RED SOX OR ATHLETICS

The Caribbean Tigres won the Wood Bat Division of the NABA's Florida World Series for their second national championship, but it wasn't easy. The Tigres rallied from a 2-0 deficit to nip the New Jersey Clippers 3-2 in the semifinals, then edged the Northern Illinois Cubs by the same score in the championship game Sunday, November 12 at Roger Dean Stadium. The Tigres had won the NABA's 18AA Phoenix World Championship in 2005, then finished runnerup in the 18AAA 2006 Phoenix Tournament. They finished with a perfect 7-0 record in the tournament, also claiming the pool play championship. The San Jose (CA) Tigers outscored the Duchess (NY) Dodgers, featuring many current and a couple of former NABA Palm Beach players, l9-7 in the Open Division title contest at Roger Dean Stadium Sunday morning. Christian Taboas' double in the bottom of the 9th pulled out the Tigres' semifinal win over the Clippers, and he added three hits, including a double, in the championship tilt. Lefthander Juan Prado baffled the Cubs, allowing only three hits and one unearned run in seven innings to earn Championship Game MVP honors. Wilson Ciprian earned a save, giving up one unearned run in the ninth inning. First baseman Billy Brescia drove in two of the three runs with a pair of singles, and earned Gold Glove honors with his slick fielding skills in the title game. His throw to third base on a ground ball snuffed out a budding Cubs' rally after an opening double in the fifth inning. He later pulled off an unassisted double play, snaring a line drive and stepping on first to nail the runner in the 8th. Third baseman Ryan MacDonald, a Home Run Sports Arrigo Dodgers' teammate of Brescia's drove in the other Tigres run with a 7th inning single to give the Caribbeans a 2-1 lead. Brescia's second RBI single followed that. MacDonald also had a double in the second inning. The Cubs' runs scored on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Bill Posteluk and an RBI hi8t by third sacker Mike Pierce in the 9th. Pierce had two of the Cubs' four hits. Brian Henschel went the distance on the mound for the Cubs to suffer the disappointing defeat. In the Open Division title clash, San Jose won a seesaw battle against the Duchess Dodgers, who had six current and two former Palm Beach League players in their lineup. The New York Staters held the lead four times before yielding the edge in the late innings. Wayne Machado, who entered the game as a substitute at third base, singled in a sixth inning run to tie the game at 6-6, then knocked in another ion the 8th with a single to put the Tigers ahead to stay 7-6. They addedd two insurance runs in the ninth, then held off the Dodgers who scored one in the bottom of the 9th. Machado earned Championship Game MVP honors. Gold Glove honors went to left fielder Keith Buck who handled four chances flawlessly, including two fine running catches in the second inning. Buck also had two hits. Rob Wiley had three hits, including two doubles, and two runs batted in for the Dodgers. Second baseman Bevin Gouveia loed the Duchess gang with four singles and a walk. He also had an RBI. The complete tournament results are posted on the NABA's national website at www.dugout.org.