SCIFL opened the 2016 season in Palm Springs, California but it almost does not happen because rain threatens the tournament the day before. Luckily the weather cleared up and the tournament was able to proceed. There were six teams that participated in the Palm Springs Classic.
On Saturday, after the Round Robin was complete the So Cal Bandits took the number one seed going undefeated, followed by Pala, Maccabi USA, Beaumont Coyotes, So Cal Heat, and Team DM.
One Sunday, the So Cal Bandits would start off their run to the Championship game by facing So Cal Heat. The game was a battle through three innings, but the Bandits would open up the game by scoring six runs in the fourth inning that would help them advance to the Championship game where they would face Maccabi USA. The winning pitcher for the Bandits was Cory Wertz who allowed three runs and had four strikeouts before Joel Cooley came in to close out the game.
Maccabi USA started off their run to the Championship game by facing Team DM who they defeated 7 to 5. Their next opponent would be the number two seed Pala. Sonny Perkins would face off with Jason Gluckman in a very close game that would go seven innings. Maccabi would score two runs in the third inning and Pala would answer back with a run the fifth inning. Both teams would not score any more and the game would finish with Maccabi defeating Pala 1 to 0. Their next opponent would be the So Cal Bandits in the Championship game.
In the Championship game the So Cal Bandits would start Joel Cooley and Maccabi USA would start Jason Gluckman in the pitcher’s circle. Both teams would battle and the only run of the game would come in the second inning where Aaron Owens, from Maccabi, would draw a walk. Then Danny Cosgrove would single to right advancing Owens to third base. Then, Joe Schwartz would single to right scoring Owens. Cooley would then retire the next batter to end the inning. The Bandits would give Maccabi a scare in the sixth where Joel Cooley would start off the inning with a single to right. Then Cory Wertz would double and advance Cooley to third base. Gluckman would then retire the next three batters to finish the inning. The Bandits would have one last try in the seventh inning but Gluckman would retire the last three batters to end the game. Maccabi defeats the Bandits 1 to 0 and are crowned Champions.
The next SCIFL tournament would head to Santa Fe Springs, CA the following week where there will be ten teams participating in a competitive event.
Editor’s note: The SCIFL weekend 2 is now in the books, see story by clicking here.
