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THUNDER BEATS BLADES FOR SPRING '18 NATIONAL DIVISION TITLE
SPRING 2018 NATIONAL DIVISION
At St. Louis Cardinals Field #4, Jupiter
August 26, 2018
THUNDER 6 CUBAN BLADES 3
For Manager Mike Soulen and the South Florida Thunder, the long wait is over. The second seeded Thunder defeated the top seeded Blades behind the pitching of Josh Mowrey and reliever Hunter Kyzar and a rally in the fifth inning that saw them score four runs.
It was the first league championship under the team name “Thunder” and the third overall for the franchise, which won titles in 2000 as the Lookouts and 2005 as the Rockhounds.
The atmosphere for the championship game was definitely subdued after the ugly physical attack of umpire Bob Mistina by a Blades’ player in their 9-2 win over the fourth seeded Sugar Kings in the semifinals a week earlier. Both teams simply concentrated on what NABA Palm Beach League games are supposed to be—fun and competition. The Thunder scored two runs in the third inning on singles by Alex McEnaney and Shawn Chiaramonte and a run producing single, plating McEnaney by Henry Wilson. An intentional walk of Mike DeLeeuw loaded the bases for Eric Gormley’s fielder’s choice grounder to score Chiaramonte.
The Blades’ Eduardo Del Toro singled up the middle in the bottom of the third, scoring Raudel Torres, who drew a walk to start the inning. It was the only base on balls Mowrey allowed in the game.
With a slim 2-1 lead going to the top of the fifth, the Thunder, effectively, iced the win with four unearned runs on four hits and a very costly Blades’ error. Eric Gormley doubled courtesy runner Wilson to third, but Wilson was nailed at the plate on a comebacker to the mound. With runners at first and second, Blades’ ace pitchrer Joshua Rivera committed a balk, moving both runners up a base. Roy Nino hit a sinking liner to left field and after a short run, Blades’ left fielder Reol Alvarez dropped it for a two base error, scoring both runners. Eric Morales and Darren Hansen each followed with RBI singles to make it a 6-1 game.
The Blades scored a run in the fifth on Alvarez’ run scoring double, and another in the seventh when Ezequiel Romero got his fourth single of the game, and wound up at third when left fielder McEnaney erred on the sharp hit. Romero scored on a wild pitch.
Lefthander Hunter Kyzar wrapped up the championship with two perfect innings for what would be his fourth save of the season, three of those during the regular campaign.
Mowrey, a 10-game winner, went seven innings to earn the victory, and was selected as the championship
game’s Most Valuable Player. He allowed eleven hits and three runs, walked one and struck out two to prevail over the Blades’ ten-game winner Joshua Rivera. Rivera also went seven, with Luis Guzman pitching hitless, shutout ball the last two innings.
Morales was the Thunder’s top hitter with three singles and a run batted in. McEnaney had two hits. DeLeeuw and Gormley each doubled, and Chiaramonte, Wilson, Nino and Hansen all had a hit apiece.
Blades’ catcher Romero led all hitters with four singles, and sparkled behind the plate as well. Del Toro had two hits and drove in one of the Blades’ two runs. Reol Alvarez had an RBI double, and Mario Alvarez, Yordany Martinez, Raiko Ramos and Lazaro Diaz all had one hit apiece.
The two teams had split their two regular season meetings. The Thunder won the first 7-6, with Mowrey winning in relief and Rivera getting a no decision. The Blades the second one 2-1, with Rivera besting Mowrey.
THUNDER BEATS BLADES FOR SPRING '18 NATIONAL DIVISION TITLE
SPRING 2018 NATIONAL DIVISION
At St. Louis Cardinals Field #4, Jupiter
August 26, 2018
THUNDER 6 CUBAN BLADES 3
For Manager Mike Soulen and the South Florida Thunder, the long wait is over. The second seeded Thunder defeated the top seeded Blades behind the pitching of Josh Mowrey and reliever Hunter Kyzar and a rally in the fifth inning that saw them score four runs.
It was the first league championship under the team name “Thunder” and the third overall for the franchise, which won titles in 2000 as the Lookouts and 2005 as the Rockhounds.
The atmosphere for the championship game was definitely subdued after the ugly physical attack of umpire Bob Mistina by a Blades’ player in their 9-2 win over the fourth seeded Sugar Kings in the semifinals a week earlier. Both teams simply concentrated on what NABA Palm Beach League games are supposed to be—fun and competition. The Thunder scored two runs in the third inning on singles by Alex McEnaney and Shawn Chiaramonte and a run producing single, plating McEnaney by Henry Wilson. An intentional walk of Mike DeLeeuw loaded the bases for Eric Gormley’s fielder’s choice grounder to score Chiaramonte.
The Blades’ Eduardo Del Toro singled up the middle in the bottom of the third, scoring Raudel Torres, who drew a walk to start the inning. It was the only base on balls Mowrey allowed in the game.
With a slim 2-1 lead going to the top of the fifth, the Thunder, effectively, iced the win with four unearned runs on four hits and a very costly Blades’ error. Eric Gormley doubled courtesy runner Wilson to third, but Wilson was nailed at the plate on a comebacker to the mound. With runners at first and second, Blades’ ace pitchrer Joshua Rivera committed a balk, moving both runners up a base. Roy Nino hit a sinking liner to left field and after a short run, Blades’ left fielder Reol Alvarez dropped it for a two base error, scoring both runners. Eric Morales and Darren Hansen each followed with RBI singles to make it a 6-1 game.
The Blades scored a run in the fifth on Alvarez’ run scoring double, and another in the seventh when Ezequiel Romero got his fourth single of the game, and wound up at third when left fielder McEnaney erred on the sharp hit. Romero scored on a wild pitch.
Lefthander Hunter Kyzar wrapped up the championship with two perfect innings for what would be his fourth save of the season, three of those during the regular campaign.
Mowrey, a 10-game winner, went seven innings to earn the victory, and was selected as the championship
game’s Most Valuable Player. He allowed eleven hits and three runs, walked one and struck out two to prevail over the Blades’ ten-game winner Joshua Rivera. Rivera also went seven, with Luis Guzman pitching hitless, shutout ball the last two innings.
Morales was the Thunder’s top hitter with three singles and a run batted in. McEnaney had two hits. DeLeeuw and Gormley each doubled, and Chiaramonte, Wilson, Nino and Hansen all had a hit apiece.
Blades’ catcher Romero led all hitters with four singles, and sparkled behind the plate as well. Del Toro had two hits and drove in one of the Blades’ two runs. Reol Alvarez had an RBI double, and Mario Alvarez, Yordany Martinez, Raiko Ramos and Lazaro Diaz all had one hit apiece.
The two teams had split their two regular season meetings. The Thunder won the first 7-6, with Mowrey winning in relief and Rivera getting a no decision. The Blades the second one 2-1, with Rivera besting Mowrey.
THUNDER BEATS BLADES FOR SPRING '18 NATIONAL DIVISION TITLE
SPRING 2018 NATIONAL DIVISION
At St. Louis Cardinals Field #4, Jupiter
August 26, 2018
THUNDER 6 CUBAN BLADES 3
For Manager Mike Soulen and the South Florida Thunder, the long wait is over. The second seeded Thunder defeated the top seeded Blades behind the pitching of Josh Mowrey and reliever Hunter Kyzar and a rally in the fifth inning that saw them score four runs.
It was the first league championship under the team name “Thunder” and the third overall for the franchise, which won titles in 2000 as the Lookouts and 2005 as the Rockhounds.
The atmosphere for the championship game was definitely subdued after the ugly physical attack of umpire Bob Mistina by a Blades’ player in their 9-2 win over the fourth seeded Sugar Kings in the semifinals a week earlier. Both teams simply concentrated on what NABA Palm Beach League games are supposed to be—fun and competition. The Thunder scored two runs in the third inning on singles by Alex McEnaney and Shawn Chiaramonte and a run producing single, plating McEnaney by Henry Wilson. An intentional walk of Mike DeLeeuw loaded the bases for Eric Gormley’s fielder’s choice grounder to score Chiaramonte.
The Blades’ Eduardo Del Toro singled up the middle in the bottom of the third, scoring Raudel Torres, who drew a walk to start the inning. It was the only base on balls Mowrey allowed in the game.
With a slim 2-1 lead going to the top of the fifth, the Thunder, effectively, iced the win with four unearned runs on four hits and a very costly Blades’ error. Eric Gormley doubled courtesy runner Wilson to third, but Wilson was nailed at the plate on a comebacker to the mound. With runners at first and second, Blades’ ace pitchrer Joshua Rivera committed a balk, moving both runners up a base. Roy Nino hit a sinking liner to left field and after a short run, Blades’ left fielder Reol Alvarez dropped it for a two base error, scoring both runners. Eric Morales and Darren Hansen each followed with RBI singles to make it a 6-1 game.
The Blades scored a run in the fifth on Alvarez’ run scoring double, and another in the seventh when Ezequiel Romero got his fourth single of the game, and wound up at third when left fielder McEnaney erred on the sharp hit. Romero scored on a wild pitch.
Lefthander Hunter Kyzar wrapped up the championship with two perfect innings for what would be his fourth save of the season, three of those during the regular campaign.
Mowrey, a 10-game winner, went seven innings to earn the victory, and was selected as the championship
game’s Most Valuable Player. He allowed eleven hits and three runs, walked one and struck out two to prevail over the Blades’ ten-game winner Joshua Rivera. Rivera also went seven, with Luis Guzman pitching hitless, shutout ball the last two innings.
Morales was the Thunder’s top hitter with three singles and a run batted in. McEnaney had two hits. DeLeeuw and Gormley each doubled, and Chiaramonte, Wilson, Nino and Hansen all had a hit apiece.
Blades’ catcher Romero led all hitters with four singles, and sparkled behind the plate as well. Del Toro had two hits and drove in one of the Blades’ two runs. Reol Alvarez had an RBI double, and Mario Alvarez, Yordany Martinez, Raiko Ramos and Lazaro Diaz all had one hit apiece.
The two teams had split their two regular season meetings. The Thunder won the first 7-6, with Mowrey winning in relief and Rivera getting a no decision. The Blades the second one 2-1, with Rivera besting Mowrey.
BEACH BUMS NIP TIGRES IN 12 TWELVE INNINGS FOR SPRING '18 AMERICAN DIVISION CROWN
SPRING 2018 AMERICAN DIVISION
At St. Louis Cardinals Field #4, Jupiter
August 26, 2018
BEACH BUMS 3 TIGRES 2 (11 innings)
It took almost four hours for the top seeded Beach Bums to nip the number three seeded Tigres in a magnificent marathon at the St.Louis Cardinals’ minor league complex in Jupiter. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th inning, Beach Bums catcher Brad Myott cracked a sharp grounder to the right of the shortstop for an infield hit to score Jesus Delgado with the winning run. The only play was an off balance throw to second base, but Dylan Love beat the attempt for an inning ending force out, but it was also in the dirt.
It was Myott’s third single of the game, and had the Tigres been able to get him for the final out, it would have marked the third straight at bat in which the left handed hitter would have been robbed on a great defensive play. Shortstop DeJesus retired him with a brilliant stop and throw in the 8th inning and third baseman Eduardo Godines made another great play on Myott in the tenth inning.
Both teams scored in the first inning, after which pitching dominated on both sides, until the Beach Bums tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the 9th when Delgado’s sky high fly to right was lost in the sun for a leadoff double. Ricky Neyman bunted and was safe at first on a fielder’s choice, with Delgado going to third. Ryan Togher grounded slowly to third and when Godines opted to get him at first, Delgado scored the equalizer.
The Tigres scored two runs in the first inning on two walks and a run scoring single by pitcher Mike Melendez. The second run scored on an illegal “fake to third, throw to first” play. Beach Bums’ starter Joey Housey, who wound up striking out twelve in eight innings, is an assistant coach at Keiser University and that play is legal in college ball, but not under pro rules used the NABA Palm Beach league, is not a legal move.
Melendez gave up a run in the bottom of the first on a wild pitch, scoring Love, who had singled to start the inning and wound up at third on a double play grounder. Housey and Melendez put zeros on the board until the the Beach Bums’ fifth. Myott led off the frame with a single up the middle, prompting Tigres’ manager Santos Adames to bring in hard throwing righthander Keisy Portorreal, who pitched brilliant shutout ball until the end of the 9th, when the Beach Bums tied it and sent it into extra innings. Portorreal was relieved by Angel Cespedes, who took the loss on Myott’s walk off hit.
Kyle Finch pitched the last three innings for the win, escaping a bases loaded, one out jam in the tenth inning and leaving the potential winning run at third in the top of the 11th. Myott had three of the Beach Bums’ nine hits, Love had two singles, Delgado a double and single, and scored the tying and winning runs. Jason Bryan had a double, and manager Dave Salley a single. Melendez and Godines each had two hits for the Tigres, who also had singles from DeJesus, Erick Lara and Nick Adames. The championship was the fifth title for the Beach Bums, one in each of the last four years. The Tigres were thwarted in their attempt to notch their 18th league championship.
Myott was selected as the championship game’s Most Valuable Player. In addition to his three hits, he did a great job behind the plate.
BEACH BUMS NIP TIGRES IN 12 TWELVE INNINGS FOR SPRING '18 AMERICAN DIVISION CROWN
SPRING 2018 AMERICAN DIVISION
At St. Louis Cardinals Field #4, Jupiter
August 26, 2018
BEACH BUMS 3 TIGRES 2 (11 innings)
It took almost four hours for the top seeded Beach Bums to nip the number three seeded Tigres in a magnificent marathon at the St.Louis Cardinals’ minor league complex in Jupiter. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th inning, Beach Bums catcher Brad Myott cracked a sharp grounder to the right of the shortstop for an infield hit to score Jesus Delgado with the winning run. The only play was an off balance throw to second base, but Dylan Love beat the attempt for an inning ending force out, but it was also in the dirt.
It was Myott’s third single of the game, and had the Tigres been able to get him for the final out, it would have marked the third straight at bat in which the left handed hitter would have been robbed on a great defensive play. Shortstop DeJesus retired him with a brilliant stop and throw in the 8th inning and third baseman Eduardo Godines made another great play on Myott in the tenth inning.
Both teams scored in the first inning, after which pitching dominated on both sides, until the Beach Bums tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the 9th when Delgado’s sky high fly to right was lost in the sun for a leadoff double. Ricky Neyman bunted and was safe at first on a fielder’s choice, with Delgado going to third. Ryan Togher grounded slowly to third and when Godines opted to get him at first, Delgado scored the equalizer.
The Tigres scored two runs in the first inning on two walks and a run scoring single by pitcher Mike Melendez. The second run scored on an illegal “fake to third, throw to first” play. Beach Bums’ starter Joey Housey, who wound up striking out twelve in eight innings, is an assistant coach at Keiser University and that play is legal in college ball, but not under pro rules used the NABA Palm Beach league, is not a legal move.
Melendez gave up a run in the bottom of the first on a wild pitch, scoring Love, who had singled to start the inning and wound up at third on a double play grounder. Housey and Melendez put zeros on the board until the the Beach Bums’ fifth. Myott led off the frame with a single up the middle, prompting Tigres’ manager Santos Adames to bring in hard throwing righthander Keisy Portorreal, who pitched brilliant shutout ball until the end of the 9th, when the Beach Bums tied it and sent it into extra innings. Portorreal was relieved by Angel Cespedes, who took the loss on Myott’s walk off hit.
Kyle Finch pitched the last three innings for the win, escaping a bases loaded, one out jam in the tenth inning and leaving the potential winning run at third in the top of the 11th. Myott had three of the Beach Bums’ nine hits, Love had two singles, Delgado a double and single, and scored the tying and winning runs. Jason Bryan had a double, and manager Dave Salley a single. Melendez and Godines each had two hits for the Tigres, who also had singles from DeJesus, Erick Lara and Nick Adames. The championship was the fifth title for the Beach Bums, one in each of the last four years. The Tigres were thwarted in their attempt to notch their 18th league championship.
Myott was selected as the championship game’s Most Valuable Player. In addition to his three hits, he did a great job behind the plate.
