On the cover of Fastpitchwest: Raymar's Damian Guerrero delivers pitch at March Madness.  Damo's team finished second, and now has sole possession of first place in the Alliance standings.

Final Poll Results  - March Madness Final 4 Pick 'em - Click here

Raymar's "March Madness"

So Cal ASA Alliance Tournament Series - Santa Fe Springs I

March 20-21, 2004

[03/21/04-SANTA FE SPRINGS, CA] - The Edge was on the -- well --  edge of elimination in their semi-final matchup against San Diego, trailing 6-4 in the 7th inning and down to their final out.  But that final out was Keith Barker, already with four home runs in the tournament and two men aboard.  Barker brought the crowd -- and his teammates to their feet with a monstrous blast over the right fielder's head for a three-run walk off home run that catapulted his team to the championship game against Raymar, which had eliminated the Black Sox, 8-2 in the other semi-final game.  The Edge-San Diego semi-final was the most exciting and dramatic game of the weekend.  Barker was center-stage for all of, opening the game with a lead-off homer, and ending it with an exclamation mark.  The five home runs on the weekend was just one shy of the mark for homers in a weekend set by teammate Rick McCarthy last year, and tied him for second with Tom Morton of the Rounders and Dean Clark of Damn Yankees, both of whom accomplished the feat last season.  (McCarthy hit 5 in a row on a Saturday, another record, while Morton's 5 came on a Sunday, a record for home runs in the championship round.)

Edge scored forty one runs enroute to the title (16, 7, and 18), after winning a couple close ones on Saturday to earn the top seed overall (3-2 and 1-0). The tournament was the second in the So Cal ASA Alliance Tournament series.

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - Edge 18, Raymar 5

In the championship game, Raymar took a quick 1-0 lead on a solo home run to right by 21 year old Jason Obregon, but it was all Edge from that point on, as their momentum generated 6 runs in the first, two in the second, four in the third and six more in the 4th for a 18-5 mercy rule win.  Bobby Lara went the distance to pick up the win, while Raymar's starter Joe Edwards suffered the loss, with Joe Salcido and Damian Guerrero also pitching in relief.  No one could seem to stop the Edge offensive juggernaut that pounded out 17 hits enroute to the win and the "March Madness" title.

Edge First Inning: 6 runs on 7 hits: Still riding a high from the semi-final win over San Diego, Edge sent eight men to the plate before Raymar could record an out.  Barker led off the game with a bunt single, easily outrunning the throw and showing the crowd perhaps the leagues' best combination of power and speed.  Jimmy Buentello was hit by a pitch.  Both came home on a single to left by Rich Barnwell.  Big righthander Rick McCarthy sent Barnwell home on a double to center, moving to third on a single by Hector Spathis.  Louie Sanchez then broke things wide open with a homer to centerfield for a 6 run lead. Raymar's Joe Edwards gave way to "Papa Joe" Salcido who retired yielded a couple hits, but escaped without more damage.

Edge Second Inning: 2 runs on 4 hits: Barnwell doubled to center with one out, and moved to third on an infield single by Hector Spathis.  Barnwell came home on an RBI single to left by Louie Sanchez, his 4th RBI in two innings.  Spathis then scored on a single to left by young Darren Stiles.

Edge Third Inning 4 runs on 3 hits: Danny Acosta opened the inning with a single to center, the ball going off the pitching hand of Joe Salcido.  Barker reached on an infield error, and both scored on a solid single to right by Jimmy Buentello.  Nursing the sore hand, Raymar's Joe Salcido gave way to young Damian Guerrerro, the third pitcher of the contest.

Raymar Fourth Inning: 4 runs on 4 hits:  Pride and professionalism kicked in for Raymar, who refused to go quietly into the night.  Leadoff batter Ken Shaw got things started with a walk, followed by three successive hits, a single by Roy Saucedo, that sent Shaw to third, followed by a double to right by 21-year old Jason Obregon, for his second RBI of the night.  Doug Shaw followed with a single to left, scoring Saucedo and Obregon for the second and third runs of the inning.  Lara retired the next couple batters, but young Matt Shaw got into the act, singling to right and driving home dad Doug, and cutting the lead to 12-5. 

Edge Fourth Inning 6 runs on 3 hits:  If the big fourth inning gave Raymar a ray of hope, it was shortlived, as the Edge got back the four runs and more, turning four walks and three hits into 6 more runs for a runaway lead.  Sanchez, Acosta, Barker and Barnwell had the walks, all coming home to score as Murphy's Law dictates.  Buentello and McCarthy had doubles in the inning, each driving in two, while Spathis added an RBI single.

Raymar Fifth Inning: 1 run on 1 hits:   As if to let the fans know they weren't quitting, Angel Saucedo opened the Raymar fifth with a single, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Roy Saucedo.  It cut the lead to 18-5, not enough to escape the mercy rule.

So Cal ASA Alliance Standings Get Reshuffled

For Raymar, it was a disappointing way to end to their weekend, but preceded by five straight wins, it earned them the runner-up spot for the second straight tournament and enough points to take sole possession of first place in the So Cal ASA Alliance, sufficient salve for the bruises inflicted by the Edge.  If my rough math is correct, Raymar added 16 points to their prior 18 for 34 and the league lead, while San Diego added 13 to their prior total of 16, for 29.  The Edge added 17 points to their prior 12, for 29, to tie San Diego.

For the Edge, it marked a return to the winner's circle, which they practically owned during the 2002 season, reaching the championship game virtually every week, or so it seemed.  It improved on their Palm Springs finish, and moves them into a tie with San Diego, who reached the Final 4 again, as they had in Palm Springs.

The biggest loser on the day -- standings-wise -- had to be the El Segundo Rounders, who entered the day tied for first place on the strength of their tournmament title in Palm Springs, but fell to San Diego in their Sunday morning opener, 3-1 in a hard fought battle between aces Dan Zupp and Mitch Mendenhall.  Last year's Alliance champions, the Rounders fall from first to fourth place, behind Raymar, San Diego and the Edge.   The Rounders dropped their first game Saturday to the Black Sox, 5-2, but battled back to earn the #3 seed overall, behind finalists Edge and Raymar on the basis of fewest runs allowed.  However, with Pool A's Black Sox, San Diego, the Rounders and So Cal Fear all going 2-1 Saturday, the "A4" seed turned out to be San Diego, and perhaps the toughest opening round game in Sunday's single elimination bracket.

Overview

Almost overlooked amongst the 40 runs tallied by Edge on Sunday were some good pitching performances by Bobby Lara and Gilbert Joiner.  Lara's 1-0 victory over Santana on Saturday night was a no-hitter.  Joiner pitched well against San Diego in the semi-finals until giving way to Lara late in the game.  Lara had a sufficient cushion to survie a 5 run outburst by Raymar in the title game, and earned all-tourney honors, along with teammates Rich Barnwell and Keith Barker.  Jason Obregon and Roy Saucedo  earned all-tourney honors for runner-up Raymar.

The Black Sox returned to the good form shown in the Norwalk tournament, and reaching the Final Four before falling to Raymar.  The Black Sox scored 14 runs in an early morning win over the Rebels, then topped So Cal Fear for their 4th win of the weekend.  It appears that the Black Sox won the 3rd place tie breaker, over San Diego, putting them just behind the Amigos in the standings, if this editor's calculations are correct.  The Amigos went 2-1 on Saturday, but lost a tough 2-0 game to Cecilio Smalling's So Cal Fear squad.  

Palm Springs had a successful weekend, with 3 wins overall, including a Sunday morning elimination win over Santana, and a spirited battle against San Diego.  Until a late inning error gave San Diego the lead for good, it looked like the ever-improving Express would break through to the Final Four.   Graham Balog delivered a solid game, with command of all his pitches, equaling Danny Zupp who turned in another of his familiar strong outings.  Palm Springs blasted their way to the lead on three successive hard hit balls, including a single by Darryl Goree, another by Marcel Bernal and a home run by pitcher Graham Balog that got past the centerfielder, and gave San Diego the lead.  The ball by Goree might have been the hardest hit line drive of the tournament, one of the "frozen rope" variety.

High Scoring Games - A Product of the Bats, Balls, Fields, or Players?

There were 296 runs scored over the weekend in the 29 games.  You can do the math -- that's a lot of runs.  The Edge scored forty-one of those on Sunday alone in just three games.  Is it a product of the hi-tech bats?  lively balls? wide open fields? or perhaps a large number of upper level players playing in the "C" division because there are so few upper level teams around ? Or a combination of all of these factors?

The games this past weekend were played without the familiar orange temporary fencing, which frustrated some batters who saw long balls run down by the outfielders, but also caused problems for a number of outfielders faced with the decision as to whether to dive and risk a certain home run if they missed.  Many, if not most of the home runs hit over the weekend were either gap shots or those of the "oops--wrong  decision" variety.  Some pitchers like the open field, where their outfielders can run down the 300 foot bombs like the one Mike Hemperly hit Sunday, but others think it changes the game and gives hitters a "larger" field to lace with those doubles, triples, and mistake home runs.  

Pitchers seemed happier returning to the Worth "Dream Seam" ball, a cork center, leather cover ball which many seem to prefer over the rock-hard poly core Diamonds used in Palm Springs, and others of similar ilk.  Others still pine for the old DeBeer 212 which is generally regarded as a pitcher's ball, but doesn't hold up as well later in the game.  One of the more widely used balls in the game today, The "Dream Seam" still generates plenty of offense though, something our readers are talking about in the Fastpitchwest Forum.  We invite you to log into our forum and post your comments about bats, balls, and the state of the game. (or any other topic)

The only real disappointment on the weekend were the five forfeits, four by the Hot Shots (three Saturday, one Sunday), and by the Mets on Sunday.  The forfeits resulted in free rides to the second round of Sunday's bracket for 5th seeded teams, instead of playing those teams that earned high seeds as they normally would.  

Sunday's Bracket Complete

The bracket for Sunday is complete, click menu button at left to view.  (*Be sure to click refresh to see the final version of the bracket)

Teams return to Santa Fe Springs in two weeks for the third of the So Cal ASA Alliance tournament series, while the local A/B teams will be in Palm Springs next weekend.

-- Jim Flanagan, Editor

Saturday Night's Report

The Edge and Raymar 3-0 in Round Robin Play Saturday at "March Madness" Tournament in Santa Fe Springs, CA to Earn Top Seeds, and Byes in Sunday's Single Elimination Bracket

[03/20/04-SANTA FE SPRINGS, CA] - Edge Fastpitch and Raymar went 3-0 on Saturday, March 20, 2004 to capture the top seeds in Sunday's single elimination bracket in the So Cal ASA Alliance Tournament at Santa Fe Springs.  The Edge won the final game of the day, 1-0 over Santana Concrete, in a pitchers duel between Bobby Lara and Billy Montana.  Montana strike out 9 in the contest, including three "inning ender" strikeouts, yielding only a solo home run to Keith Barker in the third inning.   It was enough for the victory though, as Bobby Lara went the distance to shut out Santana.  Santana had the tying run at third in the final inning, but Lara was able to get the final out. 

The Black Sox started off the day by beating the Palm Springs tournament champions, the El Segundo Rounders, 5-2 behind the pitching of Randy Clay.   The pivotal play in the game was a spectacular double play turned by Dan Fielding and Johnny Medina on a ball in the hole behind third.  It first appeared to be a base hit in the hole that would have brought the tying run to the plate for the Rounders with no outs, but Fielding came up with the ball and made the long throw across to get the lead runner, while Medina completed the double play with a quick feed to Dale Lopes at first.  Lopes had a key 2-run double for the Sox that put the game out of reach, while Fred Hanker was 2 for 3.

The Rounders bounced back to score 19 runs in their final two games of the day, with a 10-2 win over the Primos and 9-0 over the So Cal Fear.  Rounders outfielder Steve Tollington had two homers on the day, while Donald Jewett, Mark Villalobos and Sean Lee each had one.  In their final game of the day against So Cal Fear, Rounder teammates Steve Tollington and John Simmers combined for 13 total base, as Simmers went 3-for-3 with two triples.

Saturday's round robin play was very competitive, with six (6) teams finishing with 2-1 records on the day, including four of the both the Black Sox and the Rounders.  Four of the five teams in Pool A were 2-1.

Here is a look at the 2-1 teams and their one loss: