15-Nationals

18AA CHAMPIONSHIP Yankees 020 000 000 2 12 2 Rangers 000 050 20x 7 7 2 Persistence and loyalty has paid off for the Rangers. After 17 seasons in the Palm Beach NABA, Scott Cobb’s veteran team finally claimed a league title, riding a gritty pitching performance by MVP Todd Taylor to beat the Yankees, also making their first appearance in a title game. The Yankees took a 2-0 lead on Bill Blackwell’s two-run single in the second, but that’s all they managed off Taylor. Although he surrendered twelve hits, Taylor time and again turned away scoring threats, striking out ten and issuing only two walks while hitting a batter. He went the route. The Yankees missed a chance in the third. After Rico Perez singled, Yo Perez hit a sinking liner that eluded left fielder Bruce White, but Rico was gunned down trying to score as Frank McNellis chased down an overthrow and fired to Taylor in time to nail Rico. The Rangers, meanwhile, scored five runs in the fifth on only one hit, their first off Yankees starter and loser Jason Strigl. He walked Bill Flippin, hit McNellis with a pich, then walked Bob Chamberlain. Eric Davis dropped a Texas Leaguer into left for the Rangers’ first hit and first run. After Strigl issued a bases loaded pass to White to tie it at 2-2, Pedro Jordan took over and might have gotten out of the inning, except a pair of Yankee errors allowed three more runs. The Rangers gave Taylor more breathing room with two in the seventh. Pete David singled in a run and Flippin was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for another. The Rangers collected four hits in that innings, and two more in the 8th. Pinch hitter Tomy Anagnostu singled, and Taylor doubled, but both were stranded. The Yanks made one final stab in the 9th. Strigl led off with a triple, but was out trying to steal home. Nick Castelluccio singled, stole second, went to third on a throwing error, but Taylor ended the game with a strikeout.

Two teams which incurred double forfeits Sunday have been disbanded by the league, and it cost both playoff eligibility. Pugliese’s Beach Dogs forfeited a pair against the Lookouts, missing out on a possible fourth playoff spot in the 18AAA’s Northern Division. The playoff berth will be awarded instead to the Diamondbacks, who are suffering through a 3-14-1 season. The Beach Dogs were to have been taken over for the remainder of the season by Rico Thoman in the absence of regular Mark Tito who is in Chicago on business. However, Rico was apparently unable to raise a quorom and failed to notify the league in time to save umpire fees. The West Palm Beach Indians of the 18AA league also forfeited both games of a scheduled doubleheader on Sunday, causing the league to disband the team and disqualify them from the upcoming playoff. That puts the Yankees into the playoffs. The Indians could produce only seven players for their game against the first place Seminoles. The team failed to pay both umpire fees for that game and informed us that they did not have money for the second game against the Expos. Their scheduled game against the Expos next Sunday, August 12, is a forfeit win for the Expos.

Two teams which incurred double forfeits Sunday have been disbanded by the league, and it cost both playoff eligibility. Pugliese’s Beach Dogs forfeited a pair against the Lookouts, missing out on a possible fourth playoff spot in the 18AAA’s Northern Division. The playoff berth will be awarded instead to the Diamondbacks, who are suffering through a 3-14-1 season. The Beach Dogs were to have been taken over for the remainder of the season by Rico Thoman in the absence of regular Mark Tito who is in Chicago on business. However, Rico was apparently unable to raise a quorom and failed to notify the league in time to save umpire fees. The West Palm Beach Indians of the 18AA league also forfeited both games of a scheduled doubleheader on Sunday, causing the league to disband the team and disqualify them from the upcoming playoff. That puts the Yankees into the playoffs. The Indians could produce only seven players for their game against the first place Seminoles. The team failed to pay both umpire fees for that game and informed us that they did not have money for the second game against the Expos. Their scheduled game against the Expos next Sunday, August 12, is a forfeit win for the Expos.

Two teams which incurred double forfeits Sunday have been disbanded by the league, and it cost both playoff eligibility. Pugliese’s Beach Dogs forfeited a pair against the Lookouts, missing out on a possible fourth playoff spot in the 18AAA’s Northern Division. The playoff berth will be awarded instead to the Diamondbacks, who are suffering through a 3-14-1 season. The Beach Dogs were to have been taken over for the remainder of the season by Rico Thoman in the absence of regular Mark Tito who is in Chicago on business. However, Rico was apparently unable to raise a quorom and failed to notify the league in time to save umpire fees. The West Palm Beach Indians of the 18AA league also forfeited both games of a scheduled doubleheader on Sunday, causing the league to disband the team and disqualify them from the upcoming playoff. That puts the Yankees into the playoffs. The Indians could produce only seven players for their game against the first place Seminoles. The team failed to pay both umpire fees for that game and informed us that they did not have money for the second game against the Expos. Their scheduled game against the Expos next Sunday, August 12, is a forfeit win for the Expos.

NABA NEWS/VIEWS PLAYOFFS Seedings in parantheses (All games at Santaluces Complex, Lantana) Sunday, August 19 Gm 1-Field 1-9AM-18AAA quarterfinal (4)Diamdondbacks at (1)Palm Beach Indians Gm 2-Field 2-9AM-18AAA quarterfinal (3)Cardinals at (2) Caribbean Stars Gm 3-Field 3-9AM-18AAA quarterfinal (4)Cubs at (1) Sports Page Rockets Gm 4-Field 4-9AM-18AAA quarterfinal (3)Glory Days at FPIC Mets Gm 5-Field 1-1PM-18AAA semifinal Winner game 2 at Winner game 1 Gm 6-Field 2-1PM-18AAA semifinal Winner Game 4 at Winner Game 3 Gm 7-Field 3-1PM-18AA semifinal (4) Yankees at (1) Amerifund Seminoles Gm 8-Field 4-1PM-18AA semifinal (3) Rangers at (2)Expos Sunday, August 26 Gm 9-Field 1-9AM-18AA championship, winner game 8 at winner game 7 Gm10-Field 1-1PM-18AAA championship, winner Game 6 at winner Game 5 The teams pay umpire fees and supply baseballs for all playoff games. There will be a 3 1/2-hour time limit on playoff games, but obviously there must be a winner. The 12-run "mercy" rule will be in effect for ALL PLAYOFF GAMES, but not the championship games in either league.