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The Sports Page Rockets won the 18AA Upper Division Championship of the NABA's Hall of Fame Wood Bat Tournament in Cooperstown Tuesday, July 3, defeating the Tarrytown Lookouts of the NABA Westchester-Rockland league 10-4 in the title game at historic Doubleday Field. Earlier in the day, the Rockets blanked a previously unbeaten Connecticut Storm team 11-0 in the 18AA semifinals, played at Veterans Memorial Park in Little Falls, about an hour away from Cooperstown. In the championship game, the Rockets rallied from early 2-0 and 4-2 deficits, took a 5-4 lead on Phil Levri's RBI single, stretched it to 7-4, then Brian Fitzsimmons put the game out of reach with a booming 3-run homer in the bottom of the 8th inning. It was his third hit of the game and it carried an estimated 425 feet. Earlier he had an RBI double and a single. He also did a great job in relief of starter Mike Smollon, going 3 2/3 innings of one-hit, shutout baseball, fanning seven. Mike Conant had a triple, double and single and drove in a run. Billy Brescia had three hits, one of them a double, and Joe Young came up big with two doubles and a single, with an RBI. Phil Levri's RBI single in the 7th drove in the run that gave the Rockets a lead they would never relinquish. Dave Machado had a pair of hits and Brandon Gallo one. The defensive play of the game was made by Chris Brescia, chasing down a sure extra base hit with an over the head catch in deep left center field. He also raced in to score a crucial run from first base on a double by Conant. ROAD TO THE TITLE ROCKETS 13 MIDDLESEX (NJ)BEARS The Rockets established their credentials early, beating the top seeded team in their pool, the Middlesex (NJ)Bears 13-3 behind the pitching of Mike Conant and the hitting of Phil Levri. Levri ripped a two run homer and drove in another run with a sacrifice fly. Romy Ones had three hits, Billy Brescia two, including a two-run single. Joe Young and Brandon Gallo each singled twice, each one driving in a run to account for four runs. Dave Machado had two hits, Conant a double and single, Chris Brescia had one hit and Brian Fitzsimmons hit a long sacrifice fly to the base of the right field fence. SUSQUEHANNA SAMARI 10 ROCKETS 6 The Rockets' only loss of the tournament came at Doubleday Field in their second game on Saturday, when they were defeated by a very impressive Samari squad from Lancaster, PA. Starter Ricardo Castillo didn't pitch badly, but didn't get the top notch defense the Rockets turned in during the opener. Leadoff hitter Machado had a double, single and RBI, and scored four times. Billy Brescia and Fitzsimmons both had two singles, two RBIs, while Levri, Mike Conant and Chris Atkins had one hit apiece. The Pennsylvanians were dazzling on defense, reeling off three double plays and making two diving catches in the outfield. ROCKETS 14 PLEASANTVILLE (NY) RED SOX 4 With all four teams in their pool showing 1-1 records after day one, the Rockets faced a "must" win if they were to make the semifinals. Veteran Mike Smollon was terrific on the hill, pitching shutout baseball for four innings while the Rockets built up a 6-0 lead. He was helped by some tremendous infield defense, particularly at shortstop where Ones roamed the middle infield like a mine sweeper. Then an electrical storm hit the Little Falls area, causing a three-hour rain delay. When play resumed, it was as though nothing happened. Smollon continued his steady pitching and the hitting got even better. Ones drove in five runs with a 2-run homer, two run double and RBI single. Levri drilled a solo homer four singles (5 for 5 with an RBI). Fitzsimmons socked a solo homer, RBI double and single, Conant contributed a 2-run triple, and RBI double, Billy Brescia had a double and single, Machado an , Chris Atkins a single and Roy Nino chipped in with an RBI. ROCKETS 11 CONNECTICUT STORM 0 (SEMIFINAL) Due to Sunday's rains, the Rockets' semifinal game had to be put off until Tuesday morning, same day as the championship and in Little Falls, a one hour's drive. The team responded by blanking the tournament's only unbeaten team to that point (3-0), and the "B" pool winner---the Storm. Conant was brilliant in fashioning a three-hitter and the team powered his strong mound effort by supplying a 12-hit offense. Conant helped his own cause with three hits and four RBIs. Billy Brescia had three hits and an RBI, Ones two and an RBI, Young two hits, Levri an RBI double, Fitzsimmons a run producing single and Gallo a single. Conant fanned ten batters to send the Rockets to the final.

The Amerifund Seminoles made the semifinals of the NABA Hall of Fame Wood Bat Tournament before bowing to the Bullwinkle's Cafe team of New Milford, Connecticut 14-4. The highlight of the tournament for the 'Noles was beating a very tough Denver Indians team 3-1 in a great game played at historic Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, NY. More details are forthcoming from the Seminoles. For now, though, click on the headline for Seminoles'tournament results. POOL PLAY-18A PRINCE WILLIAM (VA) YANKEES 10 SEMINOLES 3 The Seminoles led this one early, but one bad inning cost them the game. The Prince William team went on to win the 18A Division of the tournament, winning all five of their games. They defeated Bullwinkle's Cafe of New Milford, Ct 9-2 in the tournament final. BULLWINKLE'S CAFE 12 SEMINOLES 3 Not as one sided as it may appear. The Seminoles, behind Ryan Croteau's pitching, actually led this one in the 7th inning before Ryan's elbow started acting up. One bad inning proved the Seminoles' undoing. SEMINOLES 3 DENVER INDIANS 1 The biggest victory of the tournament came in the sweetest place---historic Doubleday Field in Cooperstown. Knocking off a perennial tournament team and 2000 Hall of Fame finalist was a big thrill for the Seminoles, managed by Paul Joyce and Dave Anyzeski. BULLWINKLE'S CAFE 14 SEMINOLES 4 (SEMIFINAL) The Seminoles held 2-0 and 4-2 leads early in this one before one big inning killed their chances. Bullwinkle's Cafe scored nine runs in that one big frame to set up their victory. More details will be added, including individual performances and game highlights, to this story.

For five innings, it appeared that the spring league’s “night of stars” would be a repeat of the 1-0 final score of the fall league’s All Star clash that went ten innings. However, the bats came alive for both teams and the Northern squad posted a 7-3 win July 20 at the Lantana Sports Complex. Click on headline for full story. The North division posted a first inning run on a single by Billy Brescia (Sports Page Rockets), who took second when his hit was misplayed in left field, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Joe Young (Mets). The run came off Mike Evans (Palm Beach Indians), and although he recovered from the shaky start by fanning four of the last five batters he recovered, he was charged with the loss. Mike Draper (Rockets), meanwhile, two shutout innings, giving up only a double to Marcos Vasquez (Caribbean Stars) to rack up the pitching win. Draper also went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles. The offenses picked up for both sides in the sixth inning. The visiting put a four spot on the board. The Lookouts’ long representative, Eddie Santora, singled, followed by Brescia’s second straight hit. Young drew a walk and Santora scored when the South team failed in a double play attempt on a ball hit to short by the Rockets’ Jason McGilton. His Rockets’ teammate, Brian Fitzsimmons, bounced a single through the side to score Brescia. Brian Barnes (Glory Days) singled sharply to center to score McGilton and a fourth run scored on an infield error on the Cubs’ Clint Kovach’s grounder. The South Division struck back for two in the bottom of the sixth. Andy Lewis (Indians) led off the frame with the first of his two doubles. He moved on a third on a single by Vasquez and scored when Indians’ teammate Billy Shore banged a double to left, moving Vasquez to third from which point he scored on a RBI grounder to short by Jared Green (Indians). The South sliced it to 5-3 with a seventh inning run. Ariel Rodriguez (Stars) was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on an RBI hit by the Cardinals’ Ricky Dominguez. The North put it away in the eighth inning when Young poled a two-run homer, scoring Santora ahead of him. Santora had led off the frame with a double. Young wound up 2-for-2 with three RBIs and awarded the NABA All Star Most Valuable Player award. He had a walk in his other plate appearance. Brescia, Fitzsimmons (RBI), Draper and Santora had two hits apiece, with Barnes (RBI) with James Bozeman (St.Lucie Dodgers) getting one. McGilton had the other RBI. Lewis led the South with two doubles in three trips. Vasquez had a double and single. Shore stroked an RBI double. Jared Green, Dominguez, and Angel Nino (Cardinals) had singles, with Green, Shore and Dominguez getting RBIs. Fitzsimmons, Brescia, McGilton, Jason McDonald (Dodgers) and Bozeman followed Draper to the mound for the North. Vasquez, Nino, Green, Dave Leonardo (Beach Dogs) and Francisco Dinzey (Stars) pitched after Evans for the South

You might say they wore ‘em down. The North squad, made up of players from the West Palm Beach Indians, Expos and Yankees had 13 players in their lineup while the South, consisting of players from the first place Amerifund Seminoles and Rangers had exactly nine. The North put together three big innings to capture the 18AA league’s All Star game June 21 at Lantana Sports Complex 12-6. The game was called after 7 1/2 innings due to an approaching electrical storm. According to the official rules of baseball, the three runs scored by the North in the top of the 8th become a part of the final score because they were leading at the time the game was called. Had they tied the game or went ahead in the 8th, the game would have been treated as a suspended game. Click on headline for the complete story. The South appeared well on their way to victory as Rangers’ lefthander Dave Schultz pitched three scoreless innings while his teammates build a 3-0 lead. In the home first, Schultz was hit by a pitch, manager Keith Davis (Seminoles) singled, and both moved up on a wild pitch by starter North starter Chad Mainville (Indians). Mainville had to be lifted at that point with a sore back. Marty Breeden (Expos) replaced him and yielded a run scoring single by Matt Colavecchio, scoring Schultz. After Jon Wilkeson’s infield single loaded the bases, Bill Flippin (Rangers) got credit for an RBI when the North squad attempted a 6-4-3 double play, but Flippin beat out the relay. The South added a run to make it 3-0 in the third. Wilkeson reached on an error and stole second. Scott Cobb (Rangers) dumped a single to left, moving Wilkeson to third. Bruce White (Rangers) drove him in with a fielder’s choice grounder to shortstop. The North got on the scoreboard with a run in the fourth. KC Allen (Indians) drew a walk, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by JP Carroll. The South upped its lead to 5-1 with a pair of fourth inning runs. Schultz smacked an RBI double to score Jason Levy, who had been hit by a pitch. Schultz scored on Colavecchio’s run scoring single. The North started its comeback in the fifth inning when Dan Burkhart (Indians) whacked a three-run homer to right field that kick started the offense. Schultz’ second RBI double in the fifth made it 6-4 in favor of the South, but the North scored five runs in the sixth and added three more in the eighth. All five runs came with two outs in the sixth. Rico Perez (Yankees) singled and scored on a double by KC Allen (Indians). Keith Buck (Expos) hit a sharp single that eluded Bruce White (Rangers) at shortstop, then Carroll doubled in another run. Colavecchio replaced Jason Levy (Seminoles) on the hill and John Corporal (Indians) singled home the fourth run of the inning, advancing to second on an outfield error and scored on a single by Ryan Hogan (Yankees). The North added three more in the top of the eighth on a hit batsman, two walks, a stolen base, two wild pitches and a single by Buck. It was at the point that the game was called when Doppler radar showed a storm approaching with lightning. Burkhart, who had a single in addition to his 3-run homer, was selected as the game’s MVP.

For five innings, it appeared that the spring league’s “night of stars” would be a repeat of the 1-0 final score of the fall league’s All Star clash that went ten innings. However, the bats came alive for both teams and the Northern squad posted a 7-3 win July 20 at the Lantana Sports Complex. Click on headline for full story. The North division posted a first inning run on a single by Billy Brescia (Sports Page Rockets), who took second when his hit was misplayed in left field, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Joe Young (Mets). The run came off Mike Evans (Palm Beach Indians), and although he recovered from the shaky start by fanning four of the last five batters he recovered, he was charged with the loss. Mike Draper (Rockets), meanwhile, two shutout innings, giving up only a double to Marcos Vasquez (Caribbean Stars) to rack up the pitching win. Draper also went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles. The offenses picked up for both sides in the sixth inning. The visiting put a four spot on the board. The Lookouts’ long representative, Eddie Santora, singled, followed by Brescia’s second straight hit. Young drew a walk and Santora scored when the South team failed in a double play attempt on a ball hit to short by the Rockets’ Jason McGilton. His Rockets’ teammate, Brian Fitzsimmons, bounced a single through the side to score Brescia. Brian Barnes (Glory Days) singled sharply to center to score McGilton and a fourth run scored on an infield error on the Cubs’ Clint Kovach’s grounder. The South Division struck back for two in the bottom of the sixth. Andy Lewis (Indians) led off the frame with the first of his two doubles. He moved on a third on a single by Vasquez and scored when Indians’ teammate Billy Shore banged a double to left, moving Vasquez to third from which point he scored on a RBI grounder to short by Jared Green (Indians). The South sliced it to 5-3 with a seventh inning run. Ariel Rodriguez (Stars) was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on an RBI hit by the Cardinals’ Ricky Dominguez. The North put it away in the eighth inning when Young poled a two-run homer, scoring Santora ahead of him. Santora had led off the frame with a double. Young wound up 2-for-2 with three RBIs and awarded the NABA All Star Most Valuable Player award. He had a walk in his other plate appearance. Brescia, Fitzsimmons (RBI), Draper and Santora had two hits apiece, with Barnes (RBI) with James Bozeman (St.Lucie Dodgers) getting one. McGilton had the other RBI. Lewis led the South with two doubles in three trips. Vasquez had a double and single. Shore stroked an RBI double. Jared Green, Dominguez, and Angel Nino (Cardinals) had singles, with Green, Shore and Dominguez getting RBIs. Fitzsimmons, Brescia, McGilton, Jason McDonald (Dodgers) and Bozeman followed Draper to the mound for the North. Vasquez, Nino, Green, Dave Leonardo (Beach Dogs) and Francisco Dinzey (Stars) pitched after Evans for the South