(12)-METS

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 the second year in a row, the Papi's Place Caribbean Stars reached the championship game of the NABA Las Vegas Tournament's 18AA Division and came up short. This time it was even more excruciating as they got beat by a run 10-9 when the Denver Hitmen scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth after the Stars had taken a 9-7 lead to the bottom of the inning on Brian Fitzsimmons'game tying RBI single and a two-run homer by Francisco Dinzey. The Stars took their pool title with a 3-0 record, defeating Ventura (CA) 8-7, Riverside (CA) 21-5 and the Denver Desperados 6-3. They made the final by beating Salt Lake City (UT) 17-14, a game in which the Stars blasted five home runs, including three in succession. Jose Yoel (Perozo) led the HR parade, clouting fOUR during the tournament. The Stars compiled some very impressive numbers. Yoel smashed hit a sizzling .611. Brian Fitzsimmons batted a team high .619 with a pair of homers. The Dinzey brothers had three home runs each, Amado batting .545 and Francisco hitting .426. Carlos Molinares hit .524 out of the 8th spot in the order. Jeremy Walker hit .471with a home run. Marcos Vasquez batted an impressive .417 out of the leadoff spot, with Nick Adames, Ariel Rodriguez and Lee Luna combining for a .333 average out of the ninth and tenth spots in the order. The defense also played well most of the way, turning in eight double plays. The Stars, along with the Palm Beach Indians, plan to play in the NABA National Championship Tournament in Phoenix, Arizona in October. The Sports Page Rockets, meanwhile, have entered the NABA Hall of Fame Wood Bat Tournament June 30-July 3 at Cooperstown, NY.

For the second year in a row, the Papi's Place Caribbean Stars reached the championship game of the NABA Las Vegas Tournament's 18AA Division and came up short. This time it was even more excruciating as they got beat by a run 10-9 when the Denver Hitmen scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth after the Stars had taken a 9-7 lead to the bottom of the inning on Brian Fitzsimmons'game tying RBI single and a two-run homer by Francisco Dinzey. The Stars took their pool title with a 3-0 record, defeating Ventura (CA) 8-7, Riverside (CA) 21-5 and the Denver Desperados 6-3. They made the final by beating Salt Lake City (UT) 17-14, a game in which the Stars blasted five home runs, including three in succession. Jose Yoel (Perozo) led the HR parade, clouting fOUR during the tournament. The Stars compiled some very impressive numbers. Yoel smashed hit a sizzling .611. Brian Fitzsimmons batted a team high .619 with a pair of homers. The Dinzey brothers had three home runs each, Amado batting .545 and Francisco hitting .426. Carlos Molinares hit .524 out of the 8th spot in the order. Jeremy Walker hit .471with a home run. Marcos Vasquez batted an impressive .417 out of the leadoff spot, with Nick Adames, Ariel Rodriguez and Lee Luna combining for a .333 average out of the ninth and tenth spots in the order. The defense also played well most of the way, turning in eight double plays. The Stars, along with the Palm Beach Indians, plan to play in the NABA National Championship Tournament in Phoenix, Arizona in October. The Sports Page Rockets, meanwhile, have entered the NABA Hall of Fame Wood Bat Tournament June 30-July 3 at Cooperstown, NY.