RED SOX OR ATHLETICS

Team USA 3 Yankees 2 Team USA rallied from a 2-1 deficit with single runs in their last two at bats to nip the Yankees in the 18AA title game at the Lantana Sports Complex. Pinch hitter Mike Pitti hit a twisting foul fly to right field which Ray Castelluccio caught, and Tony Garcia tagged up and scored what proved to be the winning run. Garcia had led off the 8th inning with a single, moved to second on an infield out, and took third on a wild pitch. The inning before, USA manufactured a run when Dwayne Cabral was hit by a pitch, stole second, went to third on a throwing error and scored the tying run on Keith Buck’s infield roller. The Yankees, who hit outhit USA 13-4, scored first on an RBI double by Estaban Cruz in the second inning. USA matched that in the bottom of the second when John Wilkeson scored when Yo Perez’ throw hit him in a rundown hit him between third and home. Perez atoned for that with an RBI double in the fifth to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead. It appeared that would hold up behind the solid pitching of Gabe Rodriguez until the USA rallies. Meanwhile, Cabral pitched out of several jams, frustrating the Yankees who left nine men on base. Carlo Dominguez led USA with a pair of doubles. Marty Breeden and Garcia had the only other hits off tough luck losing pitcher Rodriguez. Nick Castelluccio was the Yankees’ top hitter with three singles. Rico Perez had a double and single. Joe Bennett and Mike Castelluccio had two singles each, Cruz (double), Yo Perez (double), and Scott Stimzer had one hit apiece. The Yankees had two runners cut down trying to score and also committed three errors to none for Team USA. Cabral, in going the route, was chosen as the game’s Most Valuable Player. 18AA Championship Box Score Yankees (2) AB R H BI BB SO Nick Castelluccio cf 4 0 3 0 1 0 Rico Perez 2b 5 1 2 0 0 0 Yo Perez 3b 4 0 1 1 0 0 Scott Stimzer c 4 0 1 0 0 1 Joe Bennett ss 3 0 2 0 1 0 Herb Robb 1b-dh 4 1 1 0 0 1 Mike Castelluccio dh-1b 4 0 2 0 0 1 Ray Castelluccio rf 3 0 0 0 0 2 Francisco Valdes ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 Esteban Cruz lf 4 0 1 1 0 1 Gabe Rodriguez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 36 2 13 2 2 6 Team USA (3) AB R H BI BB SO Chris Laforge ss 5 0 0 0 0 1 Jason Levy c 2 0 0 0 1 0 Dwayne Cabral p 2 1 0 0 0 0 Keith Buck cf 3 0 0 1 0 1 John Wilkeson lf 2 1 0 0 1 0 Marty Breeden dh 3 0 1 0 0 2 Les Husted 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 Tony Garcia ph 1 1 1 0 0 0 Chris Schwind 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 Lee Holmes ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 Aron Friedman rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 Mike Pitti ph 0 0 0 1 0 0 Carlo Dominguez 2b 3 0 2 0 0 0 Totals 25 3 4 2 2 4 Line Score 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Yankees 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 13 3 Team USA 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 * 3 4 0 Left-Yankees 9, Team USA 4 Errors-Y.Perez 2, Stimzer Double Plays-Yankees-N.Castelluccio-StimzerSac-Schwind Sac.Fly-Pitti Doubles-Cruz, R.Perez, Y.Perez, Dominguez 2 Stolen Bases- Bennett, N.Castelluccio, R.Perez, Levy, Cabral 2 Caught-N.Castelluccio Picked Off-Y.Perez (by Cabral); M.Castelluccio (by Cabral) Wild Pitch-Rodriguez Hit Batsman-Cabral (by Rodriguez) Outfield Assists-Friedman, N.Castelluccio, R.Castelluccio Pitching IP H R ER BB S0 Gabe Rodriguez (L) 8 4 3 1 2 4 Totals 8 4 3 1 2 4 Pitching IP H R ER BB S0 Dwayne Cabral (W) 9 13 2 2 2 6 Totals 9 13 2 2 2 6 MANAGERS- Barry Castelluccio(Y), Patrick Mullin (USA) Umps-Bert Agustin (P), Dave Terrana, Jeff Roth MVP-Dwayne Cabral (USA) Time: 2:38