Announcement
SOUTHPAW SUCCESS LEADS MANATEES AND SUGAR KINGS TO FALL '11 LEAGUE TITLES
FALL 2011
The Home Run Sports Manatees, behind a brilliant pitching performance from manager Brian Fitzsimmons won the 18AAA title on a cold and blustery day at the Santaluces Complex. Fitzimmons went all nine innings, giving up only four hits. He struck out six and walked three. He also put the Manatees on the board with a run scoring single in the first inning. The Manataees added a second run in the third on a two out RBI hit by Ryan McDonald.
They made it 4-0 with a pair of unearned runs in the fifth, with Drew Davis and catcher Cory Johnson picking up two out RBI. The Manatees also had two runners cut down at the plate.
Two more unearned runs completed the Manatees scoring. Billy Brescia drew a bases loaded walk to make it 5-0 An outfield error opened the door for the run. And, in the 9th inning, Dave Gariepy singled home a run when an infield error opened the door to the final run.
Brescia led the offense with two hits and one run batted in. Eric Seldomridge joined Fitzsimmons, McDonald, Davis, Johnson and Gariepy with one hit each. The Manatees left fourteen runners on base, including twice with the bases loaded.
Rob Conver led off the Chamos’ first with a double, but was stranded at second base. Victor Prieto singled in the single, but that’s all the Chamos wound get until the ninth inning when skipper Dave Machado and Santos Adames had singles, advancing to second and third on an infield roller. Ray Infante hit a foul fly to left field to end the game, the fourth putout by left fielder Gariepy. Center fielder Max Johnson had five putouts, and right fielder Drew Davis had two as the Manatees flychasers covered the outfield like a blanket.
The Chamos used three pitchers. Starter Rob Conver took the loss after going 6 2/3 innings, and yielding six hits and striking out seven. Two of the four runs he gave up were unearned.
Roger Alvarez went 1 1/3 innings, no hits, on unearned run and issuing three walks. Marcus Colon finished up, one hit, and an unearned run in his one inning of work.
Fitzsimmons was awarded championship game MVP honors and will receive a personally inscribed plaque at a later date.
These two teams, deeply rooted in Cuban ancestry, definitely had the worst of Sunday’s weather. The temperature was the mid 40’ for the 9:30AM game, and with the brisk winds, the wind chill factor had to be in the 30’s. Yet, it did not prevent the Sugar Kings from winning their third league championship, and completing a 16-0 unbeaten season.
Lefthander Junior Gazquez pitched eight solid innings to gain the victory, with veteran Jesus Ferrer slamming the door shut, saving it for Gazquez. Gazquez struck out eight, gave up only three infield hits, one on a bunt. He also gave four walks, including one with the bases loaded. An infield error made that run an unearned one.
The Sugar Kings established superiority early, scoring four runs in the first three innings. Junior Gazquez was chosen as the Championship Game Most Valuable Player and will receive a personally inscribed plaque at a later date.
For the final regular season PALM BEACH LEAGUE standings, and the final standings of the Spring 2011 season, click on STANDINGS on the left side of this page.
