[PALM SPRINGS, CA 3/19/04] -
The Long Beach Black Sox (7-1) were a perfect 4-0 on Sunday, March 20,
2005, including a come-from-behind, extra inning semifinal win, and a one
run championship game victory over the Amigos, to capture their first ever
So Cal ASA Alliance tournament title in the opening weekend of Alliance
play. In beating the Amigos, they also avenged their only loss of
the weekend, a 1-0 squeaker. Though no Most Valuable Pitcher was
announced, Vranich was the unofficial consensus pick, with back-to-back
wins in the semi-final and final games. Vranich hit his spots, and
used the change up effectively in both of his final two games.
Semi-final: Black Sox 10, Santana Concrete
7 (8 innings)
WP-Chuck Vranich; LP-Billy Montana
The Black Sox rallied from down 6-2 to tie the
game at 6 and send it to extra innings. They then broke the game
open on a two run throwing error with the bases loaded in the top of the
8th inning. Chuck Vranich started the game and went 7 innings before
giving way to Randy Clay. Vranich unexpectedly had to re-enter the
game a few batters later, though, when Randy Clay took a line drive off of
his pitching wrist. (X-rays pending). Vranich did not even
have time to take his shoes off, and was back in the game, in effect, in
relief of himself. Billy Montana went the distance for Santana.
With the score tied at 6, Fred Hanker took
second on the international tie breaker. Dale Lopes walked to put
runners at first and second. Chris Minogue then flied to left after
two bunt attempts went foul. Damian Guerrero hit a slow roller up
the third base line and was safe at first to load the bases.
Chuck Chapel reached on a fielders choice with Hanker out at home.
With the bases still loaded, Marcel Bernal hit a grounder to third, but
the throw to first was off the mark, and skidded up the first base line,
with all three runners coming home to score. Benny Guerrero then
banged a RBI single to center to bring home Bernal for the 4th run of the
inning, and eventual 10-6 margin of victory. (Santana had reached
the semis with a hard fought 5-4 win over Rude Pack, and a 2-0 shutout of
host Palm Springs.)
Semi-final: Amigos 2, PrimeTime San Diego1
WP-Anthony Martinez; LP-Dan Zupp
In the other semi-final game, the Amigos
scored two in the first, gave one back in the bottom of the first, and
then the pitchers settled in and hung zeroes for the rest of the game, as
young 22 year old Anthony Martinez edged veteran Dan Zupp in a 2-1
pitcher's duel. The Amigos scored their runs in the first when Rene
Garcia stroked a single to run. Abdom Pinon's single put runners on
the corners. Gene Sarracho's sacrific fly brought one run home,
while Isaac Hernandez's double scored the game winner.
To put it simply, "the kid has arrived".
In addition to the semi-final win over a very good PrimeTime team, young Anthony
Martinez also picked up the two wins Saturday, including a Saturday night
win over Santana Concrete that gave the Amigos the top seed in their pool,
and set the stage for their three win Sunday.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Black Sox 3,
Amigos 2
WP-Chuck Vranich; LP-Julian Martinez
Amigos manager Toby Garcia elected to go with
the senior Martinez in the championship game, while Black Sox manager Fred
Hanker gave the ball right back to his semi-final winner, Chuck Vranich.
Hector Spathias, another of the Edge players dispersed among other teams
this year got things started for the Amigos with a leadoff double, then
scored on a single to center by Abdom Pinon, for a 1-0 Amigos lead.
The Black Sox offense continued the momentum from their 4-run 8th inning
of their semifinal, by scoring three runs in the bottom of the first for a
3-1 lead. Sox shortstop Andy Martinez got things started with an
infield hit, then moved to second on a ground out to third by John Otte.
Fred Hanker reached on an error at third, putting runners on the corners.
Dale Lopes struck the big blow, a triple to score Martinez and Hanker.
Chris Minogue followed that with an RBI single to center -- and what would
prove to be the game winning hit. Chuck Vranich scattered five hits
the rest of the way while Martinez yielded just three single over the next
six innings, retiring 11 in a row at one point.
The Amigos cut the 3-1 lead to one run, when
Abdom Pinon singled to center and came home to score on long triple to
right field by Gene Sarracho. Right fielder Fred Hanker was on his
horse going back on the ball, but it carried to the fence, after
deflecting off his outstretched glove. He raced to retrieve the ball
and Sarracho had to stay at third. The next play proved to be the
most dramatic of the game. With Sarracho at third and no outs, Mike
Ybarra hit a fly ball to right field that was tailing toward the foul
line. Hanker ranged over to make the catch, and came up with a perfect
throw to nail Sarracho at the plate by several feet. Vranich retired
the next batter and was out of the inning. The Amigos did not go
quietly though, as Larry Diaz led off the seventh with a single to left,
putting the tying run aboard. Johnny Rodriguez got the bunt down,
but first baseman Chris Minogue was on the ball like a cat, spun and threw
to second to get Diaz, while Andy Martinez completed the 3-6-4 double play
to erase the threat.
It was the first time in the championship game
for both the Black Sox and the Amigos, who served notice to other Alliance
teams that they intend to compete for the Alliance crown in 2005.
The two clubs have placed their markers down and will be the two that the
rest of the pack will be chasing in two weeks when the Amigos host the
second league weekend, this time in Santa Fe Springs, April 2-3, 2005.
To view results for Saturday's pool play
and Sunday's elimination bracket, and to view our photo galleries, click menu buttons at upper left.
