17-Expos

TEAM USA, featuring several Palm Beach League players, won the 9th annual NABA Citrus Classic Wood Bat Tournament, beating the defending champion South Florida Beach Bums 6-5 on Monday, Feb. 21 at the Santaluces Complex in Lantana. Led by lefthander former Florida Marlin farmhand Manny Olivera, USA under the leadership of Manager Dennis Olmezer, completed an unbeaten weekend by beating the Beach Bums for the second time in as many meetings. They defeated them in pool play, then repeated it in a much closer title game. Olivera pitched 6 1/3 innings to earn the victory, had two hits and also won the tournament's Gold Glove Award. Palm Beach League players Emilio Vargas, Max Johnson and Paul Florentino made big contributions as well. Vargas had two hits and a run batted in. Johnson and Florentino each had a hit, and Florentino made a diving, rolling catch in left field. Former New York Mets minor leaguer Josh Petersen led all plaeyrs with four hits, including a double, and was outstanding defensively at shortstop. He was chosen as the MVP in the championship game.