18-Grip Shield Glory Days

SEVENTEEN PLAYERS ADDED TO PALM BEACH LEAGUE ROSTERS THROUGH TRYOUTS Some brand new players, returning ones and fall league players who've switched teams made up the list of seventeen drafted by six Palm Beach League teams in the spring tryouts held at the Santaluces Complex on Sunday, Feb. 29. Will Ford, 19, from Jupiter was the first pick of the Boynton Red Sox who are moving into the 18AAA Wood Bat League after a successful campaign in the 18AA Fall League. Ford showed ability in the outfield, infield and on the mound in Sunday's trials. He played with the Rockies in the Fall 18AAA league. The Rockies took 26-year old outfielder David Gabrielson of Lake Worth and Carl Pultz, 28 year old first baseman-third baseman from Lantana. The Pirates, who played as the Red Sox in the 18AAA league in the fall and now managed by Scott Woronick, selected a former Palm Beach League player. Jason Liberto, 33year old third baseman from Lake Worth, formerly played with the NABA White Sox in the late 1990's. The Rockets made one selection and picked up a versatile type in 29 year old Damien Tullier (pronounced Tool-yay). Tullier is a middle infielder but can play just about any position. 18AA selections included 23-year old outfielder Nelson Godoy of Greenacres and 24-year old lefthanded hitting outfielder Kevin Rubel of West Palm Beach. Both were selected by Duffy's Palm Beach Seminoles. The Yankees, dropping into the 18AA league after playing in 18AAA in the fall, wound up with brothers Hicidro Ortiz, a 30-year old middle infielder who played with the Rockies in the 18AAA league in the fall and 22-year old outfielder Jose Sime of Boynton Beach. Steve Ausdenmoore's Cardinals will have a bevy of newcomers as they drop down to the 18AA league after several years in the upper league. They selected Adam Sallas, a 22-year old second baseman from Jupiter. The other new Cardinals, who were invited to practice sessions are: Ed Cooper, 33, (1B-OF from Wellington) who played with the Atlantic Sails (18AA) in the fall and Tom Dudley, 33 OF-Pitcher from Lake Worth; Kevin Morrison, a 28-year old first baseman; 34-year old Edwin Vasquez, a second baseman; Malvin DelaCruz, a 19-year old second sacker; Edgar Santos, 18-year old outfielder and Lino Batista, 26 year old outfielder, all from West Palm Beach. Batista played with the Seminoles last season.

Acosta Luis 23 436-0897 R R 2B-C 18A Joy Auto Body Yankees 1999-2000 Albano Joe 33 C856-607-4020 R R IF-C Camden CC, catcher 22 yrs, wants infield Albuquerque Johan 968-2470 965-8344 R R OF-IF Played NABA Palm Beach League Alea Todd 33 704-5060 R R 1B-OF Houston (TX) Men's Adult Baseball League, some college Aragona Joe Gona1976 L L P-1B Four yrs. Division I Banner Randy C720-427-6667 randy.banner@qwest.com R R 1B-OF Former Palm Beach NABA, Denver NABA 18AAA Cain Kyle 19 737-4105 C254-8638 KCain13 R R SS-2B-OF-P Atlantic HS, intramural U of Central Florida Carroll Brian 27 630-2809 R R IF-P Youth, Legion, HS, Adult League Jacksonville, FL Cartagena Mike 24 790-6340 mkusnavy R R OF-2B Youth, HS Naugatuck, CT Recently in Navy Chillemi Anthony 21 714-6351 R R SS-3B Cardinal Newman HS, youth baseball, softball recently Donofrio Mike 29 762-0044 cell mfdonofrio R R IF-P 4 yrs Div III John Caroll U, Cleveland, brother in Montreal system Globe Andrew 26 305-294-4374 R R IF-2B Coast Guard, Atlanta Men's Adult Baseball League Hamlin Luke 24 346-7014 686-6600 LHamlin@fau.edu R R OF HS, Adult Baseball Bakersfield, CA Hernandez George 40+ 786-367-2537 R R C NY Adult League experience Hollander Brett 29 954 983 0820 954 806 1178 L L 1B-P-OF MSBL Broward Karembelas Bryan 23 588-4184 L R OF Youth Baseball, Softball, seeking 18AA league team Kearney Richard 30 561-253-8956 C502-3590 GED583_@hot mail.com R R 3B Prep School star in MA, hurt in college, wants back in Lessard Troy 29 502-9344 R R OF-IF Previous NABA Palm Beach experience Luz Adam 25 968-9462 R R SS-P HS, Legion PA, 1 month with 18AA Atl.Sails Och Keith 27 383-6948 R R SS-3B HS, Legion Ball Pittsburgh (PA) Osorio William 25 963-5253 602-5575 S R SS-2B-OF NYC HS and Adult League, justmoved to FLA Rawls Markezious 19 722-5331 R R SS-P-OF Plays at Pahokee HS, played youth baseball Snedden Bobby 20 333-4665 R R 2B-OF Coral Springs HS Snyder Matt 29 C602-4151 twodisciples@juno.com R R SS-2B-OF Youth Baseball

Acosta Luis 23 436-0897 R R 2B-C 18A Joy Auto Body Yankees 1999-2000 Albano Joe 33 C856-607-4020 R R IF-C Camden CC, catcher 22 yrs, wants infield Albuquerque Johan 968-2470 965-8344 R R OF-IF, Played NABA Palm Beach League Alea Todd 33 704-5060 R R 1B-OF Houston (TX) Men's Adult Baseball League, some college Aragona Joe Gona1976 L L P-1B, Four yrs. Division I Banner Randy C720-427-6667 randy.banner@qwest.com R R 1B-OF, Former Palm Beach NABA, Denver NABA 18AAA Cain Kyle 19 737-4105 C254-8638 KCain13@aol.com R R SS-2B-OF-P, Atlantic HS, intramural U of Central Florida Carroll Brian 27 630-2809 R R IF-P, Youth, Legion, HS, Adult League Jacksonville, FL Cartagena Mike 24 790-6340 mkusnavy R R OF-2B, Youth, HS Naugatuck, CT Recently in Navy Chillemi Anthony 21 714-6351 R R SS-3B, Cardinal Newman HS, youth baseball, softball recently Donofrio Mike 29 762-0044 cell mfdonofrio R R IF-P, 4 yrs Div III John Caroll U, Cleveland, bro.Montreal system Globe Andrew 26 305-294-4374 R R IF-2B, Coast Guard, Atlanta Men's Adult Baseball League Hamlin Luke 24 346-7014 686-6600 LHamlin@fau.edu R R OF, HS, Adult Baseball Bakersfield, CA Hernandez George 40+ 786-367-2537 R R C, NY Adult League experience Hollander Brett 29 954 983 0820 954 806 1178 L L 1B-P-OF, MSBL Broward Karembelas Bryan 23 588-4184 L R OF, Youth Baseball, Softball, seeking 18AA league team Kearney Richard 30 253-8956 C502-3590 GED583_@hot mail.com R R3B, Prep School star in MA, hurt in college, wants back in Lessard Troy 29 502-9344 R R OF-IF, Previous NABA Palm Beach experience Luz Adam 25 968-9462 R R SS-P, HS, Legion PA, 1 month with 18AA Atl.Sails Och Keith 27 383-6948 R R SS-3B, HS, Legion Ball Pittsburgh (PA) Osorio William 25 963-5253 602-5575 S R SS-2B-OF NYC HS and Adult League, justmoved to FLA Rawls Markezious 19 722-5331 R R SS-P-OF, Plays at Pahokee HS, played youth baseball Snedden Bobby 20 333-4665 R R 2B-OF, Coral Springs HS Snyder Matt 29 C602-4151 twodisciples@juno.com R R SS-2B-OF, Youth Baseball

The Palm Beach Rockhounds won the 18AA division championship at the Lantana Sports Complex on Monday, January 19 as the third annual Citrus Classic Wood Bat National Tournament concluded. The Rockhounds held off a late rally by the Susquehanna (PA) Black Sox to win a nailbiter 4-3. That completed an unbeaten weekend for the Rockhounds, who won the championship in one of the two 18AA pools, then advanced to the finals by downing the Chicago River Bandits 11-1 in Sunday night's semifinal matchup. Rockhounds' manager Mike Soulen did a masterful job of recruiting players from other NABA Palm Beach League teams and a former teammate from Southern New Jersey and the combination clicked. The biggest acquisition by the Rockhounds turned out to be Derek Kuryliw who plays for the Palm Beach league's Boynton Red Sox. Kuryliw pitched the complete game victory to earn MVP honors in Monday's championship, but he was a big factor, both on the mound and at the plate throughout the tournament. The Hounds led 4-0 going into the ninth inning of the title game before the Black Sox posted three runs but the game ended on a line drive double play with the potential tying run at first base. The Rockhounds took the lead in the first inning on Bill Golson's run scoring double. They added two more in the second when Jason Alice, another Boynton Red Sox player, smacked a two run single. They added a run in the 8th inning when Dave Carruthers doubled it in. Kuryliw, who was sailing along on a five hit shutout through eight, wilted in the ninth inning, surrendering four hits and three runs but the twin killing ended Susquehanna's last hope. The Rockhounds' 18AA divisional title was the third in the three year history of the tournament for a Palm Beach league team. The Palm Beach Indians and Los Tigres won 18AAA division titles in 2002 and 2003. Los Tigres was not as fortunate this time around as they lost to the PFR Miami Mets 6-1 in the 18AAA title game at the Lantana Sports Complex. The Miamians overcame an early 1-0 deficit with five runs in the fifth inning, then added an insurance tally in the 8th. Los Tigres scored their only run in the first inning when Geraldo Vasquez singled, stole second, moved to third on a ground out and tallied on a perfectly executed squeeze bunt for Juan Perez. After that, Miami's Juan Medina held them scoreless the rest of the way, yielding only five hits and striking out nine. The Mets scored five times in the fifth on a single, passed ball, walk, wild pitch, a throwing error by Vasquez, an RBI hit by Osmany Santana and a three homer by the game's Most Valuable Player, Yosvany Almario, who added a solo shot in the eighth inning. Los Tigres suffered a major setback when star centerfielder Trovin Valdez was ejected in the third inning for unsportsmanlike conduct. Valdez, a former Montreal Expos' farmhand, was tossed when he was called out and banged his helmet in disgust on the called third strike. A Tigres coach was also ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct and shoved home plate umpire Craig Rhodes from behind. He has been banned from all future NABA games. The tournament ended on a losing note for the Dobson Roofing Hurricanes, who were beaten in the 18A division semifinals at Santaluces by the Southcom Mariners (Miami) 6-4. The Brevard ZXB (Zinger Bats) then shut out the Mariners 9-0 in the title clash at Santaluces to complete an unbeaten weekend at 4-0. It was the first appearance in the Citrus Classic for the Brevard team, managed by Brevard NABA League President Chad Johnson whose initial NABA campaign was the recently completed 2003 spring season. Complete results can be found by clicking here: 18AA Results MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 2004 18AA CHAMPIONSHIP AT LANTANA SPORTS COMPLEX West Palm Beach Rockhounds 4 Susquehanna Valley (PA) Black Sox 3 Sunday, January 18, 2004 Chicago River Bandits 6 Palm Beach Culvers 4 Tri State Titans 10 Palm Beach Rockies 4 NY Thunderdogs 9 Susquehanna Black Sox 8 Palm Beach Rockhounds 9 St.Pete Red Tide 0 Semifinals Susquehanna Black Sox 17 St.Pete Red Tide 2 Rockhounds 11 Chicago River Bandits 1 Saturday, Jan. 17, 2004 Rockhounds 11 Rockies 6 St. Pete Red Tide 5 Tri State Titans 3 Palm Beach Culvers 7 NY Thunderdogs 3 Susquehanna Black 14 Palm Beach Culvers 6 Chicago River Bandits 5 NY Thunderdogs 5(T) Rockhounds 4 Tri State Titans 2 Susquehanna Black Sox 7 Chi.River Bandits 4 St.Pete Red Tide 9 Rockies 4 18AAA Results MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 2004 18AAA CHAMPIONSHIP AT LANTANA SPORTS COMPLEX PFR Miami Mets 6 Los Tigres 1 Sunday, January 18, 2004 Los Tigers 7 Daytona Rangers 5 Prince William Yankees 6 PFR Miami Mets 5 Los Tigres 9 Ft.Lauderdale Superstars 0 (F) PFR Miami Mets 9 Ft.Laud.Superstars 0 (F) Saturday, January 17. 2004 Ft.Laud.Superstars 7 Prince William Yankees 5 PFR Miami Mets 8 Daytona Rangers 3 Los Tigres 2 Prince William Yankees 0 Daytona Rangers 10 Ft.Laud. Superstars 2 PFR Miami Mets 10 Los Tigres 0 18A Results MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 2004 18A CHAMPIONSHIP AT SANTALUCES COMPLEX Brevard ZXB 9 Southcom Mariners 0 18A Semifinal at Santaluces Complex Southcom Mariners 6 Dobson Roofing Hurricanes 4 Sunday, January 18, 2004 Brevard ZXB 9 Dobson Roofing Hurricanes 8 Southcom Mariners 15 Medford Ford Mustangs 5 Saturday, January 17, 2004 Brevard ZXB 9 Medford Ford Mustangs 4 Southcom Mariners 4 Hurricanes 3 Dobson roofing Hurricanes 12 Medford Ford 2 Brevard ZXB 7 Southcom Mariners 2

Five Los Tigres' players led the Americans to a 9-8 win in the 18AAA All Star game Wednesday, December 17, 2003 at the Lantana Sports Complex on a night better suited for football with wind chills in the 40's. The quartet of Trovin Valdez, Geraldo Vasquez, Francis Dinzey and his brother Amado accounted for nine of the team's twelve hits, starter CJ Huffman pitched two shutout innings to earn the victory and Valdez blanked the Nationals for the final 1 2/3 innings to save it for Huffman. Valdez was selected as the game's Most Valuable Player and received an NABA All Star Game MVP plaque. The Nationals, who looked completely out of it until the seventh inning rallied by blasting three home runs and had the tying and winning runs on base in the ninth when Valdez finally shut the door. Singles by Geraldo Vasquez and Francis Dinzey and a sacrifice fly by Diego Santos (Twins) gave the Americans a first inning run. Vasquez and Valdez had RBI singles in the third to make it 3-0. The Americans got an unearned run without a hit in the fifth. Milt Muller (Glory Days) drew a walk, moved to second on an error, took third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Pete Fuster (Twins). The Americans added three more iln the sixth on hits by Francis and Amado Dinzey, an RBI single by Melvin Bruno (Twins) and two errors to make it a 7-0 contest before the Nationals finally got on the board. After Huffman, Fuster and Vasquez posted two shutout innings apiece, the Nationals finally reached Francis Dinzey with five runs in the seventh. Rob Wiley (Rockets) doubled and scored when Joe Young (Red Sox) blasted a two-run home run. Dave Machado (Rockets) singled and Max Johnson (Cardinals) reached first on a passed ball after a swinging third strike. Frank Torre (Orioles) then walloped a long three run shot to right to make it 7-5. Bobby Alonso (Twins) relieved Dinzey and got the final out of the inning. The Americans got two insurance runs in the 8th on Vasquez' third single, a stolen base and an RBI single by Valdez. After Francis singled, Valdez stole third and scored on Santos' second sacrifice fly of the game. As it turned out, the Americans would need the insurance because Jim Romano (Orioles) ripped a three-run homer off Alonso in the bottom of the 8th to make it a one-run game. Valdez, who had made two fine catches in center, turning one into a double play, relieved Alonso and fanned the last two batters of the inning to carry a slim lead into the ninth. The Nationals had one last gasp in the final frame when Duane Cyr (Red Sox) singled to lead off the inning and after a pair of forceouts, Wiley singled to right center. Valdez, though, responded by striking out the last batter to preserve the win. For the winners, Vasquez and Francis Dinzey had three hits apiece, with Vasquez driving in a run. Valdez had two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored. Bruno had two hits and drove in a run, and Amado Dinzey and Muller had one safety apiece. Santos drove in two with a pair of sac.flies. Torre led the Nationals with a single and three run homer. Young had a single and a two-run homer. Romano's three run blast was his only hit, but he was robbed when Valdez made a great running catch on his bid for extra bases and turned it into a double play to snuff out of fourth inning rally. Wiley had a double and single, and Cyr had two singles. Starter Bobby Knapp was tagged with the loss. 18AAA All Star Game Americans (9) Geraldo Vasquez (Los Tigres) 4-1-3,RBI,SB; Trovin Valdez (Los Tigres) 4-2-2,2 RBI,SB; Francis Dinzey (Los Tigres) 4-1-3; Amado Dinzey (Los Tigres) 3-1-1,BB,K; Diego Santos (Twins) 2-1-0,2 RBI,2 sac.flies; Melvin Bruno (Twins) 4-1-2,K,SB; Roberto Alonso (Twins) 4-0-0; Milt Muller (Glory Days) 3-1-1,BB,K; Jim Oberdier (Rockhounds) 4-0-0,2K; CJ Huffman (Los Tigres) 2-0-0,2K; Pete Fuster (Twins) 1-1-0,RBI, sac.fly; Robert Mil (Rockhounds) 2-1-0,BB,K American Totals AB-38 R-9 H-12 Nationals (8) Bobby Knapp (Orioles) 3-1-0; Stefan Clark (Orioles) 1-1-0,2BB,K; Jim Romano (Orioles) 2-1-1,HR,3RBI,BB; Brad Barbaccia (Orioles) 3-0-0,K; Brian Fitzsimmons (Rockets) 3-0-0,2K; Duane Cyr (Red Sox) 3-0-2; Billy Brescia (Rockets) 3-0-0; Joe McKenna (Orioles) 3-0-0; Rob Wiley (Rockets) 3-1-2,2B; Mark Welsh (Rockies) 3-0-0,3K; Joe Young (Red Sox) 2-1-2,HR,2RBI; Dave Machado (Rockets) 2-1-1,SB; Max Johnson (Cardinals) 2-1-0,2K; Frank Torre (Orioles)2-1-2,HR,3RBI; John Corporal (Rockies) 2-0-0; Rob Mattson (Red Sox) 0-0-0,2BB Nationals Totals AB-34 R-8 H-9 Americans Pitching CJ Huffman (Los Tigres) (W) 2IP,H,0R,W,K; Pete Fuster (Twins) 2IP,2H,W,2K; Geraldo Vasquez (Los Tigres) 2IP,0H,0R,W,K; Francis Dinzey (Los Tigres)1 1/3IP,4H,5R,4ER,2K; Bobby Alonso (Twins) 2/3IP,1H,3R,3ER,2W; Trovin Valdez (Los Tigres) 1 2/3IP,(SV),2H,0R,3K Nationals Pitching Bobby Knapp (Orioles) (L) 2IP,2H,1R,1ER,W,2K; Rob Mattson (Red Sox) 2IP,3H,2R,1ER,W,1K; Mark Welsh (Rockies)2IP,3H,4R,2ER,2W,1K; Joe Young (Red Sox) 1IP,0R,0H,1K; Frank Torre (Orioles) 2IP,4H,2R,2ER,3K Score By Innings R H E LOB Americans 102-013-020- 9 12 3 9 Nationals 000-000-530- 8 9 5 6 Winning Pitcher-CJ Huffman (Los Tigres) Losing Pitcher-Bobby Knapp (Orioles) Save-Trovin Valdez (Los Tigres) Time of Game-2:56 Umpires-Dave Terrana, Bernie Ginsburg Managers-Amer-Santos Adames Natl-Brian McClellan (Orioles) Most Valuable Player-Trovin Valdez (Los Tigres) The 18AAA game story is a corrected version--The original story listed Geraldo Vasquez as a member of the Twins. However, he is a member of Los Tigres.