(14) ATHLETICS

TIGRES 15 MANATEES 0 (7)   

     The Tigres won their fifth AAA division title in a row, and their 13th overall, by overwhelming a despirited Manatees’ team at Santaluces, Lantana.  The tone for the game was set in the first inning when the Tigres scored two runs without a hit, taking advantage of four walks, a stolen base, passed ball and wild pitch.  There was a somber tone among the Manatees, who lost teammate and 28-year old pitcher Lars Knepper earlier in the week.  Knepper died of an as yet undetermined cause. 

     After settling down from his uncharacteristic wildness in the first inning, Danny LaPerna retired the side in order in the second, but the roof caved in the third. 

     A pair of errors by the usually sure handed Jimmy Efre at shortstop opened the flood gates.  Ariel Adames walked to load the bases and catcher Luis DeLaCruz unloaded them with a three run double that just eluded left fielder Dave Gariepy, the drive deflecting off the top of his glove.  After Jose Mojica’s single advanced DeLaCruz to third, Ketnold Noel lofted a sacrifice fly to left for the fourth run of the inning and a six run lead. 

     The Tigres added nine more runs in the next three innings that left no doubt about the outcome.  First baseman Cory Shaver ripped a two run triple to right field that ended the day for  LaPerna.  Steven Hibbs walked three straight batters, including DeLaCruz with the bases loaded to make it 9-0. 

     Four more runs in the fifth inning upped it to 13-0.  The lefthanded hitting Shaver smashed a two run single down the right field line, followed by a double that dropped between three players in right field, off the bat of leadoff hitter Rob Conver. 

     The Tigres added two more in the sixth inning on hits by DeLaCruz and Noel, sandwiched around a third error by the Manatees’ shortstop.  Noel’s single drove in his second run of the game, sending Mohica to third, where he scored on an around the horn double play started by Mike Wood.   Drew Davis pitched the seventh and final inning and retired the Tigres in order. 

     The Manatees’ frustration carried over to their almost total lack of offense.  Tigres’ startier Juan Mejia held them to no hits for the first four innings with five strikeouts.  Catcher Manny Reyes broke the spell with a double to left, but courtesy runner Max Johnson,  was thrown out trying to steal third.  Mejia got the next two hitters to end the threat.  Nate Feldman pitched a scoreless sixth, giving up a hit to Cory Gammons.  Wilson Ciprian got the first two outs in the 7th, and Gustavo Lopez registered the final out.   Mejia with one hit shutout ball for innings was named MVP.