RED SOX OR ATHLETICS

Seventeen players were placed on the rosters of eight Palm Beach League teams through tryouts and the spring draft on Sunday, March 9 at Seminole Palms Park in Royal Palm Beach. The Scrappers, with Noel Vazquez taking over as manager, took 19-year old Jamarlo Rawls with the first pick. Rawls played four seasons with championship teams at Pahokee High School, and while he played second base there, the Scrappers envision the speedster as an outfielder. The Scrappers were the only 18AAA team to draft, and added veteran Daniel Rodriguez, a 40+ first baseman/outfielder in the second. Rodriguez played for six years in an Adult League in New York City, as well as in tournaments in Puerto Rico. 18AA teams drafted a total of 15 players. The Super Sox, managed by Glenn Siesser, hope to improve on their first league season, and selected three. They took infielder/outfielder/pitcher William Byrd, whose previous experience includes a stint in the NABA's Atlanta, Georgia league. Byrd was impressive at all positions and could see some action on the mound as well. He is 26. The Sox also drafted 41-year old Al DeGaetano of Jupiter, who lists first base, second base, outfield and catcher as preferred positions. DeGaetano impressed all with his enthusiasm and ability. He played baseball in the New York city area. Chris Robinson of Royal Palm Beach, a 20-year old infielder, who can pitch, was the Sox' final pick and could be a valuable addition. Shaun Gullett's Genesis S Brewers also selected three players, including lefthanded pitcher Scott Longway of Delray Beach. Longway is 38 and can play outfield positions when not on the mound. The Brewers also selected 49-year old pitcher/outfielder Miguel Diaz of Boynton Beach by way of New Jersey, and 24-yer old outfielder Adam Sternberg of Delray Beach. The Mariners (Gabe Rodriguez) made only one pick, but could have a gem in 28-year old Quin McDowell, who played service baseball as well as Land O Lakes Adult Baseball in Wisconsin. He is an outfielder, but showed some ability behind the plate during infield and pitching/catching drills. The Yankees (Esteban Torres) came up with three promising choices. They tabbed 21-year old middle infielder Alex Sanabria of Lake Worth, 32-year old James Francis, an outfielder from Vero Beach, and switch hitting outfielder Frank Casaccia of Fort Lauderdale. Francis played for two years at Sacred Heart University, as well as two years of Adult League ball, both in Connecticut. The expansion Royals (Jesse McGregor, NIck Windsor) picked up three, including 26-year old outfielder Walter Velez of Delray Beach, who played high school ball in Miami, as well as in a wood bat league after his prep days. The Royals also nabbed Juan Vega of Port St.Lucie, a 32-year old middle infielder and outfielder, and veteran 50+ first baseman Richard Sakharoff of Palm Beach Gardens, who will be given a chance to make the team in spring training. Twenty three teams have entered the spring 2008 season, which opens on March 30. Nine teams are in the 18AAA (advanced) league and fourteen teams in two divisions of the 18AA (intermediate league). The league will hold it's final preseason manager meeting on Tuesday, March 25 at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, at which time the teams will turn in their league fees and signed player contracts. The spring 2008 campaign will open the league's 17th year and 33rd season since coming on the scene in the Palm Beaches in 1992. Oasis Pool Service Chamos (18AAA) and the Cuban Sugar Kings (18AA) won titles in the Fall 2007 season, which concluded last month, and both will be returning to defend their titles.

CHAMOS, SUGAR KINGS WIN THEIR FIRST LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Oasis Pool Service Chamos, playing only their third season in the Palm Beach League, won their first championship by defeating the Home Run Sports Dodgers 6-5 for the 18AAA title in the Fall 2007-2008 League. The Cuban Sugar Kings also won their first crown, beating the Dobson Roofing Hurricanes 3-1. Both games were played at the Lantana Sports Complex on Sunday, February 24, bringing the curtain down on the league's 16th year and 32nd season.

Chamos took advantage of five Dodgers' errors to score five unearned runs. Three of those came in the first two innings. Pitcher Victor Prieto, who eventually was the winning pitcher led off the game by reaching third base on an infield throwing error and scoring on a single to right by Chris Reynolds. After another infield error moved Reynolds to third base where he scored on a wild pitch by Dodgers' stater and eventual losing pitching Brian Holden. A hit batsman and singles by Pedro Bossio and Chamos' manager David Machado plated another run to make it 3-0 after two innings. The Dodgers pulled off a double steal for their first run in the third inning. Stalin DeLaRosa was hit by a pitch, stole second, and went to third on an infield hit by Billy Brescia. DeLaRosa and Brescia then pulled off a double steal to make it 3-1.

Reynolds knocked in two more Chamos runs, both unearned, with a two run double to deep right field, scoring Machado, who had reached on an error, and courtesy runner Pedro Bossio, running for Prieto, to make it a 5-1 Chamos lead. The Dodgers cut it to 5-3 with unearned runs in the fifth and sixth. Brian Fitzsimmons' infield roller scored Max Johnson, who had reached first on a wild pitch after striking out and advancing to third on a throwing error. Two infield errors and a passed ball brought in a run in the sixth. Chamos got another unearned run in the seventh, a big insurance tally, on a two base error on a routine fly ball to right field, scoring courtesy runner Castillo from first base.

With Carlos Dominguez replacing Prieto on the hill, the Dodgers pulled to within a run by scoring two runs in the 8th on a two run bases loaded single by Brescia, his third hit of the game. The Dodgers, though, left the bases loaded when Dominguez coaxed Ryan McDonald into a force out grounder to third base. The Dodgers had one more opporunity in the bottom of the ninth, as Ryan Ghianda, who had relieved starter Holden in the seventh inning, beat out an infield hit and went to second on a throwing error, but he was left stranded when Justin Koebnick struck out to end the ball game. Reynolds, with two hits and three runs batted in, was named the game's Most Valualbe Player and will receive the Bob Swets Memorial MVP plaque.

By sharp contrast with the sloppy 18AAA title game that saw nine errors committed by the two teams, the 18AA game was a brilliant pitcher's duel between the Cuban Sugar Kings' Nestor Sanjurjo (pronounced Sahn-HOOR-hoh) and the Hurricanes' Rick Schnur. Catcher Mario Perez outshone even the complete game pitching of Sanjurjo. He drove in all three Sugar Kings' runs. His two out single in the third scored Jordany Martinez who singled, stole second and went to third on a throwing error.

Then, in the top of the 8th inning and again wtih Martinez on base, Perez unloaded a two run homer on to Lantana Road to break a 1-1 tie and carry the Sugar Kings to victory. Perez, who also stood out defensively behind the plate, and pegged out a runner trying to steal, was named the game's Most Valuable Player and will receive the NABA's Bob Swets Memorial MVP plaque. The Hurricanes' only run came in the fifth on a walk to catcher Chuck Tooch and three straight singles by Arrnie Torres, Kevin Gottlieb and Eddie Gonzalez, the latter scoring courtesy runner Craig Spatara. However, Sanjurjo shut the door and left the bases loaded. The Hurricanes couldn't mount a serious threat over the next fouir innings, with Perez' two run shot deciding the contest. Both pitchers went the distance, giving up seven hits apiece. Schnur struck out nine in a losing cause. Sanjurjo fanned six.

The Oasis Pool Service Chamos, playing only their third season in the Palm Beach League, won their first championship by defeating the Home Run Sports Dodgers 6-5 for the 18AAA title in the Fall 2007-2008 League. The Cuban Sugar Kings also won their first crown, beating the Dobson Roofing Hurricanes 3-1. Both games were played at the Lantana Sports Complex on Sunday, February 24, bringing the curtain down on the league's 16th year and 32nd season.

Chamos took advantage of five Dodgers' errors to score five unearned runs. Three of those came in the first two innings. Pitcher Victor Prieto, who eventually was the winning pitcher led off the game by reaching third base on an infield throwing error and scoring on a single to right by Chris Reynolds. After another infield error moved Reynolds to third base where he scored on a wild pitch by Dodgers' stater and eventual losing pitching Brian Holden. A hit batsman and singles by Pedro Bossio and Chamos' manager David Machado plated another run to make it 3-0 after two innings.

The Dodgers pulled off a double steal for their first run in the third inning. Stalin DeLaRosa was hit by a pitch, stole second, and went to third on an infield hit by Billy Brescia. DeLaRosa and Brescia then pulled off a double steal to make it 3-1.

Reynolds knocked in two more Chamos runs, both unearned, with a two run double to deep right field, scoring Machado, who had reached on an error, and courtesy runner Pedro Bossio, running for Prieto, to make it a 5-1 Chamos lead.

The Dodgers cut it to 5-3 with unearned runs in the fifth and sixth. Brian Fitzsimmons' infield roller scored Max Johnson, who had reached first on a wild pitch after striking out and advancing to third on a throwing error. Two infield errors and a passed ball brought in a run in the sixth. Chamos got another unearned run in the seventh, a big insurance tally, on a two base error on a routine fly ball to right field, scoring courtesy runner Castillo from first base.

With Carlos Dominguez replacing Prieto on the hill, the Dodgers pulled to within a run by scoring two runs in the 8th on a two run bases loaded single by Brescia, his third hit of the game. The Dodgers, though, left the bases loaded when Dominguez coaxed Ryan McDonald into a force out grounder to third base. The Dodgers had one more opporunity in the bottom of the ninth, as Ryan Ghianda, who had relieved starter Holden in the seventh inning, beat out an infield hit and went to second on a throwing error, but he was left stranded when Justin Koebnick struck out to end the ball game. Reynolds, with two hits and three runs batted in, was named the game's Most Valualbe Player and will receive the Bob Swets Memorial MVP plaque.

By sharp contrast with the sloppy 18AAA title game that saw nine errors committed by the two teams, the 18AA game was a brilliant pitcher's duel between the Cuban Sugar Kings' Nestor Sanjurjo (pronounced Sahn-HOOR-hoh) and the Hurricanes' Rick Schnur. Catcher Mario Perez outshone even the complete game pitching of Sanjurjo. He drove in all three Sugar Kings' runs. His two out single in the third scored Jordany Martinez who singled, stole second and went to third on a throwing error.

Then, in the top of the 8th inning and again wtih Martinez on base, Perez unloaded a two run homer on to Lantana Road to break a 1-1 tie and carry the Sugar Kings to victory. Perez, who also stood out defensively behind the plate, and pegged out a runner trying to steal, was named the game's Most Valuable Player and will receive the NABA's Bob Swets Memorial MVP plaque.

The Hurricanes' only run came in the fifth on a walk to catcher Chuck Tooch and three straight singles by Arrnie Torres, Kevin Gottlieb and Eddie Gonzalez, the latter scoring courtesy runner Craig Spatara. However, Sanjurjo shut the door and left the bases loaded. The Hurricanes couldn't mount a serious threat over the next fouir innings, with Perez' two run shot deciding the contest. Both pitchers went the distance, giving up seven hits apiece. Schnur struck out nine in a losing cause. Sanjurjo fanned six.

CARIBBEAN TIGRES WIN CITRUS CLASSIC FOR FOURTH TIME The pitching-rich Caribbean Tigres of the NABA Palm Beach, Florida league roared to their fourth Citrus Classic championship and their second in a row, downing the NY/NJ White Sox 7-3 in the 18AA title game in Lantana, Florida on Monday, Jan. 21, 2008 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day). Three Tigres hurlers combined to strike out 17 batters. After taking over for starter Wilson Ciprian, who pitched the first five innings, hard throwing Victor Prieto earned the win, striking out nine batters in three innings while his teammates broke a 2-2 deficit with four runs in the sixth inning to take a lead they never relinquished. Jose Acuna finished up with a perfect 9th inning, striking out two. Ciprian had six strikeouts in his five innings. The rally began with a two base hit by Acuna. After Juan Veras drew a walk, Nick Adames stroked a one out single to left, scoring courtesy runner Francis Dinzey. Stalin DeLaRosa’s two out infield hit scored Veras, and the White Sox allowed two more runs on back to back infield errors, scoring Adames and DeLaRosa. The Tigres added an insurance run in the seventh on Acuna’s second straight double. Veras singled home the final Tigres’ run. The White Sox took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when Ray Montanez smashed a triple to deep right and scored on pitcher David Jiminian’s single to left. The Tigres came right back in the bottom of the inning with two unearned runs. After a two out infield error allowed Veras to reach first, he stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Diego Santos. Adames and Prieto both singled with Santos scoring on Prieto’s single. New York/New Jersey tied it in the fifth on singles by Ryan Postal and Adam Light and a double by Frank Pacifico. The Sox got their only run off Prieto in the eighth. Antuan Barnett and Jiminian singled. Barnett stole third and scored on a throwing error to complete the scoring. Tigres’ catcher Melvin Bruno had a double, two singles and stolen base to lead the Caribbeans’ fifteen hit attack. Emilio Vargas, Acuna, Veras and Adames all had two hits apiece. Light, Leyner and losing pitcher Jiminian had two hits apiece for the White Sox. Prieto was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. White Sox’ right fielder Barnett received the Goold Glove award, making three fine catches in right field.

IRON MEN OF CHARLOTTE TAKE 18A CITRUS CHAMPIONSHIP The Charlotte Astros of the NABA’s Charlotte, North Carolina league came to South Florida with only ten players, but won the 18A championship in the seventh annual Citrus Classic Wood Bat Tournament. The Astros outslugged the Dutchess Dodgers, made up primarily of players from the NABA Palm Beach, Florida league 17-13 at the Santaluces Complex in Lantana, FL on Martin Luther King Jr Day, January 21. After nipping the Dodgers 6-5 in their final pool game, the Astros took pool championship honors. The Astros, Dodgers and Culver City Leones (Palm Beach league) all had 2-1 records. The Leones were eliminated because they allowed the most runs (20) among the three teams, and the Astros won a head to head meeting over the Dodgers to clinch the top seed and home advantage in the title game. In the championship, Charlotte scored four runs in the second inning, three of them on a bases clearing double by Jeff Ronan, to take a 4-1 lead. After the Dodgers tallied twice to make it 4-3, the North Carolinians exploded for five runs in the fourth, three in the fifth and five more runs in the sixth to take a lead 17-6 after six innings. Key hits included Ryan Pflum’s two run double to highlight the Astros’ fourth; Charlie Pflum;s an RBI singles in both the fourth and fifth and two run single in the 6th, and Jim Berger;s two run single in the fifth. Charlie Pflum and Berger led a 17 hit attack with three hits apiece. The Dodgers made the score respectable by scoring seven runs in the last two innings. Manager Rob Wiley, who walloped a two run homer in the sixth inning, drove in another with a single in the 8th, and added a third hit in the ninth. Wiley and Perry Menschel had three hits apiece, as the Dodgers collected fifteen in a losing cause. Ryan Pflum earned Most Valuable Player honors and earned the victory in relief of starter Ronan in the third inning. Brian Fitzsimmons was tagged with the loss. Dodgers’ left fielder Cody Lei won the Gold Glove Award with a diving catch of a line drive headed for extra bases in the sixth.

 

                18AAA ALL STARS-TWO RUN RALLY IN 9TH WINS IT FOR NORTH

All Star players from the Caribbean Tigres, Oasis Chamos and Rockhounds, playing as the North Division overcame a 3-2 deficit with two runs in the top of the 9th inning to beat the Southern All Stars (Home Run Sports Dodgers, Scrappers and Indians) 4-3 at Lantana Sports Complex December 19.

Chris Reynolds (Chamos) walked, stole second and scored on a double by Eric Morales (Rockhounds) to tie the game at 3-3. Jim Oberdier (Rockhounds) singled him to third, and Dave Page (Rockhounds) sacrificed. With first base open, the South walked Dave Machado (Chamos) intentionally to load the bases. Melvin Bruno (Tigres) hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Morales with the winning run. The rally came at the expense of losing pitcher Alvaro Gomez (Indians), who pitched only one inning. Brian Holden (Dodgers) pitched three (run, three hits, three strikeouts), Matt Weihs (Scrappers) went the next three (one run, two hits, one walk, four strikeouts). Ryan McDonald (Dodgers) pitched the seventh and eighth, giving up no hits, no runs, walking two and fanning one.

The North scored in the third on singles by Morales and Oberdier and a fielder’s choice by Page, scoring Morales from third. They made it 2-0 in the fifth when Jose Acuna (Tigres) doubled, and Marlon Herndandez drew a walk. And after Acuna stole third, he and Hernandez executed a double steal.

North pitchers Acuna and Alexis Sosa threw blanks and combined for twelve strikeouts over the first five. Acuna yielded two hits and fanned six. Sosa fanned seven in two hitless innings. Two runners reached on a passed ball and a wild pitch. One of them, Damon Gammons, was cut down attempting to steal third. Jose Espino (Tigres) pitched a scoreless sixth, but the South scored two unearned runs off him in the next inning. Gammons walked, stole second and scored on a two base throwing error on a grounder to second by Johnson. Johnson stole third, then scored on a single by the Scrappers’ Matt Weihs.

The South took the lead with another unearned run in the 8th off Gustavo Lopez (Tigres). Jason Plocek singled home Greg Walling (Indians) who had singled, stole second and went to third on a pssed ball.

Lopez retired the side in order and just after the final out was registered, the timed sprinklers went off. Five minutes later a softball rainfall also doused the area, a fitting ending to the 2007 portion of the Fall League schedule, except for two make up games on Dec. 30.

Morales, with two hits, including a double, a run batted in and two scored, received the NABA’s MVP plaque as the game’s Most Valualbe Player.

18AA ALL STARS-EAST RALLIES FROM SIX DOWN TO WIN

The East Division All Stars found themselves down by 6-0 going to the bottom of the fifth. Then, it was like watching a brand new game. The East scored the next thirteen runs for a 13-6 victory over the West under the lights at the Lantana Sports Complex on December 18.

The West scored four in the first on hits by Pat Wilson (Braves) and Yo Perez and Nestor Sanjurjo of the Sugar Kings, three hit batters, two errors and three steals, two by Wilson. All of the hits and runs were charged to starter Scot DeMadaler (Marlins). Cody Lei (Sails) worked the next 2 2/3, yielding a run when West starter Erik Calis doubled, went to third on a fly out and scored on a wild pitch by Lei. Lefty Sam Berchiolly (Yankees) struck out six in three innings, but the West added one more off him in the sixth on a single by Sanjurjo, a passed ball and RBI single by Mario Perez (Sugar Kings).

The East launched its rally with a run in the fifth as Hector Gerena (Los Leones) doubled home Leones’ teammate Casey Merritt. They exploded for five in the sixth and six more in the seventh to blow the game wide open. Fernando Miranda (Leones) doubled home two, the Hurricanes’ Eddie Gonzalez singled home another and two more scored on errors by the West .

Gerena, who was later named Most Valuable Player walked with the bases loaded in the 7th to put the East ahead to stay. Jorge Lopez (Leones) singled in a run. Jim Bergman (Hurricanes) doubled in two more. A balk, a wild pitch and two more errors plated three additional runs. Gonzalez’ sacrifice fly brought in the last run in the 8th inning. Casey Merritt (Leones) earned the victory. The loss went to Kyle Downey (PB Mets). Gerena wound up going 2 for 2 with two RBIs.