18-Grip Shield Glory Days

The Estilo Twins won their second straight 18AAA league championship, coming from behind to nip the Arrigo Dodgers 3-2 at the Lantana Sports Complex February 13. The Twins were down to their final four outs before staging a two out rally in the bottom of the 8th inning to tie the game, then won it with a singleton in the bottom of the ninth. Trailing 2-0 with two outs in the 8th inning, the Twins tied it on a single by Melvin Bruno, a double by Geraldo Vasquez and a two run triple by Ricky Dominguez, just beyond the diving effort of Dodgers' first baseman Billy Brescia. Gustavo Lopez came on to relieve Dodgers' starter Carlos Dominguez and got the elusive third out of the inning. However, Diego Santos doubled to lead off the fateful 9th. The Dodgers issued an intentional walk to Jose Acuna. Juan Arroyo hit into a force play at second, but beat the relay, putting runners at first and third. Alberto Lambis then hit a high chopper on which shortstop Edgar Tovar could not make a play as Santos raced in from third with the winning run. The Dodgers scored a run in the second on a double by Francis Dinzey and an RBI single to left by Willie Martinez. Dinzey made it 2-0 with a single to right in the 6th, but Twins' starter Acuna slammed the door, getting the final three outs, leaving runners at second and third. Pat Prescott came on to pitch two perfect innings to get the win over Lopez, who relieved Dodgers' starter Carlos Dominguez after yielding the game tying triple by Ricky Dominguez. Lambis, who had two hits in the game, was chosen as the game's Most Valuable Player. The 18AA game saw the Metric Engineering Cubans take a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth, only to see the Seminoles post four runs to take a 5-2 advantage and never look back. The Cubans scored a second inning run off Seminoles' starter Steve Prince. Juan Panta walked, was forced at second by Jesus Ferrer and after Darien Viera doubled Ferrer to third, Prince uncorked a wild pitch for the game's first run. The Cubans made it 2-0 without a hit in the fourth off Seminoles' reliever Jerry Jarido. Viera drew a walk, stole second and third and scored on a throwing error on his steal of third. The 'Noles came back with a run in the fourth. Steve Prince crushed one to left field which was originally ruled a home run, but changed to a ground rule double when the umpires ruled it had not cleared the screen in left. Prince eventually scored on a single by Danny Rivera. Metric was its own worst enemy in the fifth inning. Carlos Dominguez was hit by a pitch, stole second, moved to third on a fly out to center and scored on the first two balk calls against Cubans' starter Ramon Linares. John Bagatta's two run single off reliever Miguel Gonzalez put the Seminoles ahead 4 to 2 and Joe Prince singled home Bagatta to make it a 5-2. The Noles added single runs in the 6th, 7th and 8th before the Cubans scored a final run in the 9th inning to make the final score 8-3. Jarido pitched seven strong relief innings, notching ten strikeouts to earn Most Valuable Player honors. Both of the runs he gave up were unearned. FALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS Sunday, Feb. 13 At Lantana Sports Complex 18AA Championship Seminoles 8 Metric Cubans 3 18AAA Championship Estilo Twins 3 Arrigo Dodgers 2