From the March 15-16 League Weekend at Palm Springs:
From the official SCIFL website:
A-Division Championship Game: Flor de Caña (10) – Panteras II (6)
By David Carrillo
The A-Division Palm Springs Championship Game saw the collision of 2 undefeated teams. Both Panteras II (PII) and Flor de Caña (FDC) played extremely well the entire weekend so it was no surprise when the final game highlighted these 2 powerful squads. It would ultimately come down to the pitcher that could best withstand the other’s offense. In the end, FDC’s Cecilio Smalling, Sr. held on long enough to best PII’s Joe Edwards.
PII struck hard in the top of the 2nd inning with 3 runs. Brian Sepulveda singled and was followed by a Dustin Edwards walk. Gabriel Toledo advanced both runners into scoring position with a sac bunt. Roy Saucedo cashed in the runs with a 2-RBI single. Saucedo himself later scored on a hard hit ball by Jason Obregon.
For years, Cecilio Smalling, Sr. has been the heart of the FDC squad and is his toughest when the team needs him most. After a hard 2nd inning, FDC’s veteran leader Cecilio Smalling, Sr. came out in usual form and blanked PII in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th innings. Having earned tiring wins in the team’s previous 3 contests, Smalling, Sr. had to dig deep to hold down PII’s strong lineup. Meanwhile, FDC’s offense, trailing by 3 runs, would still have to find a way to respond.
A tough PII defense and crafty pitching by Joe Edwards kept FDC at bay until the FDC offense came alive with 2 outs in the 3rd inning. Lou Enriquez came to the plate with 2-outs and Matt Bando on 2nd base. Enriquez started the FDC momentum swing when he hit a towering double to left field. Enriquez then scored on another double off the bat of David Carrillo. Mike Thomas was hit by a pitch and Albert Garcia singled to plate another run. The hit parade continued when Mario Ramirez hit a single to score Mike Thomas. Cecilio Smalling, Jr. capped off the scoring when his single plated Garcia. FDC strung together 6 hits to score 5 runs and take their first lead in the contest.
Lou Enriquez was back igniting the offense in the bottom of the 4th inning. He hit another deep 2-out double and promptly scored on a Carrillo single putting FDC ahead of PII 6-3.
The 5th was more FDC. Albert Garcia reached on a beautiful bunt single and Mario Ramirez hit a shot to right-center scoring Garcia and earning himself a triple. Ramirez scored on a wild pitch to the next batter. Later in the inning, Tom Dudley walked and would eventually make his way around the bases to score on a PII error. FDC led 9-5.
FDC added a final run in the bottom of the 6th inning. PII showed that its lineup has no quit as they plated 3 runs in the top of 7th. FDC ended the game 10-6 en route to their first SCIFL Championship of the 2008 season.