Announcement
BEACH BUMS WIN AAA TITLE AS "CINDERELLA" TEAM; GLORY DAYS NIPS COBRAS FOR AA CROWN
The fifth-seeded South Florida Beach Bums became the team of destiny, scoring four runs in the top of the 9th inning, then holding off a rally in the bottom half, to beat the number two seeded Home Run Sports Thunder 6-4 for their first 18AAA League championship. It completed a playoff trifecta for the Beach Bums, who defeated the number four Fembi Mortage Blades and the top seeded Innovation Gaming Twins in successive weeks.
With the score tied 2-2 after a brilliant pitcher's duel between Rick Schnur and lefty Brian Holden, the Bums scored the deciding runs off reliever Ryan McDonald after he had pitched a scoreless 8th inning. Andrew Rubin was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, Jamie Priester also reached, and eventually Rubin scored when Andres Diaz singled him home. Then, Jason Bryan hit what proved to be the back breaker for McDonald and the Thunder, a three run home run to make it 6-2.
The Thunder staged a two out rally in the bottom half, only to fall short. Donnie Fitzgerald and Brian Fitzsimmons hit back to back singles, McDonald doubled in a run and Max Johnson delivered an RBI single, but Schnur settled down to get the final out. Schnur was selected as the game's MVP.
By Troy Glover, edited by Lou Palmer
In a classic title game, Glory Days defeated the Cobras 3-2 to capture their second spring AA Championship in three seasons. It was a showdown of crafty veterans on the mound in Glory Days' Jeff Tomlinson against the Cobras Jesus Ferrer. The Cobras struck first with a single run in the first inning after a leadoff double by Eduardo Golinos and an rbi single by Cody Bothe gave them an early 1-0 lead. Glory Days would counter with two in the bottom of the inning. Miguel Cuello led off with a walk. After a walk to Jerry Matarazzo, Joe Desantis and Troy Glover followed with back to back rbi singles giving Glory Days a 2-1 lead.
Glory Days added a run in the bottom of the second after a leadoff double by Shane Farnsworth, single by Mike Smollen and an rbi groundout by Howard Taylor. That would be all the scoring until the ninth. Glory Days Tomlinson (8-2) went the distance scattering 12 hits and pitching out of trouble all day. He did not walk a batter and struck out nine. He allowed one earned run. Ferrer was equally impressive,also hurling a complete game going eight innings allowing seven hits, two walks and five strikouts and three earned runs.However, it was Tomlinson going to the well when it counted with big pitches limiting the Cobras to 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position. The Cobras left 11 men on base. Tomlinson's gutsy effort earned him the game's MVP award.
The Cobras made things interesting in the ninth inning. Cobras pinch hitter led off the ninth with a single. Tomlinson then came up with the biggest pitch of the game striking out Armas with a knee buckling 2-2 curve ball. Kenny Perez then popped out to Matarazzo. After a steal of second, another pinch hitter hit a groundball up the middle. Second baseman Brian Barnes made a diving stop but threw the ball wide of first past Matarazzo allowing a run to score making it 3-2.
The game came down to Tomlinson facing Ferrer, who had two hits already in the game. However, Tomlinson won the battle, forcing Ferrer to pop out to Matarazzo ending the game and securing the title for Glory Days. It was a bit of revenge for Glory Days against Ferrer who defeated them in a 3-2 playoff effort last Spring when Ferrer was a member of the Blades. The win over the Cobras was Glory Days' (17-4-1) seventh in a row and made them a perfect 4-0 over the Cobras in the spring 2011 season with three of the games decided by a combined four runs.
In Glory Days' seven game win streak, they outscored their opponents 46-8 including allowing just two runs in the playoffs. It was Glory Days' fourth overall title since the league's inception in 1992. Cuello finished with two hits for Glory days. DeSantis and Glover had one hit, one RBIk each. Shane Farnsworth had a two bagger, and Steve Arnold and Mike Smollon each had a hit. Taylor's infield grounder RBI proved to be the winning run.
