Announcement
PALM BEACH LEAGUE VETERAN RENAULT FIRES SHUTOUT TO WIN 18+ TITLE
Nick Renault, who has pitched for several seasons with the Palm Beach League's Beach Bums, threw a five-hit complete game shutout to lead the New York Mariners to their second straight championship in the 18+ division title game at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter. Renault, who has been the MVP in the German Professional League the last two years, fanned eight in hurling the Mariners to a 5-0 win over the Tampa Bay Thunder. He also contributed a pair of singles in the New York victory.
The Mariners scored two runs in the first inning and added three more in the second to give Renault all the support he needed. Renault was honored as the game's Most Outstanding Player and received several awards. Mariners' third baseman Cheecho Vengoechea won the Gold Glove Award for his outstanding defense at the hot corner.
Renault's Beach Bums teammate, David Salley, was also part of the title squad, which ousted the top seeded Miami-Dade Marlins on Saturday 5-3 in a thrilling 11-contest in the Stadium. The Marlins had four Palm Beachers on their roster, including outfielders Jimmy Efre and Max Johnson, pitcher Alex McEnaney and catcher/utility man Jose Chinea.
QUARTET OF PALM BEACHERS HELP WIN 25+ TITLE FOR UNBEATEN GIANTS
Four Palm Beach League players helped lead the top seeded Born in a Cage Giants to a 12-3 victory over the number two seeded Dallas Redbirds. Palm Beach veteran Rob Wiley banged out three of the Giants' 21 hits in the title game, while Guy Bichatcho, one of the team's organizers, posted a key two run single. Danny LaPerna and Ryan Togher of the Palm Beach League, had made significant contributions to the team's title earlier in the tournament, in which the Giants wound up as the only unbeaten team, winning all seven of their games.
Jason Benson was the pitching star, hurling a complete game five hitter, with seven strikeouts, to win Most Outstanding Player honors. All three runs he allowed were unearned as he and his teammates survived an eight error game. The Redbirds had four miscues of their own.
The Giants' smooth centerfielder, Mel Stocker, was the recipient of the Gold Glove awards for his flawless play. The speedy Stocker also had two hits, including a single that turned into a "Little League" home run when the Redbirds committed a pair of misplays trying to stop the speedster from circling the bases. Team manager and catcher Jose Garcia led the barrage with four hits, including a double and two runs batted in.
TIGRES ADVANCE TO 18+ PLAYOFF, LOSE OUT TO TAMPA BAY TEAM
The Palm Beach Tigres, a last minute entry into the NABA's World Championship Series at the Roger Dean Complex in Jupiter, gained the number three seeding on Saturday, November 2 with a 10-6 victory over the defending champion New York Mariners, but lost out in the 18+ division playoffs. The Tigres, managed by Santos Adames, wound up 3-2 in pool play, only to lose to the Tampa Bay Thunder 7-1 in the semifinal. The team was organized by the league to replace the Florida Cardinals, who dropped out in late October, and acquitted itself quite well. Rick Schnur of the Palm Beach League's South Florida Beach Bums was the winning pitcher in the victory over the Mariners, dropping the New Yorkers to the number four seeding, but going on to the 18+ division championship.
For complete Florida WCS results, log on to the NABA's national web site at www.dugout.org.
