18-Grip Shield Glory Days

The 18AA league All Star team needed only two big innings to win the NABA’s 18AA vs. 18A All Star game Wednesday, June 22 at the Lantana Sports Complex. The visiting 18AA’s scored three unearned runs in the first inning and sent twelve men to the plate in an eight-run fourth inning to win 11-2. A steady, soaking rain that began in the top of the fifth inning finally forced the game to be called after seven innings. It appeared that the 18AA Stars would go down harmlessly in the top of the first inning after Javier Agosto (Los Potros) had induced two routine fly outs to right field and a high pop up off the bat of the Seminoles’ Steve Prince. However, the 18A shortstop, Alex Larrin wandered over to the first base of the infield and dropped the ball as he came into contact with second baseman Tom Brodrick (Texas Rangers). The Rockhounds’ Brian Micklos then socked a double to right to score Prince, and Chad Mainville of the Cardello Dodgers ripped a laser shot over the left field fence for a two-run homer to make it a 3-0 game. The 18A league came back with a run off 18AA starter Mike Barrella (Seminoles). Edgar Santos (Parientes) doubled to left and scored on a single by Larrin. It remained a 3-1 game until the fourth inning when the 18AA league erupted for eight runs against three different pitchers. Perry Menschel (Angels) and Blair Breed (Giants) both singled, and after Steve Prince fouled out, Mickos smashed a single to left to load the bases against the Marlins’ John Denski. Mainville then hit a screamer off the third baseman’s glove for a run scoring single, and Joe Prince (Seminoles) followed with another single to make it 5-1. Jorge Lopez (Braves) took over and hit Hicidro Ortiz (Sidewinders) with a pitch to force in another run. The Seminoles’ Dwayne Cabral smacked a two run single and Carlos Castaneda (Rockhounds) followed with a two run double to make it an 11-1 lead. Rick Mullan (Texas Rangers) came on to shut the door, getting the last two outs and adding two more scoreless innings, giving up only one hit and fanning four. Bryan Ready (Texas Rangers) set the 18AA league down in order in the seventh. The 18A league got its only other run in the sixth inning off Steve Prince. After retiring the first two batters, Prince gave up a solid single to Steve Grove (Los Potros), his second hit in as many at bats. Edwin Vasquez (Braves) doubled Grove to third and he scored on Prince’s wild pitch. Mainville, the lone Dodgers’ representative, was selected as the game’s Most Valuable Player and was awarded an NABA All Star MVP plaque after the game. He was two for three with three RBIs and a home run. He also pitched three scoreless innings, giving up only one hit and fanning two. Barrella, the starter, received credit for the win under the special pitching rule that governs All Star games. Under that rule, which also governs major league spring training games, a starter does not have to pitch five innings to receive credit for a victory. Barrella left after pitching only two innings with the score 3-1. All participants received a Commemorative NABA All Star Shirt 18AA vs. 18A All Star Game—June 22, 2005 at Lantana Sports Complex 18AA League (11) AB R H BI BB SO 18A League (2) AB R H BI BB SO Perry Menschel (Angels) 2 1 1 0 0 0 Tom Brodrick (Tex Rangers) 2 0 0 0 0 0 Blair Breen (Giants) 3 1 1 0 0 0 Edgar Santos (Parientes) 2 1 1 0 1 1 Steve Prince (Seminoles) 3 1 1 0 0 0 Alex Larrin (Los Potros) 2 0 1 1 0 0 Brian Micklos(Rockhounds) 3 2 2 1 0 1 Brian Ready (Tex Rangers) 2 0 1 0 0 0 Chad Mainville (Dodgers) 3 2 2 3 0 0 Jasey Campbell (Marlins) 1 0 0 0 1 1 Joe Prince (Seminoles) 3 1 2 1 0 0 Mike Silva (Heat) 2 0 0 0 0 0 Hicidro Ortiz (Sidewinders) 2 1 0 1 0 1 Rick Mullan (Tex Rangers) 2 0 0 0 0 2 Dwayne Cabral (Seminoles) 2 1 1 2 1 0 David Lopez (Los Potros) 2 0 1 0 0 0 Carlos Castaneda(Rockhounds)3 1 1 2 0 0 Steve Grove (Los Potros) 2 1 2 0 0 0 Chuck Tooch (Hurricanes) 2 0 0 0 0 1 Edwin Vasquez (Braves) 2 0 1 0 0 0 Danny Moya (Phillies) 1 0 0 0 1 0 Orlirio Lorenzo (Braves) 2 0 0 0 0 1 Mike Barrella (Seminoles) 2 0 0 0 0 2 John Denski (Marlins) 1 0 0 0 1 0 John Corporal (Renegades) 2 0 1 0 0 1 Javier Agosto (Los Potros) 2 0 0 0 0 0 Gene Balli (Renegades) 2 0 0 0 0 1 Jorge Lopez (Braves) 1 0 0 0 1 0 TOTALS 33 11 12 10 2 7 Eddie Lopez (Los Potros) 1 0 0 0 0 0 Orlain Padilla (Braves) 1 0 0 0 0 1 SCORE BY INNINGS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E TOTALS 27 2 7 1 4 6 18AA LEAGUE 3 0 0 8 0 0 0 11 10 1 18A LEAGUE 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 7 3 LOB-18AA-5, 18A-7 E-Larrin, Moya, J.Lopez, Lorenzo DP-None 2B-Micklos, J.Prince, Castaneda, Santos, Vasquez 3B-None HR-Mainville, 1st, one on SB-Cabral, Breen Caught-Tooch, D.Lopez HBP-Ortiz (by J.Lopez), Menschel (by Mullan) WP-S.Prince 18AA PITCHING IP H R ER BB SO 18A PITCHING IP H R ER BB SO Mike Barrella(Seminoles)W 2 4 1 1 0 2 Javier Agosto (Los Potros) 3 3 3 0 1 3 Chad Mainville (Dodgers) 3 1 0 0 3 2 John Denski (Marlins) 1/3 5 5 5 0 0 Steve Prince (Seminoles) 1 2 1 1 0 2 Jorge Lopez (Braves) - 2 3 2 0 0 Gene Balli (Renegades) 1 0 0 0 0 0 Rick Mullan (Rangers) 2 2/3 1 0 0 1 4 Brian Ready (Tex Rangers) 1 0 0 0 0 0 Managers-18AA-Carlo Dominguez (Seminoles); 18A-Luis Ramos (Los Potros) Umps-Hector Cruz (P), Bernie Ginsburg (B) Time: 2:21 MVP-Chad Mainville(Cardello Dodgers)

Seventeen new players were added to Palm Beach league teams through preseason tryouts and the league draft at the Santaluces Complex, Lantana, on Sunday, February 20. Only three 18AAA teams drafted, taking a total of four players. The Cardinals tabbed 38-year lefthanded pitcher Dave Clark as the first overall pick, then added shorstop/pitcher Vascar De La Cruz in the second round. DeLa Cruz played in the fall league with the Cubs. However, after the draft, the Cardinals and Rooney's Heat traded picks. The Cardinals picked up 18 year old infielder Alexander D'Elia of Wellington, in exchange for De La Cruz, who goes with the Heat. The only other first round 18AAA picks were lefthanded pitcher/outfielder Drew Davis, 20. He was selected by the Boynton Red Sox. The Mets then drafted 26-year old infielder Marlon Hernandez of Delray. Hernandez was the best looking hitter at the tryouts and bats from both sides of the plate. The Angels, a new 18AA team, selected 21-year old catcher/oufielder Justin Martella of Boynton Beach, who played at Northwood University. Another new entry, the Texas Rangers, drafted three players in 18 year old lst baseman/pitcher Richard Maguire, Wilfredo Baez, 27, a shortstop-third baseman-catcher and Ronald Fernandez of Boynton Beach, an outfielder. Rooney's Heat wound up with two players---De La Cruz, in that swap with the AAA Cardinals, and Ricardo Perez, a 27-year old infielder from West Palm Beach. The AA Phillies wound up with six players--- 26-year old pitcher Jeremiah Krupp of Boynton Beach 22-year old pitcher/infielder Rolando Canua Valdes of Greenacres 21-year old Gustavo Garcia, a left fielder from Boynton Beach 27-year old Ethan Kelsch, an infielder from Boynton Beach 19-year old outfielder Joseph Baez of West Palm Beach and 20-year old Michael Morrison, a shortstop/outfielder from West Palm Beach, who eventually wound up with the 18AA Angels. Los Potros made only one pick---25-year old pitcher-third baseman-outfielder Michael Pichardo of Wellington.

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

LOS TIGRES AND ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA WIN CITRUS CLASSIC TITLES. Los Tigres won the Citrus Classic Wood Bat Tournament championship for the second time on Monday, blanking another NABA Palm Beach team, the Rockhounds 7-0 for the 18AA title at the Santaluces Complex in Lantana. The Alexandria (VA) Athletics took the 18A title, outlasting the Palm Beach Expos 11-7. Both division champions finished with unblemished 5-0 records during the three day tournament. Los Tigres shut out the Dobson Roofing Hurricanes, another Palm Beach league team, 11-0 Monday morning to earn the championship berth against the Rockhounds. Francis Dinzey blasted a 3-run homer in the first inning for the only runs the Tigres would need. CJ Huffman pitched a shutout for the Tigres. In the other semifinal, the Hounds avenged a previous 16-2 tournament loss to the Daytona Yankees by besting the Yanks 4-2 to earn a trip to the finals against Los Tigres. Pat Prescott pitched the complete game win for the Rockhounds. In the 18AA championship, Wilson Ciprian (5IP, W) and Gustavo Lopez (4IP, save) teamed up to blank the Rockhounds on six hits. Ciprian recorded seven strikeouts, Lopez fanned eight. Francis Dinzey led the Tigres' offense with two doubles, two singles, two runs batted in and two runs scored. He was selected as the game's MVP. Billy Brescia also banged out two doubles, driving in one run and scoring one. Amado Dinzey had two hits, two runs batted in, Edgar Tovar had a triple, Brian Fitzsimmons a double and two runs scored and Carlos Dominguez added a single. Bill Golson had two of the Rockhounds' six hits. New Jersey resident Reggie Easley went the distance for the loss. In the 18A title tilt, the Expos found themselves down 9-2 going to the seventh and seemingly out of it, but they rallied for five runs to cut the margin to 9-7. Jose Geuits banged out an RBI single, Carlos Clark also singled and Jose Corea knocked in two with a single to give the 'Spos a chance. However, the Alexandria squad added unearned runs in both the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings to make the final score 11-7. Only three of the Virginians' eleven runs were earned as the Expos committed eight errors behind veteran pitcher Mike Smollon. Winning pitcher and game MVP Sergio Ocumarez pitched a complete game five hitter and only two of the Expos' seven runs were earned. Monday's Results 18AA Semifinal-Los Tigres 11 Dobson Roofing Hurricanes 0 18AA Semifinal-Palm Beach Rockhounds 4 Daytona Yankees 2 18A Semifinal-Alexandria Athletics 7 Yonkers Indians 3 18A Semifinal-Palm Beach Expos 7 Tennessee Tribe 6 18AA Championship-Los Tigres 7 Palm Beach Rockhounds 0 18A Championship-Alexandria Athletics 11 Palm Beach Expos 7 Sunday's results 18AA Dobson Roofing Hurricanes 4 Tri State Titans 4 (tie) 18AA Los Tigres 14 Seminoles 2 18AA Daytona Yankees 16 Palm Beach Rockhounds 2 18AA Dobson Roofing Hurricanes 5 Daytona Yankees 3 18AA Los Tigres 10 Tri State Titans 0 18A Tennesse Tribe 9 Westchester (NY) Thunderdogs 6 18A Alexandria (VA) Athletics 9 Duffy's Dodgers 2 18A Palm Beach Expos 14 Yonkers Indians 2 18A Alexandria (VA) Athletics 8 Westchester (NY) Thunderdogs 3 18A Palm Beach Expos 8 Tennessee Tribe 6 Saturday's results 18AA-Palm Beach Rockhounds 6 Tri State Titans 3 18AA-Daytona Yankees 7 Seminoles 1 18AA-Los Tigres 10 Dobson Roofing Hurricanes 1 18AA-Rockhounds 9 Semimoles 0 (forfeit) 18A- Duffy's Dodgers 5 Westchester Thunderdogs 5 (tie) 18A- Tennessee Tribe 13 Yonkers Indians 6 18A- Alexandria (VA) Athletics 12 Palm Beach Expos 1 18A- Yonkers Indians 10 Duffy's Dodgers 2 18AA Championship Game at Santaluces Complex, Lantana-Mon Jan 17, 2005 Palm Beach Rockhounds (0) AB R H BI BB K Melvin Bruno c 3 0 0 0 0 3 Geraldo Vasquez 3b 2 0 1 0 0 0 Mike Soulen 3b-1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 Dave Henderson ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 Jim Oberdier ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 Brian Micklos lf 4 0 1 0 0 1 Reggie Easley p 4 0 0 0 0 1 Clayton Joiner 2b 4 0 1 0 0 3 Luke Daven rf-cf 4 0 1 0 0 2 Bill Golson 1b 3 0 2 0 0 0 TOTALS 33 0 6 0 0 15 Los Tigres(Palm Beach) (7) AB R H BI BB K Edgar Tovar 2b 4 1 1 1 0 0 Trovin Valdez cf 3 0 1 0 1 1 Brian Fitzsimmons lf 4 2 1 0 0 0 Francis Dinzey ss 4 2 3 2 0 0 Jose Espino 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 Billy Brescia 1b 3 1 2 1 1 0 Amado Dinzey lf 3 0 2 1 0 0 Nick Adames c 3 0 0 1 0 2 Ricardo Lambis ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 Jose Acuna dh 3 0 0 0 0 1 Carlos Dominguez eh 2 1 1 0 1 1 Wilson Ciprian p 0 0 0 0 0 0 Gustavo Lopez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 TOTALS 34 7 12 6 3 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB Rockhounds 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 7 Los Tigres 0 1 0 2 3 1 0 0 x 7 12 1 8 E-Salley DP-Rockhounds 1 Los Tigres 0 2B-F.Dinzey 2, Brescia, Espino, Fitzsimmons 3B-Tovar Sac.Fly-Amado Dinzey SB-None Caught Stealing-Easley WP-Ciprian, Easley, Lopez ROCKHOUNDS PITCHING IP H R ER BB SO Reggie Easley L 8 12 7 5 3 6 TOTALS 8 12 7 5 3 6 TIGRES PITCHING IP H R ER BB SO Wilson Ciprian W 5 4 0 0 0 7 Gustavo Lopez SV 4 2 0 0 0 8 TOTALS 9 6 0 0 0 15 Umpires-Jim Lief (P), Bernie Ginsburg (B) Time of Game– 2:39 Managers-Mike Soulen (Rockhounds); Santos Adames (Los Tigres) MOST VALUABLE PLAYER-Francis Dinzey (Los Tigres) ====================================================================== 18A Championship Game at Santaluces Complex, Lantana-Mon, Jan 17, 2005 Palm Beach Expos (7) AB R H BI BB K Jose Corea cf 4 0 1 2 0 1 Bryan Childe rf 2 0 0 0 2 1 Danny Moya 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 Isael Rodriguez c 4 1 0 0 0 0 Jamie Miranda ss 2 1 0 0 0 0 Michael Hall 1b 4 1 0 0 0 0 Fernando Miranda lf 4 1 1 0 0 1 Jose Gueits dh 3 1 1 1 0 0 Mike Smollon p 3 1 1 1 0 0 Carlos Clark 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 TOTALS 32 7 5 4 2 3 Alexandria Athletics (11) AB R H BI BB K Greg King rf 6 2 2 2 0 1 Beau Bilock 2b 5 1 2 0 0 0 George Omeir ss 5 2 1 1 0 0 Tom Bell 3b 4 1 2 2 0 0 Dwayne Jones dh 5 0 1 0 0 0 Randy Chiquelin 1b 5 2 2 0 0 0 Rick Pasatiempo cf 5 0 0 0 0 1 David Joseph lf 5 2 2 1 0 0 Nick Anderson c 5 1 1 0 0 1 Sergio Ocumarez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 TOTALS 45 11 13 6 0 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB Expos 0 0 2 0 0 0 5 0 0 7 5 8 4 Athletics 1 3 1 0 1 3 1 1 x 11 13 5 10 E-Corea, Clark, F.Miranda, J.Miranda 4, Chiquelin 2, Omeir, Bilock, Bell DP-None 2B-F.Mirana, Chiquelin 3B-King SAC-Gueits, Clark Sac.Fly-Bell SB-Bilock, Jones HBP-J.Miranda,F.Miranda, Omeir EXPOS PITCHING IP H R ER BB SO Mike Smollon L 8 13 11 3 0 3 TOTALS 8 13 11 3 0 3 ATHLETICS PITCHING IP H R ER BB SO Sergio Ocumarez W 9 5 7 2 2 3 TOTALS 9 5 7 2 2 3 Umpires-Hector Cruz (P), Mike McBride (B) Time of Game– 3:15 Managers-Fernando Miranda (Expos); Nick Anderson (Athletics) MOST VALUABLE PLAYER-Sergio Ocumarez (Athletics) TOURNAMENT NOTES/KUDOS-Thanks to Jose Gueits of the Orange County Expos for teaming up with Fernando Miranda and providing Expos’ uniforms for their tournament team. Veteran left hander Glen Landy tossed a great game for the Daytona Yankees in pool play against the Rockhounds. He pitched for the Daytona Rangers here last year. John Corporal joined the Tennessee Tribe again. He had played with them here two years ago. Hats off to the PB County Department of Parks and Recreation staff for the outstanding work on the fields at Santaluces and Dyer Park. Many thanks as well to Justin Lucas and the city of Palm Beach Gardens for making Plant Drive Park available and getting the field in great shape for the tournament. Thanks to Bernie Ginsburg and his staff of umpires. We're grateful for the job they did and the patience they showed, especially with our weather problems. Condolences to Tennessee Tribe manager Shane Gardner, whose father in law passed away the day before the tournament, preventing Shane from being here, and to Glen Landy, whose mother passed away during the event. Thanks to Palm Beach league managers Mike Soulen (Rockhounds), John Dobson (Hurricanes), Santos Adames (Los Tigres), Rick Brescia (Arrigo Dodgers), who teamed up to put together the 18AA championship squad, Kevin Rubel (Duffy’s Dodgers), Felix Gonzalez (Los Potros), and especially Joe Stone (Seminoles), who put together a tournament team on very short notice (24 hours) to replace the St.Pete Red Tide with help from Steve Ausdenmoore (Cardinals). Congratulations to Nick Anderson (Alexandria Athletics) for leading his team to the 18A championship, and thanks to Harry (Hey Rod) Rodriguez (Tri State Titans), Nick Botticelli (Yonkers Indians) and Kieran Farrell (Westchester Thunderdogs) and to Hank Foley and Craig Corbett (Daytona Yankees)for traveling to South Florida for our fourth annual tournament.

Four pitchers, including three from the first place Estilo Twins and one from the Palm Beach Rockhounds, combined to pitch a six hitter as the Nationals nipped the Americans 3-1 in the 2004 fall league’s 18AAA All Star game at Lantana Sports Complex Wednesday night, December 22. Jose Acuna (Estilo Twins) pitched the first three innings, yielding only one hit, walking two and striking out seven. Twins’ teammate Pete Fuster went two, giving up three hits and no runs. He struck out three. Rockhounds’ lefty Dave Henderson gave up only one hit and notched one strikeout in his two innings, and the Twins’ Jose Espino earned a save by pitching the final two. The Americans scored their only run off Espino, but it was unearned after a two out infield error in the bottom of the ninth inning. Espino was touched for one hit and walked a batter and also had one strikeout. The teams battled through the first four innings in a scoreless tie. While Acuna was blanking the Americans, Gustavo Lopez (Arrigo Dodgers) pitched three hitless innings, and struck out six. Mike Smollon (ACA Security Mets) added one more scoreless inning until the Nationals finally broke through with three runs in the fifth inning to take a lead they would never relinquish. Espino led off the fifth, grounding one through the hole into left field, and was seemingly picked off first base by Smollon, but Dodgers first baseman Billy Brescia’s throw was mishandled by the Mets’ Romy Ones and Espino continued on to third. Diego Santos (Twins) beat out an infield single and Espino scored the first run of the game. Clayton Joiner (Rockhounds) and Acuna followed with singles, Santos scoring on and Joiner moving to third. He scored on an infield roller by the Brewers’ Duane Cyr. Acuna was then caught stealing third when Smollon fired to shortstop Francis Dinzey (Arrigo Dodgers) who threw a strike to third sacker Jim Bergman (Dobson Roofing Hurricanes), but the damage had been done. The Nationals went scoreless the rest of the way. Jose Pena (Hurricanes) pitched two innings, giving up only a double to Espino, and striking out four. Carlos Dominguez (Dodgers) hurled two perfect innings and registered four strikeouts. The American squad finally got on the board in the bottom of the 9th, with a little help from the Nationals’ defense. Lopez led off the ninth by drawing a walk. Dominguez singled to right, putting runners at first and second. Amado Dinzey (Mets) hit a ground ball to second, where Santos tagged Dominguez out, but Dinzey beat out his throw to first. Lopez moved to third on the attempted double play. Espino struck out Brescia, but shortstop Geraldo Vasquez booted a grounder by Francis Dinzey, scoring Lopez with the only Americans run of the night. Espino then got Brian Fitzsimmons (Dodgers) to ground out to Santos to end it. Fuster was credited with the win, Smollon was the losing pitcher, and Espino got the save. Espino, with a double and single, was the only National player with more than one hit. Francis Dinzey had two of the American squad’s six hits. Pitching was so dominant that the two teams combined for 27 strikeouts. American pitchers recorded 15 strikeouts, the Nationals had twelve. The game was played in a brisk two hours, sixteen minutes. Acuna was selected as the game’s Most Valuable Player on the strength of his strong pitching performance and an RBI single. He will receive an NABA All Star game MVP plaque. All participants will receive an NABA commemorative All Star shirt. Miguel Cuello substituted for Nelson Sanchez (Twins) as manager. Sanchez is in Puerto Rico for the holidays. 18AA All Star Game—Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2004 at Lantana Sports Complex Nationals (3) AB R H BI BB K Americans (1) AB R H BI BB K Melvin Bruno (Twins) 3 0 1 0 0 2 Amado Dinzey (Mets) 4 0 1 0 0 2 Geraldo Vasquez (Twins) 3 0 0 0 0 2 Billy Brescia (Dodgers) 4 0 1 0 0 1 Jose Espino (Twins) 3 1 2 0 0 0 Francis Dinzey (Dodgers) 4 0 2 0 0 0 Diego Santos (Twins) 3 1 1 1 0 1 Brian Fitzsimmons (Dodgers)4 0 0 0 1 1 Clayton Joiner (Rockhounds) 2 1 1 0 1 0 Chuck Tooch (Hurricanes) 3 0 0 0 0 2 Jose Acuna (Twins) 3 0 1 1 0 2 Romy Ones (Mets) 3 0 0 0 0 0 Duane Cyr (Brewers) 3 0 0 1 0 1 Jim Bergman (Hurricanes) 2 0 0 0 1 1 Max Johnson (Cardinals) 3 0 0 0 0 1 Bert Laboy (Mets) 3 0 0 0 0 1 Brian Micklos (Rockhounds) 2 0 0 0 1 2 Mike Smollon (Mets) 2 0 1 0 0 1 Pete Fuster (Twins) 3 0 0 0 0 2 Gustavo Lopez (Dodgers) 2 1 0 0 1 1 Dave Henderson (Rockhounds) 2 0 0 0 0 1 Carlos Dominguez (Dodgers) 3 0 1 0 0 2 Sam Scotti (Brewers) 2 0 0 0 0 1 Jose Pena (Hurricanes) 0 0 0 0 0 0 TOTALS 32 3 6 3 2 15 TOTALS 34 1 6 0 3 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB Nationals 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 6 1 4 Americans 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 6 1 9 E-Ones, Vasquez 2B-Espino SB-Espino, Amado Dinzey CS-Acuna PITCHING IP H R ER BB SO PITCHING IP H R ER BB SO Acuna (Twins) 3 1 0 0 2 7 Lopez (Dodgers) 3 0 0 0 1 6 Fuster (Twins) W 2 3 0 0 0 3 Smollon (Mets) L 2 5 3 3 1 1 Henderson (Rockhounds) 2 1 0 0 0 1 Pena (Hurricanes) 2 1 0 0 0 4 Espino (Twins) Sv 2 1 1 0 1 1 Dominguez (Dodgers) 2 0 0 0 0 4 TOTALS 9 6 1 0 3 12 TOTALS 9 6 3 3 2 15 Umpires-Bernie Ginsburg (P), Jim Wilson (B) Time of Game– 2:16 Managers-Natl-Miguel Cuello, Michael Payne (Twins)Amer-Rick Brescia (Dodgers), Pete Brescia (Mets) MOST VALUABLE PLAYER-Jose Acuna (Twins)