17-Expos

READ ABOUT RECENT NABA CHAMPIONSHIP AND ALL STAR GAMES HERE The Palm Beach Indians and the Giants both repeated their spring championships when they won Fall 2002 titles Sunday, February 9 at the Lantana Sports Complex. Click on headlines below for details. You'll also find other background stories about South Florida's premier Adult Baseball League. SEVEN ROOKIES DRAFTED IN FIRST PHASE The Angels, who will be moving up to the 18AAA league this spring, selected New York transfer Danny Moya, who plays shortstop, third base and the outfield. The 25-year old Moya has experience in Adult Baseball Leagues on Long Island, NY. After the AAA Giants passed, the Rockhounds chose left handed hitting outfielder Brian Belaguera, a 21-year old, who recently moved to Florida from Brooklyn, NY. The Cardinals drafted former Dwyer High School Adam Brock, a 22-year old right hander. Four other players were selected by 18AA teams. The newly renamed Palm Beach Seminoles (formerly Braves, Whitecaps temporarily) chose Lino Batista, an experienced NABA Palm Beach League outfielder who spent some time with the Marlins in the fall league. Batista is 25. And, one of the new 18AA teams, the Cubs, managed by veteran youth coach Bob Vail, added three players. Lionel Levarity is a 30-year old second sacker who has previous Adult League experience in the Philadelphia area. They also tabbed Boston transfer Marc Tonzillo, a 30-year old outfielder-first baseman. Harris Levitt was also added to Vail's roster. Levitt is playing his way back into shape after having played in Adult leagues in California. EIGHT MORE DRAFTED TO BRING TOTAL NUMBER OF PALM BEACH LEAGUE ROOKIE DRAFTEES TO FIFTEEN. A second Spring league placement tryout and league wide draft was held Sunday, March 16 at the Santaluces Complex in Lantana, and eight more newcomers were added to league rosters. Seven rookies had been drafted on March 9. (See story below) The 18AAA Yankees (Barry Castelluccio) used their first pick to choose 24-year old pitcher Geoff Schifrin, who previously pitched in the league for the now defunct Jon Smith Subs, 1997 18A league champions. The Angels (John Corporal), also moving into 18AAA for the first time, selected another player with previous league experience. They took 22-year old switch hitting first baseman-pitcher-outfielder Lance Simpson. Simpson played for two years with the Joy Auto Body Yankees, who won the 18A league spring league championship in 1999. Six other players were chosen by 18AA league teams. The Seminoles (formerly Braves, Joe Stone, Brad Baker) picked up 22-year old centerfielder-pitcher-catcher Edwin Ramos, originally from Puerto Rico, now living in West Palm Beach. They also selected 30-year old infielder Ramon Iglesias, a lefthanded power hitter who came to the United States only two years from Cuba. Ramon played previously for the 18AAA Marlins, who are no longer in business. The Greenspace Royals (Jake Ballinger) selected 29-year old infielder Jose Robledo of Palm Springs. The Cubs (Bob Vail)took the brother of Edwin Ramos, 24 year old Luis Ramos DeJesus, a middle infielder. The Marlins' (Scott Cobb) draft choice was 29-year old outfielder-infielder Fernando Miranda of West Palm Beach. And, the Rockhounds (Mike Soulen) selected 52-year old pitcher-first baseman Bob McNelis.

GIANTS TAKE SECOND STRAIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP-Click headline for full story and Giants' team photo. Top row (l-r) John Wilkeson, Chris Laforge, Marty Beeden, Greg Kelm, Keith Buck, Scott Woronick Bottom row (l-r) Bob Mil, Carlo Dominguez, Aron Friedman, Patrick Mullin (mgr), Dwayne Cabral, Mike Barrella John Wilkeson’s long, bases loaded single with two outs in the bottom of the tenth inning scored the winning run as the Giants repeated as 18AA champions. The team played as Team USA and beat the same Yankees’ team in the spring 2002 title game. Wilkeson crushed a fast ball from reliever Joe Bennett to the fence in left center, scoring Scott Simzer with the deciding tally. Simzer, Carlo Dominguez and Bob Mil all drew walks off losing pitcher Yo Perez in the tenth, bringing on Bennett in relief. The Yankees had scored four times in the ninth inning to send the game into extra frames. The Giants appeared well on their way to an easy victory behind starting pitcher Mike Barrella who tossed five no-hit innings while his team built a 7-0 lead. Chris Laforge singled home a run in the first inning, and the Giants scored an unearned run in the second on a walk and two errors by the Yankees. They added two more runs (both unearned) in the third on Dwayne Cabral’s RBI single and a run producing double by Scott Woronick. Then, in the fifth they dded three more on singles by Keith Buck and Cabral, a sacrifice fly by Woronick, a passed ball and Barrella’s RBI single. The Yankees launched their comeback with four runs in the sixth to make it 7-3. Simzer led off off the sixth with a double, the first hit off Barrella. He moved to third on a single by Bennett, and both scored on Pat Testa’s double. Skipper Rico Perez plated the third Yankees’ tally with a sacrifice fly. Yo Perez followed with a single and stolen base, but was left stranded at second base. Trailing 7-3 going to the ninth, the Yankees rallied to tie it at 7-7. Rico Perez led off with a single, Yo Perez was safe on an error. Tony Rodriguez singled, but Rico was thrown out at the plate on a perfect throw by left fielder Wilkeson. Gabe Rodriguez singled to score Yo and Herb Robb followed with a single. The Giants brought in Cabral in relief, and he was unable to pin it down as an infield error scored one run and a passed ball that allowed Robb to score knotted the count at 7-7. Cabral eventually picked up the win after retiring the side with two strikeouts in the tenth and watching his team rally to win it in the bottom half. Gabe Rodriguez started and went 5 1/3 for the Yankees, and was charged with five runs, only two of them earned. Mike Castelluccio went 2/3 in relief, yielding fourhits and two runs. Yo took over the sixth and pitched 4 2/3 innings of no-hit relief, although issuing six walks, including three in the deciding tenth inning. Wilkeson, with the game winning RBI, a walk, two steals and an outfield assist, was selected as the game’s Most Valuable Player and will receive a personally inscribed NABA MVP plaque at a later date. Cabral was the only player with more than one hit. He had two singles and batted in a run. Wilkeson, Laforge and Barrella had RBI singles, Woronick an RBI double and sac. Fly, with Buck, and Mil getting one hit apiece. Eight different Yankees had hits, including Simzer and Testa with doubles, and Rico Perez, Tony Rodriguez, Gabe Rodriguez, Bennett, Robb and Yo notching singles.

INDIANS' CHAMPIONSHIP ONE FOR THE BOOKS-Click headline for full story and Indians' team photo. The Palm Beach Indians won a record sixth Palm Beach league championship, topping Los Tigres 7-0 Sunday, Feb. 9, behind the shutout pitching of lefthander Brian Holden, who handcuffed the usually potent Los Tigres’ offense on five hits, notching nine strikeouts. The Tribe broke a scoreless tie with four runs in the bottom of the fourth, added another in the fifth, then put it on ice with three more in the eighth inning. In the fourth, Chris Murphy who led the Indians with a 3-for-3 performance, singled with one out. Nestor Sanjurjo was inserted as a runner and was involved in the key play of the game. When Matt Bautz bounced out to third, Sanjurjo dashed for third and was ruled safe when the base umpire ruled that he was obstructed by Los Tigres’ shortstop Ariel Rodriguez. That opened the floodgates, as Jared Green doubled to right to score Sanjurjo with the only run the Indians would need. Chad Baran singled to left, followed by run scoring singles by Derek Alleman and Rob Wiley to give the Indians a 3-0 lead. Sanjurjo doubled in the fifth and scored on Murphy’s RBI double to deep right field. In the ninth, Andy Lewis banged a double to left and Murphy singled with a run scoring on a throwing error. Matt Bautz singled to right to score another, and after Alfonso Paradas took over the on the mound for starter Carlos Joel Gonzalez, Wiley hit a sacrifice fly to right to close out the scoring. Los Tigres mounted only two serious scoring threats against Holden. Eduardo Moreno was hit by a pitch and Jose Espino singled in the first inning. Antuan Bunkley hit into a force play, putting runners at first and third, but Holden responded by striking out Amado Dinzey looking. In the fifth, Ibrahim Navarro drew a walk and Dagoberto Perez singled, but Holden picked Navarro off second. It proved to be a costly mistake by Los Tigres. Orlani Araujo singled, which most likely would have scored Navarro. Murphy led the Indians’ 13-hit offense with a double, two singles and a walk. Lewis had a double and single and Chad Baran had two singles. Green (RBI) and Sanjurjo had doubles, Matt Bautz, Alleman and Wiley contributed RBI singles and Craig Bautz added a base hit. The Indians played flawlessly on defense, while Los Tigres committed two errors, one of them leading to an unearned run in the fifth. Holden walked only two and hit one batter and finished up strong by striking out the side in the ninth inning. He was chosen as the game’s Most Valuable Player and will receive a personally inscribed MVP plaque. Espino, Navarro, Perez, Araujo and Rodriguez had the only hits off Holden, all singles. GAME NOTES—Los Tigres turned the game’s only double play, a picture perfect round the horn twin killing from Moreno to Navarro to Araujo in the second inning. The Indians’ victory gave them a sweep of the 2002 championships. They downed the Tigres (Caribbean Stars) 6-1 in the spring championship game. Coming into Sunday’s game, they had been tied with the now defunct Young Guns, who dominated the league’s early years, for the most league championships at five each. SMOOTH SAILING FOR SPONSOR The Indians wish to express their thanks to Rybovich-Spencer Yacht Sails & Service for their sponsorship again this season. Rybovich-Spencer has helped with sponsorship twice, and the Indians have won the league championship twice.

Team USA 3 Yankees 2 Team USA rallied from a 2-1 deficit with single runs in their last two at bats to nip the Yankees in the 18AA title game at the Lantana Sports Complex. Pinch hitter Mike Pitti hit a twisting foul fly to right field which Ray Castelluccio caught, and Tony Garcia tagged up and scored what proved to be the winning run. Garcia had led off the 8th inning with a single, moved to second on an infield out, and took third on a wild pitch. The inning before, USA manufactured a run when Dwayne Cabral was hit by a pitch, stole second, went to third on a throwing error and scored the tying run on Keith Buck’s infield roller. The Yankees, who hit outhit USA 13-4, scored first on an RBI double by Estaban Cruz in the second inning. USA matched that in the bottom of the second when John Wilkeson scored when Yo Perez’ throw hit him in a rundown hit him between third and home. Perez atoned for that with an RBI double in the fifth to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead. It appeared that would hold up behind the solid pitching of Gabe Rodriguez until the USA rallies. Meanwhile, Cabral pitched out of several jams, frustrating the Yankees who left nine men on base. Carlo Dominguez led USA with a pair of doubles. Marty Breeden and Garcia had the only other hits off tough luck losing pitcher Rodriguez. Nick Castelluccio was the Yankees’ top hitter with three singles. Rico Perez had a double and single. Joe Bennett and Mike Castelluccio had two singles each, Cruz (double), Yo Perez (double), and Scott Stimzer had one hit apiece. The Yankees had two runners cut down trying to score and also committed three errors to none for Team USA. Cabral, in going the route, was chosen as the game’s Most Valuable Player. 18AA Championship Box Score Yankees (2) AB R H BI BB SO Nick Castelluccio cf 4 0 3 0 1 0 Rico Perez 2b 5 1 2 0 0 0 Yo Perez 3b 4 0 1 1 0 0 Scott Stimzer c 4 0 1 0 0 1 Joe Bennett ss 3 0 2 0 1 0 Herb Robb 1b-dh 4 1 1 0 0 1 Mike Castelluccio dh-1b 4 0 2 0 0 1 Ray Castelluccio rf 3 0 0 0 0 2 Francisco Valdes ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 Esteban Cruz lf 4 0 1 1 0 1 Gabe Rodriguez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 36 2 13 2 2 6 Team USA (3) AB R H BI BB SO Chris Laforge ss 5 0 0 0 0 1 Jason Levy c 2 0 0 0 1 0 Dwayne Cabral p 2 1 0 0 0 0 Keith Buck cf 3 0 0 1 0 1 John Wilkeson lf 2 1 0 0 1 0 Marty Breeden dh 3 0 1 0 0 2 Les Husted 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 Tony Garcia ph 1 1 1 0 0 0 Chris Schwind 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 Lee Holmes ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 Aron Friedman rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 Mike Pitti ph 0 0 0 1 0 0 Carlo Dominguez 2b 3 0 2 0 0 0 Totals 25 3 4 2 2 4 Line Score 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Yankees 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 13 3 Team USA 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 * 3 4 0 Left-Yankees 9, Team USA 4 Errors-Y.Perez 2, Stimzer Double Plays-Yankees-N.Castelluccio-StimzerSac-Schwind Sac.Fly-Pitti Doubles-Cruz, R.Perez, Y.Perez, Dominguez 2 Stolen Bases- Bennett, N.Castelluccio, R.Perez, Levy, Cabral 2 Caught-N.Castelluccio Picked Off-Y.Perez (by Cabral); M.Castelluccio (by Cabral) Wild Pitch-Rodriguez Hit Batsman-Cabral (by Rodriguez) Outfield Assists-Friedman, N.Castelluccio, R.Castelluccio Pitching IP H R ER BB S0 Gabe Rodriguez (L) 8 4 3 1 2 4 Totals 8 4 3 1 2 4 Pitching IP H R ER BB S0 Dwayne Cabral (W) 9 13 2 2 2 6 Totals 9 13 2 2 2 6 MANAGERS- Barry Castelluccio(Y), Patrick Mullin (USA) Umps-Bert Agustin (P), Dave Terrana, Jeff Roth MVP-Dwayne Cabral (USA) Time: 2:38

LOS TIGRES BECOMES THIRD PALM BEACH TEAM IN AS MANY YEARS TO WIN A NATIONAL TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP-Click on headline for full story and Los Tigres' team photo. The Palm Beach League's Los Tigres, managed by Santos Adames, won the 18AAA championship in the 2nd annual NABA Citrus Classic Wood Bat Tournament, defeating the Prince William (VA) Yankees 11-7 in the title game Monday, January 20 at the Lantana Sports Complex. The 18AA title went to the Daytona Beach Rangers for the second year in a row. The Rangers defeated the Tri-State Titans (NJ-PA-DE) 7 to 2. It's the third straight year that a Palm Beach team has won a national NABA title. The Rockets captured the Hall of Fame Wood bat championship at Cooperstown, NY in 2001, and the Palm Beach Indians took the inaugural Citrus Classic in 2002. For Los Tigres, formerly the Caribbean Stars, the Citrus title represents the realization of a dream. They captured pool titles twice in Las Vegas, once losing in the semifinals, then reaching the finals before bowing out in 2002. The Stars also reached the semifinals of the NABA's World Championship Series in Phoenix, Arizona before bowing. Los Tigres scored five times in the first inning of Monday's title game. Antuan Bunkley drove in two runs with a single, and Ibrahim Navarro smacked a two run double, the first of three doubles in the game for him. He also doubled home a run in the third and scored on a double by Dagoberto Perez in the same inning as they built a 7-3 lead for starter Jeremy Dooley, who fanned eleven batters in 6 1/3 innings, but wound up with a no decision when the Yankees tied the game at 7-7 with a four spot in the seventh. Los Tigres, though, came right back with three in the bottom of the frame to take a lead they would never relinquish. Singles by Jose Espino and Bunkley, who had three safeties, two fielder's choices and a pair of Yankee errors accounted for three runs. Ariel Rodriguez provided an insurance in the 8th when he singled and came around to score, darting for third base on an infield out, then tallying on a Prince William throwing error on the play at third. Francisco Reyes got credit for the win in relief, and Jose Espino nailed it down with two scoreless innings. Daytona Beach had too much pitching and hitting for the Tri-State team as three hurlers combined for a four hitter. Starter Justin Holden went the first six for the win, and relievers Tony Von Doltren and Leon Finegold pitched two shutout innings each to wrap it up. Both relievers had four strikeouts each. Leadoff hitter Ryan Troy had three hits and three runs batted in for the Rangers and Tim Ballesteros delivered a two run triple to key a four run fourth inning that decided the Tri-State fate. Manny Lopez smashed a pair of doubles to account for half of the Titans' offense. Two other Palm Beach teams won pool titles as the Indians captured one of the 18AAA pools, and the Palm Beach Giants took one of the two 18AA pool titles. Both, however, were eliminated in Sunday's semifinals. PREVIOUS TOURNAMENT ACTION SUNDAY, JANUARY 19 Los Tigres knocked off the Palm Beach Indians 7-3 at Santaluces on Sunday, while Prince William upended the Susquehanna (PA) Black Sox 5-2 on a three-run homer by Will Somerindyke that broke a 2-2 tie, and a route going performance by Rick Fisher. In the Los Tigres victory, Ariel Rodriguez' homer broke a 2-2 tie and Carlos Gonzalez went the route to carry Los Tigres into the championship game. The Indians, who won the inaugural Citrus Classic in 2002, won the Pool A title with a 3-0 record, while Los Tigres finished second in Pool B after losing their final pool game to the Black Sox 6-2 at Palm Beach Lakes High School. The Indians completed pool play on Sunday by whipping the Tennessee Tribe 13-2. The Post Time Rockets finished with the same 2-1 pool play record as Los Tigres and the Black Sox, but were eliminated on the basis of allowing more runs than the other two in pool play games. The Rockets finished up by routing the New York Thunderdogs 16-4. Prince William's final pool play game was an 11-4 win over the Ft. Lauderdale Superstars. Both remaining Palm Beach League 18AA teams were eliminated in semifinal games on Sunday. The Palm Beach Giants finished up pool play at 2-1 when they were beaten by the Chicago River Bandits 12-9. The loss was acadamic, though, as the Giants had finished as Pool C champions by virtue of wins on Saturday over both the Duffy's Rockhounds and the Daytona Beach Buttleman's. The Giants, though, were beaten by the Tri-State Titans (NJ-PA-DE) in Sunday's semifinals 9-3. The Rockhounds were unceremoniously dumped in the semis by the Pool C winning Daytona Beach Rangers. Earlier, the Hounds completed pool play at 2-1 with a 9 to 8 win over Buttleman's. In their final pool game, the Rangers walloped the Titans 16-2. However, the Titans recovered to knock off the Giants in the semis, setting up the Rangers-Titans rematch on Monday. Sunday's complete results: Palm Beach Cardinals 7 Southcom Mariners 4 Daytona Beach Rangers 16 Tri State Titans 2 Duffy's Rockhounds 9 Daytona Buttleman's 8 Chicago River Bandits 12 Palm Beach Giants 9 Palm Beach Indians 13 Tennessee Tribe 2 Prince William Yankees 11 Ft. Lauderdale Superstars 4 Post Time Rockets 16 New York Thunderdogs Susquehanna Black Sox 6 Los Tigres 2 18AA Semifinals Daytona Beach Rangers 12 Duffy's Rockhounds 2 Tri State Titans 9 Palm Beach Giants 3 18AAA Semifinals Prince William Yankees 5 Susquehanna Black Sox 2 Los Tigres 7 Palm Beach Indians 3 Monday, January 20 At Lantana Sports Complex 18AA Championship Daytona Beach Rangers 7 Tri State Titans 2 18AAA Championship Los Tigres (Palm Beach) 11 Prince William (VA) Yankees 7 FINAL POOL STANDINGS 18AAA-Pool A- Palm Beach Indians 3-0*, Prince William Yankees 2-1, Tennessee Tribe 1-2, Ft. Lauderdale Superstars 0-3 18AAA-Pool B-Susquehanna Black Sox 2-1*, Los Tigres 2-1, Post Time Rockets 2-1, New York Thunderdogs 0-3 18AA-Pool C-Daytona Beach Rangers 3-0*, Tri State Titans 2-1, Palm Beach Cardinals 1-2, Southcom Mariners 0-3 18AA-Pool D-Palm Beach Giants 3-0*, Duffy's Rockhounds 2-1, Chicago River Bandits 1-2, Daytona Buttleman's 1-2. * Denotes pool winner Complete Results-Saturday, January 18 18AAA Palm Beach Indians 8 Prince Wm Yankees 1 Los Tigres 6 Post Time Rockets 4 Tennessee Tribe 6 Ft. Lauderdale Superstars 5 Susquehanna Black Sox 22 NY Thunderdogs 0 Palm Beach Indians 5 Ft.Lauderdale Superstars 1 Los Tigres 10 NY Thunderdogs 0 Post Time Rockets 7 Susquehanna Black Sox 3 Prince William Yankees 11 Tennessee Tribe 2 18AA Palm Beach Giants 3 Duffy's Rockhounds 2 Daytona Beach Rangers 3 Cardinals 1 Tri State Titans 11 Southcom Mariners 0 Daytona Buttleman's 6 Chicago River Bandits 4 Palm Beach Giants 7 Daytona Buttleman's 2 Duffy's Rockhounds 5 Chicago River Bandits 4 Tri State Titans 9 Cardinals 7 Daytona Beach Rangers 7 Southcom Mariners 0