17-Expos

FEBRUARY 2002- Welcome to the first edition of the NABA national newsletter. You know what they say about a good team that stands pat. Well, we’ve made a few lineup changes to serve you better. Our National President and Director is Shane Fugita. National Operations Director Sam Polizzotto will oversee our existing leagues. Joe Collins is now our Director of New League and Tournament Development, as well as President of the NABA Denver League. JD Magee, our Dallas-Ft.Worth League President, is National Tournament Director and has developed a great new concept of double elimination regional tournaments that will provide 15-20 new events across the country. Lou Palmer, President of the NABA Palm Beach, FL league is our Director of Communications, overseeing our national and local websites, and responsible for keeping our Baseball Today magazine fresh, up to date and complete. Our League Presidents, managers and players across the nation round out a team that we think is hard to beat. Thanks for being a part of our team!!!!!!! CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA OPEN BIG TOURNAMENT YEAR--NATIONAL AND REGIONAL EVENTS ON TAP FOR 2002. Our first two tournaments of the new season are in the books, kicking off what should be a terrific year for the NABA and for our teams and players. Not only will NABA be holding national tournaments in Las Vegas, Denver, Cooperstown, Orange County and San Diego (CA) and our World Championship in Phoenix, but this year we will be introducing exciting new double elimination regional events that will give our teams and League Presidents more action and opportunities to experience the thrill of tournament competition. The Holly “Wood” Bat tournament drew 35 teams, a significant increase from last year’s inaugural event, and five division champions were crowned, including Federacion Zacatecana (18AAA), Go Yard Nine, Palm Springs (18AA), Orange County Storm (18A), Orange County Diamondbacks (30A) and Team USA, San Diego (40A). In the Sunshine State, the Palm Beach Indians (18AAA) and Daytona Beach Rangers (18AA) won the first Citrus Classic titles. The tournament drew teams from Chicago, Virginia and Connecticut in addition to the Florida teams. The balmy temperatures in the 80’s were a welcome change for the snowbirds from up North and they figure to come back next year and bring more of their teams. Full tournament details can be found by clicking on tournament results on the home page of the dugout.org website. REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS ADD SPICE TO NABA CALENDAR So, Las Vegas or Cooperstown or Phoenix have been a little out of your league’s range? Well, this year NABA is bringing tournament excitement right to your own ball yards, with its new program of regional weekend tournaments. We will be holding 15-20 of these double elimination, tournament bracket special events in many different cities. and at very affordable fees. The national office will work with you to take care of many of the details, including planning, recruiting teams, liability insurance, awards, baseballs and anything else you need help with. It’s a great opportunity to invite NABA teams or other teams from your own city or from nearby locales. These will be open tournaments. Any team is eligible to play and no NABA affiliation fees are required. The NABA Regional Tournament program is catching on like wild fire. Tournament administrator JD Magee reports that plans are well underway for tournaments in San Jose (CA), Susquehanna Valley (PA), Lincoln, (NE) and Orlando (FL). Call JD toll free at 877-568-4928 or you can contact him via the Internet at NABATOURN@AOL.COM. He’ll send you a full color brochure with all the details on our regional tournament packages. You don’t have to wait for a holiday weekend either. These events are planned to take place on any weekend, using the fields you normally use for league play. Make friends, make money and make your season, by hosting or participating in a regional tournament right in your own backyard. LAS VEGAS TOURNAMENT GOES DOWNTOWN NABA’s spring showcase tournament, the Las Vegas Memorial Tournament May 25-27 is headed downtown this year with THREE fabulous host hotels. NABA headquarters and check in location will be the MAIN STREET HOTEL AND CASINO. You can also stay at the California Hotel and Casino, 12 Ogden Avenue or the Fremont Hotel and Casino at 200 E. Fremont Avenue. All three are in the heart of downtown Las Vegas, where the action is. Room rates are extremely reasonable ($65-$70 per night). And if there’s an overflow, we can also set you up at the Orleans Hotel & Casino at 4500 West Tropicana. With the only microbrewery in downtown Las Vegas and world class restaurants and buffets, you might come to Main Street Casino just for the food. Experience the aloha spirit of the Hawaiian-style California Casino and Hotel. In the heart of down town Las Vegas, the California Hotel and Casino boasts gambling, shopping, restaurants and comfortable rooms. You won’t be disappointed at the Fremont Hotel and Casino, perennially ranked among the best in Las Vegas with award winning restaurants. And, naturally you can try your luck at the tables and machines at all three host hotels. We’re expecting more than 85 teams for this year’s tournament. This is one event you simply can’t afford to miss. You’ll find complete registration, tournament and eligibility rules, hotel and rental car information at our national website at www.dugout.org. Bring the entire family. There’s something for everyone in Las Vegas. It’s even money that we’ll see you in Vegas. NABA TRISTATE LEAGUE One of our newest leagues for 2002, the Tri State League, serves the South Jersey-Philadelphia-Delaware area. The League President is Tania Garcia. Her husband, Hector Garcia, serves as Director of Operations. Some of the teams in the Tri State League joined Tania and Hector after spending several years in another organization--the United Delaware Valley Baseball League. The Garcias contacted NABA about becoming affiliated with us, became a part of our organization, and offer divisions for players Over 18, Over 28 and Over 38. They’re off to a great start with sixteen teams as of this month. The league has developed an INCREDIBLE website chock full of pictures, logos and information. Each team in the Tri State league has its own website as well. Check out the website: http://www.eteamz.com/udvbl New Leagues-Austin,TX-Aaron Navarro; Cedar Rapids,IA-Kyle Huxford; Knoxville, TN-Shane Gardner; Lansing-Jackson,MI-Tray Abbey Sioux City, IA-Jeremy Gosch; Tri State League, NJ-Tania Garcia; W.Hollywood, CA-John Williams New Presidents-Ft.Collins,CO-Nathan Ell; Flagstaff,AZ-Greg Cole; Lincoln, NE-Steve Minchow; Phoenix 30+-Greg Cole; Tampa-Hillsborough,FL-Jason Bolduc; Ventura, CA-Steve Zolotas NABA Tryouts-Feb. 17-San Jose(CA); Feb. 23-St.Petersburg-Pinellas(FL); Feb. 24-Tidewater(VA); Mar 2-Mt.Diablo, San Francisco(CA); Mar 3-Palm Beach (FL), Portland(OR), San Jose(CA)(2); Mar 5-Bowling Green (OH); Mar 10-Charlotte(NC), Flagstaff(AZ), Washington(DC),Susquehanna Valley(PA); Mar 17-Northern VA, Salt Lake City(UT), San Angelo(TX); Washington(DC)(2); Mar 19-Raritan Valley(NJ); Mar 24-Nashville(TN) Openers- Feb 24-Las Vegas (NV); Mar 3-Dallas-Ft.Worth(TX), Orlando (FL), San Gabriel (CA); Mar 10-Baton Rouge (LA), Orange County (CA), Ventura (CA); Mar 17-Central Valley, Sacramento, Fresno (CA), Denver (CO); TELL US ABOUT YOUR LEAGUE-If you’ve got something unusual about your league (unusual occupations, handicapped players, fundraisers, sponsorships, tournament participation,etc.), send it to us at NABACOMM@AOL.COM for a future newsletter. See you soon.

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

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.

The Indians rallied with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to nip the Caribbean Stars 5-4 to win the 18AAA championship of the NABA's inaugural Citrus Classic. The Daytona Beach Rangers edged the Chicago River Bandits 4-2 to cop the 18AA title. Click on headline for the complete story. Click on Standings (Citrus Classic) for the final pool standings. INDIANS RALLY TO NIP STARS IN AAA FINAL The Palm Beach Indians rallied with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to edge the Caribbean Stars 5-4 and annex the 18AAA Championship in the NABA's first Citrus Classic Tournament. Though they led for much of the game 3-0, the Indians went to the final inning trailing 4-3. With two outs, Billy Shore lined a 3-2 pitch up the middle to ignite what proved to be the winning rally. Chris Murphy, who earlier in the tournament had hit three home runs in one game against the Stars, ripped an 0-2 pitch to the left field fence that just eluded Stars' leftfielder Amado Dinzey. It was a long single and scored Shore all the way from first. Rob Wiley followed a long single down the left field line sending pinch runner Andy Lewis to third. Matt Bautz than cracked a hard ground ball to third that got by Jose Espino, Lewis trotting home with the winning run. Earlier, Lewis provided the Indians with their first run on a solo, first inning home run, the first of his three hits. Wiley's sacrifice fly made it two nothing after Jared Green and Lewis and an infield error loaded the bases in the fourth. They upped it to 3-0 the next inning on Billy Campbell's two out RBI single. The Stars, shut out for five innings by the Indians' Zack Hackley finally hit the board in the 6th. Juan Perez was hit by a pitch. Jose Guillen doubled down the left field line and both scored on a sacrifice fly to short right field hit by Jose Espino and an error. The Stars got two more in the top of the ninth when Trovin Valdez doubled, stole third and scored on a wild throw. They took a 4-2 lead on Rudy Garcia's two out single, only to have the Indians win it in the bottom of the inning. Hackey went the route, giving up six hits and fanning nine. The loss went to lefthander Jeremy Dooley who had registered eight straight outs until the Tribe rallied. The Indians claimed their first NABA national tournament title and their third Florida tournament championship. They had previously won the now defunct Sunshine Classic twice, including the last one in 1998 at the Roger Dean Complex in Jupiter. DAYTONA TOPS CHICAGO IN AA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME The Daytona Beach Rangers completed a perfect 5-0 slate by downing the Chicago River Bandits 4-2 at Lantana Sports Complex to capture the 18AA championship of the NABA's inaugural Citrus Classic. Catcher Tony Felt doubled home a run in the first inning to give the Rangers a 1-0 advantage. Chicago came back to take a short lived 2-1 lead with two runs in the third. Two walks, a double steal, an infield out and an RBI single by Joe Ogrodnik put the River Bandits on top 2-1. Daytona Beach, however, regained the lead on a two-run triple by Craig Corbett in the bottom of the third. They added an insurance run in the 6th on back to back singles by Andy Boysen and Corbett and a sacrifice fly by Clint Hendry. The Chicagoans found themselves short handed when six of their players had to leave for the return trip home. Pool players from the Palm Beach league kept them in the game however, including pitcher Dwayne Cabral who went the distance but suffered a tough luck defeat. An errant throw after striking out a batter in the third allowed Corbett to bat and his triple proved the back breaker. Lefthander Armand Molleur went eight innings for the win and manager Bruce Wile pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the save.