RED SOX OR ATHLETICS

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.