15-Nationals

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.