It was quite "Z" weekend for San Diego Fastpitch, as they captured the So Cal ASA's second league weekend tournament at De Muth Park at Palm Springs, on Sunday, March 2, 2003.   San Diego's "Z-man" pitcher Dan Zupp led the way, pitching San Diego to the championship, including a hard fought 6-5 win over the Kanakas in the title game.  San Diego was 5-1 on the weekend, going 2-1 in  Saturday in round robin play, and a perfect 3-0 on Sunday in the single elimination bracket, with wins over Santana Concrete, Genesis, and the Kanakas.  Zupp received plenty of help from the (3) Nuanez brothers, John, Joe and Jaime, and third baseman Jay Crawley, who homered on Sunday, capping one of the San Diego wins. Remarkably, San Diego won the championship without their second pitcher, Lee Thomas. 

Dan Zupp (pictured at left), like his counterpart on the Kanakas, Joe Edwards, was a workhorse, pitching in all of his team's games, and a perfect 5-0 on the weekend.  (Add that to the perfect 3-0 weekend of the other "Z-man", Billy Zylstra, of the El Segundo Rounders, and that's 8-0 for "Z" weekend!)

San Diego didn't do things the easy way, playing finding themselves in close games throughout the weekend, but managing to find the magic when it counted. Third baseman Jay Crawley was steady all weekend both on defense and at the plate, where he went 6-16, with 3 home runs and 12 RBI's.  Terry Brightwell was also steady all weekend at the plate where he went 8-17, with 2 RBI's.

Jaime Nuanez and younger cousin Michael Romero helped out on immensely Sunday providing the much needed speed in the outfield and steady sticks on offense, going 5-10, with 2 RBI's and 8-10 with a homerun, and 2 RBI's respectively.
 

RECAP OF SAN DIEGO'S MARCH TO THE TITLE:

Saturday's Round Robin:

San Diego was 2-1 in Saturday's round robin play, and captured the top seed in the "B" Pool, which  consisted of Graceful Wood, the Panteras, and the Amigos.

Game 1 vs Graceful Wood (Won 6-5):

John Nuanez took the rubber in the first game for San Diego.  Despite falling behind 4-0, the crew from San Diego fought back to tie the game 4-4, after scoring 2 runs in the 2nd inning on a 2-run homer by Jay Crawley and added 2 more runs in the 4th inning. In the top of the 5th inning, Dan Zupp entered the game and pitched 5 strong innings, surrendering only 1 run in the 1st of  3 "Tie Breaker" innings.

Game 2 vs Amigos (Lost 9-0):

Dan Zupp was scheduled to start this game, but because he pitched the unexpected 5 innings in the first game, and the fact that this game immediately followed the first game, San Diego opted to give the ball to John Nuanez to start the game.  In their only loss of the weekend, San Diego surrendered 4 runs in the 1st and another 4 runs in the 2nd inning, to a very good hitting team.  Once again, San Diego turned to ace Dan Zupp, who threw the final 2 2/3 innings surrendering only 1 more run.  It was too little too late though, as San Diego could not find its offense, and the game was called due to the run rule.  (Wonder if anyone would have predicted a San Diego championship for the weekend at this point?)

Game 3 vs Panteras (Won 8-6):

If there were any doubters about San Diego, this game sent a message that San Diego was determined to find its game.  Dan Zupp started and finished this game (6 innings). Jay Crawley again provided much of the offense contributing 4 RBI's, his last 2 RBI's, coming by way of another 2-run homer, proved to be the game winner as they were their final 2 runs. Dan Zupp pitched very well against a very explosive Panteras lineup, holding them to 1 run most of the game before they exploded for 5 runs in the final inning before Dan finally ended the game with a strike out.

The 2-1 round robin finish was good enough for the top seed in the "B" Pool, and a first round bye, til the 11:30am game. More importantly, it gave San Diego an opportunity to get some "reinforcements" for Sunday's single elimination bracket, in the form of Jaime Nuanez and Michael Romero.  The two were a welcome arrival for San Diego, combining for 13 hits between them.  Jaime Nuanez was 5 for 10, while Romero was an unbelievable 8 for 10.  Meanwhile, the Kanakas managed to get some of their regulars to the ballpark on Sunday as well, enroute to the title game.

Sunday's Single Elimination Bracket

Game 1 vs Santana Concrete (Won 4-3):

Dan once again started and finished this game (7 innings). This was a hard fought win against a very tough Dave Meltz, who kept San Diego's hitters off balance much of the game.  San Diego led 2-1 going into the 7th inning. With 2 outs, though, Santana Concrete scored 2 runs on a fly ball that at first appeared to be a routine final out, however, the left fielder lost ball as it moved directly into the sun.  Dow 3-2 in the bottom of the 7th, Santana's left fielder suffered a similar fate on a fly ball hit by Jay Crawley, losing it the sun, and allowed Crawley to reach 3rd base. Terry Brightwell brought Jay home with the tying run on a RBI single, followed by a single by Michael Romero.   Bryan "Woody" Woodworth, ended the game with a 2 out RBI single to right field, and San Diego, in the parlance of Jimmy Valvano, had "survived and advanced".

Game 2 vs Genesis (Won 7-4):

Dan Zupp again got the starting nod, and went the distance enroute to the semi-final win.  Joe Nuanez, Terry Brightwell, Jay Crawley, and Jaime Nuanez had two hits each, while Nuanezs' younger cousin Michael Romero was 3 for 3.  Crawley again provided the power, with a 3-run homer, the big blow in the game.

Z-man Dan Zupp was strong, surrendering only 7 hits over the 6 inning performance against a potent Genisis offense.   Dan was also supported with some great defensive plays. Trailing 7-4 in the 5th inning with runners at 2nd and 3rd, Doug Shaw was brought in to pinch hit and he hit a rocket to Woody Woodworth at 2nd base that ricochet off of his knee to shortstop Mike York who proceeded to throw out Doug Shaw by a step for the 3rd out of the inning.

Championship Game vs Kanakas (Won 6-5):

San Diego entered the championship game with a 5-1 record, and not surprisingly, handed the ball once again to Dan Zupp.   Zupp was again brilliant, appearing to get stronger as the day wore on.

San Diego 1st: Woody Woodworth grounded out to 2nd (1 out), while Joe Nuanez singled. Brian Webb reached base on an unsuccessful fielders choice.  Mike York followed with an RBI single bringing in Joe Nuanez from second.  Webb was thrown out trying to advance to 2nd for the second out, and Jay Crawley flew out to center for the third out. (SD Fastpitch 1, Kanakas 0)

Kanakas 1st:  Hector Spathias reached base on an error, and was sacrificed to second by Jimmy Buentello, pitcher to second baseman covering.  Big Rick Mc Carthy then launched a 2 run homer to give the Kanakas the lead.  Kanakas 2, SD Fastpitch 1

San Diego 3rd: After Woody Woodworth opened the inning with a fly out to right, Joe Nuanze singled to center, followed by a Brian W. single to left.  Mike Y. flew out to left for the second out, but Jay Crawley singled home Joe Nuanez with a single to center.  With the game tied, brother Jaime Nuanez  singled down the left field line to bring home the go-ahead run.  With the bases loaded, Kanakas pitcher Joe Edwards escaped the jam with a pitcher-to-home ground out to end the inning.
(SD 3, Kanakas 2).

As the Kanakas came off the field, however, a bit of controversy erupted, and continued as the players headed for their dugout.   Word were exchanged between pitcher Joe Edwards and his teammates.  After the shouting was over, Edwards grabbed his gear and left the ballpark.   Hector Spathias was pressed into duty and pitched the rest of the way for the Kanakas.

Kanakas 3rd:  The outburst appeared to motivate the Kanakas, though, as they tied the game.  Hector Spathias led off the inning with a solo homer to center field.  Mc Carthy just missed homering for the second time in the game, with a fly out about 5-10 feet from the (slo-pitch distance) fence.   Zupp escaped the inning with the score still tied at 3. (SD 3, Kanakas 3)

San Diego 4th:  Johnny Nuanez was hit by pitch, and sacrificed to second by Woody Woodworth, pitcher to the second baseman covering.  Joe Nuanez single brother Johnny home, for a 4-3 San Diego lead. (SD 4, Kanakas 3)

San Diego 5th: Jay Crawley popped out to first for the first out, while Jaime Nuanez gronded out to short for the second out.  With two out and no one aboard, young Michael Romero delivered again, this time with a solo homer to right center field.  (SD 5, Kanakas 3)

San Diego 6th: Woody Woodworth singled to right, stole second, and reached third on a throwing error to second.  Joe Nuanez walked to put runners at the corners.  Brian W. brought home what would prove to be the winning run with a sacrifice fly to center.  The inning ended when Joe Nuanez was called out for leaving the base early.  (SD 6, Kanakas 3)

Dan Zupp took a 6-3 lead into the final frame, but the Kanakas would not go quietly.

Kanakas 7th:   With one out, Arnie Apostol singled to center.  Hector Spathias flew out to center for the second out.  Jimmy Buentello kept the Kanakas hopes alive, with a single to center.  Apostol scored on a wild pitch [SEE PHOTO BELOW]  San Diego catcher Joe Nuanez insisted he tagged Apostol out, but the umpire did not agree.  To quote the old TV show, "you make the call" after viewing the photo.  Rick McCarthy followed the play, with another RBI hit, driving home Buentello to cut the lead to 6-5.  Zupp then reached back, and prompted a fly out to left by Louie to end the game, and give San Diego the first place hardware.