Announcement
To begin with, it was cold. Uncomfortable for players and the few hardy fans alike. On top of that, while the Nationals (Thunder, Chamos and Beach Bums) had an almost full roster of 12 players, the Americans (Twins, White Sox and Pirates) were four players short of a quorum. So, rather than walk away from the game that was postponed by rain and wet grounds a week earlier, the Nationals lent them three players---ace pitcher Victor Prieto (Chamos), third baseman Will Mucha (BeachBums) and Rolando Valdez (Chamos). Valdez had actually gone to the game as a spectator, but volunteered his services and wound up playing with the Americans.
For a while, it appeared that the shorthanded team would pull of an upset, scoring unearned runs in the first inning on a botched fielder's choice play at the plate and in the fourth on a dropped fly ball in right field to take a 2-1 lead after four. Then, the floor caved in.
After Prieto's three scoreless innings as the starter, relievers Jose Rivera (Twins) and Drew Davis (White Sox) both got pummeled for a total ten runs in the next three innings, while the Americans posted single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. By that time Florida's version of Jack Frost arrived and made it cold and clammy. The teams decided to shorten it to seven innings as the Nationals claimed a 10-4 victory. Marcos Rodriguez of the Chamos ripped a double and two singles, driving in a run to earn Most Valuable Player honors.
Max Johnson (Thunder) drilled a triple and a single, Jason Bryan (Beach Bums) drove in three runs with a double and single, and Clayton Joiner (Beach Bums) and Ralph Velez (Chamos) added two hits apiece in a 16-hit attack. Brian Fitzsimmons and Ryan McDonald, both of the first place Thunder pitched three innings apiece, and Velez closed it out with a perfect 7th. McDonald earned the victory over Rivera, the second of three pitchers for the Americans. The Americans had only three hits---doubles by Mucha and Emilio Vargas (Twins) in the sixth inning after Drew Davis had led off the fourth with a single.
BLADES=DOMINATED AMERICANS BLITZ NATIONALS IN 18AA ALL STAR GAME
The Americans, featuring players from the Cuban Blades, Sugar Kings, Canes, Braves and Tigers, spotted the Nationals three first inning runs, then romped over them 10-4 Wednesday night, January 5, in the 18AA Division All Star game at the Santaluces Complex in Lantana.
The Nationals were made up of players from the fist place South Florida Titans, Yankees, Marlins and Duffy's A's. In the 18AA game, a three run fourth inning, breaking a 4-4 tie gave the Americans the lead for good. Singles by three Blades players---Carlos Jimenez, Carlos Espoinoza and Eduardo Del Toro, an infield roller by the Sugar Kings' Joe Perez and an RBI single by Jordan Gazquez of the Sugar Kings made it 7-4. The Americans added single runs in the fifth, sixth and seven innings. Gazquez wound up leading all hitters with three hits. Del Toro's single provided the winning margin when the Americans took a 5-4 lead.
Chris Holmes of the Canes dominated during his three relief innings to gain the victory and Most Valuable Player honors. Holmes gave up a run on two hit batters and two wild pitches, but did not gave up a hit and struck out seven. He also drew a bases loaded walk in the 7th inningj, accounting for his team's final run. . The Nationals had only two hits, a first inning run-scoring double by Kyle Young of the Yankees and a single by the Duffy's A's John Marz in the second. Americans pitchers struck out 17 Nationals' hitters. Starter Junior Gazquez of the Sugar Kings fanned three, the Blades' Mario Perez struck out five in two innings and Espinoza punched out two.
