15-Nationals

The Sports Page Rockets won their second straight National Adult Baseball Association 18AAA fall league championship, downing the top seeded Palm Beach Indians 11-6 at Lantana Sports Complex. In the 18AA contest, the second seeded Expos came from behind to beat the regular season champion and top seeded Dobson Roofing Hurricanes 13-10 in a free-scoring contest. Click on headline for full story. The Rockets jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in their first at bat against their nemeses, and took control with a five-run third inning that established a 7-1 advantage. Five straight hits, including singles by Dave Machado, Billy Brescia, Brian Fitzsimmons and Joe Young, sandwiched around a double by Edgar Tovar accounted for the first two runs. The Indians came back with a run in the second on a solo home run by catcher Jordan Rothman. All five of the Rockets' runs in the third were unearned as an infield error with two outs opened the floodgates. Brian Burton swatted a two-run double with the bases loaded, followed by a 3-run homer by Romy Ones for a 7-1 lead. The Indians cut the deficit to 7-3 in the bottom of the inning when Billy Shore drew a bases loaded walk off Rockets' starter Dan Linton. Chris Murphy's single drove in the second run of the frame. Burton's sacrifice fly plated a run in the fifth to make it 8-3, and the Rockets added three more runs in the sixth on run-scoring singles by Tovar and Joe Young, coupled with an Indians' error, and giving the Rockets a commanding 11-3 lead. The Indians fought back with a run in the sixth on a triple by Matt Bautz and Rothman's sacrifice fly, then followed by two in the seventh on an RBI double by Billy Campbell, who scored on Andy Lewis' single to make it 11-6, but that was close as they would get. Linton went eight innings, scattering thirteen hits to gain the victory. He notched seven strikeouts. Derek Alleman was roughed up by the Rockets, yielding all eleven runs before Jared Green came on to blank Sports Page the last three innings, hanging up four strikeouts. After Green led off the ninth with a single, Willie Martinez came on to wrap it up. A double play and a fly out ended it as the Rockets avenged an 11-1 regular season loss to the Indians, who had won the Southern Division championship and were favored to win their fifth league championship. Fitzsimmons led the Rockets with three hits and was named as the game's Most Valuable Player. Machado, Brescia, Tobar and Young had two hits apiece. Burton and Ones had three RBIs apiece. Campbell had a pair of doubles and Green, Lewis, Murphy and Rothman had two hits apiece for the Indians, who won the NABA's Citrus Classic National Tournament last month. The Rockets also won the spring championship, making them only the second team in the league's 10-year, 20-season history to capture both titles in the same year. Expos' four-run eighth inning keys 18AA championship win The Expos erupted for four runs in their next to last at bat for a come from behind win in the 18AA championship contest. The free scoring game saw the lead change hands six times. Hits by Jose Miranda, Bill Golson and Dan Parker, a walk, infield error and a double steal featured the four run frame that erased a 10-9 deficit and carried the Expos to their first NABA championship. The Hurricanes were making their first championship game appearance. Both teams scored a pair in the first. The Expos got their two without a hit. A pair of walks, an error and a sacrifice fly Sean Bufford made it 2-0, but the Hurricanes matched that on Craig Spatara's two run home run. Arnie Torres doubled home a run in the third for a 3-2 'Canes lead. Bufford doubled in a run and scored on manager Adam Medina's single to give the 'Spos a 4-3 lead in the fourth, but it was short lived. The Hurricanes scored four in their half on a pair of Expos' errors, a run-producing double by Noel Vasquez and Fred Carr's two-run homer. The Expos again scored two runs without a hit in the fifth, and regained the lead at 8-7 in the sixth on Bufford's two-run homer. The Hurricanes got a pair in the bottom of the sixth. The Hurricanes tied it on an overthrow that allowed Carr to score. Pat Moroney put the Canes back on top 9-8 as he stole home on the front end of a double steal. Hurricanes' skipper John Dobson rifled a double off the center field fence to make it 10-8, but the Expos would not be contained. Jeff Schector singled, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and raced home on Paul DeMarco's sacrifice fly to pull to within a run at 10-9. The four runs in the eighth inning were all Bufford needed to nail it down. He pitched scoreless ball over the last three innings, allowing only hit to earn the victory. The loss went to Torres, also in relief. Bufford walked off the MVP award with a homer, double and sacrifice fly to drive in four runs. JJ Medina had three hits for the Expos. Dobson four hits, including two doubles, to pace the Hurricanes. Carr also had a big game with three hits and two runs knocked in. The Palm Beach League 2002 spring season will open on April 7, with Open Tryouts and a league wide draft on March 3 at the Santaluces Complex at 10AM. Registration will begin at 9AM.

National Adult Baseball Association 2002 Tournament Schedule WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT: NABA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT (PHOENIX, AZ) OCT. 1-12 NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS: HOLLY"WOOD" BAT TOURNAMENT (LOS ANGELES, CA) JANUARY 19-21 CITRUS CLASSIC TOURNAMENT (W. PALM BEACH, FL) JANUARY 19-21 MEMORIAL DAY TOURNAMENT (LAS VEGAS, NV) MAY 24-27 HALL-OF-FAME TOURNAMENT (COOPERSTOWN, NY) JULY 4-7 MILE HIGH TOURNAMENT (DENVER, CO)JULY 5-7 ORANGE COUNTY TOURNAMENT (ORANGE COUNTY, CA) AUG. 31- SEPT. 2 REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS: CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP (SAN DIEGO, CA) JULY 4-7 BLUERIDGE CLASSIC TOURNAMENT (ROANOKE, VA)AUG. 31- SEPT. 2 NORTHWEST REGIONAL TOURNAMENT (SEATTLE, WA) AUG. 31- SEPT. 2

National Adult Baseball Association 2002 Tournament Schedule WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT: NABA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT (PHOENIX, AZ) OCT. 1-12 NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS: HOLLY"WOOD" BAT TOURNAMENT (LOS ANGELES, CA) JANUARY 19-21 CITRUS CLASSIC TOURNAMENT (W. PALM BEACH, FL) JANUARY 19-21 MEMORIAL DAY TOURNAMENT (LAS VEGAS, NV) MAY 24-27 HALL-OF-FAME TOURNAMENT (COOPERSTOWN, NY) JULY 4-7 MILE HIGH TOURNAMENT (DENVER, CO)JULY 5-7 ORANGE COUNTY TOURNAMENT (ORANGE COUNTY, CA) AUG. 31- SEPT. 2 REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS: CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP (SAN DIEGO, CA) JULY 4-7 BLUERIDGE CLASSIC TOURNAMENT (ROANOKE, VA)AUG. 31- SEPT. 2 NORTHWEST REGIONAL TOURNAMENT (SEATTLE, WA) AUG. 31- SEPT. 2

National Adult Baseball Association 2002 Tournament Schedule WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT: NABA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT (PHOENIX, AZ) OCT. 1-12 NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS: HOLLY"WOOD" BAT TOURNAMENT (LOS ANGELES, CA) JANUARY 19-21 CITRUS CLASSIC TOURNAMENT (W. PALM BEACH, FL) JANUARY 19-21 MEMORIAL DAY TOURNAMENT (LAS VEGAS, NV) MAY 24-27 HALL-OF-FAME TOURNAMENT (COOPERSTOWN, NY) JULY 4-7 MILE HIGH TOURNAMENT (DENVER, CO)JULY 5-7 ORANGE COUNTY TOURNAMENT (ORANGE COUNTY, CA) AUG. 31- SEPT. 2 REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS: CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP (SAN DIEGO, CA) JULY 4-7 BLUERIDGE CLASSIC TOURNAMENT (ROANOKE, VA)AUG. 31- SEPT. 2 NORTHWEST REGIONAL TOURNAMENT (SEATTLE, WA) AUG. 31- SEPT. 2

Pepe’s Sports Page 18AAA Player of the Week MOSES PICHARDO (ST. LUCIE DODGERS) Three-run homer carries Dodgers into playoffs with win over Reds 18AAA Pitcher of the Week JEREMY DOOLEY (STARS) Fires one-hitter with 8 K’s as Stars whip Cardinals Pepe’s Sports Page 18AA Player of the Week JOHN ORRICO (HURRICANES) Celebrates birthday with seven hits in Hurricanes’ twin bill 18AA Pitcher of the Week JOSE PENA (HURRICANES) Six hitter, 7Ks nails down regular season title for the Canes Players and Pitchers of the week receive a $10 gift certificate from the Sports Page, Jog and Lantana Rds, Lantana in shopping center, redeemable for food and beverages. Weekly awards mailed to team managers.