(14) ATHLETICS

SPRING 2018 NATIONAL DIVISION

At St. Louis Cardinals Field #4, Jupiter

August 26, 2018

THUNDER 6 CUBAN BLADES 3

     For Manager Mike Soulen and the South Florida Thunder, the long wait is over.  The second seeded Thunder defeated the top seeded Blades behind the pitching of Josh Mowrey and reliever Hunter Kyzar and a rally in the fifth inning that saw them score four runs. 

     It was the first league championship under the team name “Thunder” and the third overall for the franchise, which won titles in 2000 as the Lookouts and 2005 as the Rockhounds. 

   The atmosphere for the championship game was definitely subdued after the ugly physical attack of umpire Bob Mistina by a Blades’ player in their 9-2 win over the fourth seeded Sugar Kings in the semifinals a week earlier.  Both teams simply concentrated on what NABA Palm Beach League games are supposed to be—fun and competition. The Thunder scored two runs in the third inning on singles by Alex McEnaney and Shawn Chiaramonte and a run producing single, plating McEnaney by Henry Wilson.  An intentional walk of Mike DeLeeuw loaded the bases for Eric Gormley’s fielder’s choice grounder to score Chiaramonte.

     The Blades’ Eduardo Del Toro singled up the middle in the bottom of the third, scoring Raudel Torres, who drew a walk to start the inning.  It was the only base on balls Mowrey allowed in the game.   

     With a slim 2-1 lead going to the top of the fifth, the Thunder, effectively, iced the win with four unearned runs on four hits and a very costly Blades’ error.  Eric Gormley doubled courtesy runner Wilson to third, but Wilson was nailed at the plate on a comebacker to the mound.  With runners at first and second, Blades’ ace pitchrer Joshua Rivera committed a balk, moving both runners up a base.  Roy Nino hit a sinking liner to left field and after a short run, Blades’ left fielder Reol Alvarez dropped it for a two base error, scoring both runners.  Eric Morales and Darren Hansen each followed with RBI singles to make it a 6-1 game. 

     The Blades scored a run in the fifth on Alvarez’ run scoring double, and another in the seventh when Ezequiel Romero got his fourth single of the game, and wound up at third when left fielder McEnaney erred on the sharp hit.  Romero scored on a wild pitch.

     Lefthander Hunter Kyzar wrapped up the championship with two perfect innings for what would be his fourth save of the season, three of those during the regular campaign. 

     Mowrey, a 10-game winner, went seven innings to earn the victory, and was selected as the championship

game’s Most Valuable Player.  He allowed eleven hits and three runs, walked one and struck out two to prevail over the Blades’ ten-game winner Joshua Rivera.  Rivera also went seven, with Luis Guzman pitching hitless, shutout ball the last two innings. 

     Morales was the Thunder’s top hitter with three singles and a run batted in.  McEnaney had two hits.  DeLeeuw and Gormley each  doubled, and Chiaramonte, Wilson, Nino and Hansen all had a hit apiece. 

     Blades’ catcher Romero led all hitters with four singles, and sparkled behind the plate as well.  Del Toro had two hits and drove in one of the Blades’ two runs.  Reol Alvarez had an RBI double, and Mario Alvarez, Yordany Martinez, Raiko Ramos and Lazaro Diaz all had one hit apiece.   

     The two teams had split their two regular season meetings.  The Thunder won the first 7-6, with Mowrey winning in relief and Rivera getting a no decision.  The Blades the second one 2-1, with Rivera besting Mowrey.