at the Lantana Sports Complex on Sunday, February 24, bringing the curtain down on the league's 16th year and 32nd season.

Chamos took advantage of five Dodgers' errors to score five unearned runs. Three of those came in the first two innings. Pitcher Victor Prieto, who eventually was the winning pitcher led off the game by reaching third base on an infield throwing error and scoring on a single to right by Chris Reynolds. After another infield error moved Reynolds to third base where he scored on a wild pitch by Dodgers' stater and eventual losing pitching Brian Holden. A hit batsman and singles by Pedro Bossio and Chamos' manager David Machado plated another run to make it 3-0 after two innings. The Dodgers pulled off a double steal for their first run in the third inning. Stalin DeLaRosa was hit by a pitch, stole second, and went to third on an infield hit by Billy Brescia. DeLaRosa and Brescia then pulled off a double steal to make it 3-1.

Reynolds knocked in two more Chamos runs, both unearned, with a two run double to deep right field, scoring Machado, who had reached on an error, and courtesy runner Pedro Bossio, running for Prieto, to make it a 5-1 Chamos lead. The Dodgers cut it to 5-3 with unearned runs in the fifth and sixth. Brian Fitzsimmons' infield roller scored Max Johnson, who had reached first on a wild pitch after striking out and advancing to third on a throwing error. Two infield errors and a passed ball brought in a run in the sixth. Chamos got another unearned run in the seventh, a big insurance tally, on a two base error on a routine fly ball to right field, scoring courtesy runner Castillo from first base.

With Carlos Dominguez replacing Prieto on the hill, the Dodgers pulled to within a run by scoring two runs in the 8th on a two run bases loaded single by Brescia, his third hit of the game. The Dodgers, though, left the bases loaded when Dominguez coaxed Ryan McDonald into a force out grounder to third base. The Dodgers had one more opporunity in the bottom of the ninth, as Ryan Ghianda, who had relieved starter Holden in the seventh inning, beat out an infield hit and went to second on a throwing error, but he was left stranded when Justin Koebnick struck out to end the ball game. Reynolds, with two hits and three runs batted in, was named the game's Most Valualbe Player and will receive the Bob Swets Memorial MVP plaque.

By sharp contrast with the sloppy 18AAA title game that saw nine errors committed by the two teams, the 18AA game was a brilliant pitcher's duel between the Cuban Sugar Kings' Nestor Sanjurjo (pronounced Sahn-HOOR-hoh) and the Hurricanes' Rick Schnur. Catcher Mario Perez outshone even the complete game pitching of Sanjurjo. He drove in all three Sugar Kings' runs. His two out single in the third scored Jordany Martinez who singled, stole second and went to third on a throwing error.

Then, in the top of the 8th inning and again wtih Martinez on base, Perez unloaded a two run homer on to Lantana Road to break a 1-1 tie and carry the Sugar Kings to victory. Perez, who also stood out defensively behind the plate, and pegged out a runner trying to steal, was named the game's Most Valuable Player and will receive the NABA's Bob Swets Memorial MVP plaque. The Hurricanes' only run came in the fifth on a walk to catcher Chuck Tooch and three straight singles by Arrnie Torres, Kevin Gottlieb and Eddie Gonzalez, the latter scoring courtesy runner Craig Spatara. However, Sanjurjo shut the door and left the bases loaded. The Hurricanes couldn't mount a serious threat over the next fouir innings, with Perez' two run shot deciding the contest. Both pitchers went the distance, giving up seven hits apiece. Schnur struck out nine in a losing cause. Sanjurjo fanned six.