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Photo collage by Bob Otto
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Best of the West - 2004
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Game 19 : CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - Team Rainey 4, Casa Trejo 3 (9
innings) |
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WP-Tony Peeples; LP-Mark Higgins in relief of Mark
Bennett |
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Mark Bennett and
Casa Trejo came within one strike of dethroning two-time
defending Best of the West champions Team Rainey Sunday afternoon at
Winchester, California. Casa Trejo scored one run in the
third inning on singles by
Frank E. Jimenez
and Frank A.
Jimenez. Casa Trejo starter Mark Bennett pitched
brilliantly, shutting out the powerful Rainey lineup through
five, finally surrendering a two out RBI single to Chris Wright
in the sixth, which brought home Jason Porto who reached on a
walk. Still, he took a 2-1 lead into the seventh.
In the Rainey seventh, Ralph Salcido hit a line shot down the
first baseline that was speared by
Cesar Rodriguez
for the first
out. Tony Acedo then hit a soft flair into left field that
fell in for a base hit. Jesse Duncan followed with a line drive single to right
center, with pinch runner Dale Lopes advancing to third.
With one out, Mark Bennett got Mike Butler on a pop-out to third
base for the second out. Bennett then worked Rod Rainey to
a 1-2 count, one strike away from the win.
It was not to
be however, as Rainey bounced a single to the hole at short for
the game tying RBI. Bennett escaped the inning though, and
the game advanced to a tie breaking eighth inning. Just
minutes after Rainey had tied the game at 2, Fred Garcia split
the gap in left center with a double to bring home Mark Higgins
who started the inning at second base. Rainey starter Tony Peeples bore down though, retiring the next three batters in a
row without the ball leaving the infield (strikeout, pop up to
first and another strikeout).
Mark Higgins came on in
relief of Mark Bennett to start the eighth.
Rainey tied
the game in the bottom of the eighth on two hard infield hits by Nate Devine and RBI infield hit by Chris Wright. Rainey
had two runners aboard with only one out in the inning, but this
time it was Higgins bearing down to get the final two outs of the
inning, leaving the score tied at 3 at the end of the eighth.
Casa Trejo failed to advance the tie breaking runner in the top
of the ninth, with the first batter popping up the bunt to
catcher Tony Acedo and Peeples getting two more ground outs to
end the inning.
Jesse Duncan started the bottom of the
ninth at second base. Mark Higgins struck out Mike Butler for
the first out. Once again it was
Rod Rainey at the plate
with the game on the line. And for the second time, Rainey
delivered with a single to left field, Duncan stopped at third,
but Rod Rainey rounded first and drew a throw from the shortstop
on the relay from left. The throw was off the mark, and
went into right field, and Jesse Duncan jogged home with the
winning run, and with it -- a third consecutive Best of the West
title for
Team Rainey.
Chris Wright was named
the Most Valuable Player, with 8 hits in the final day,
including 6 in the final two games along with 5 RBI.
Tony Peeples
was tabbed as the Most Valuable Pitcher, overcoming a
number of defensive miscues from the usually solid Rainey
defense, and going the full nine innings needed for the win.
Peeples was at his best in the title game when his team needed
it the most, particularly in the late innings. |
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RECAPS FROM ROUND ROBIN GAMES PLAYED SATURDAY, JULY 31, 2004 |
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Game 1: Team Rainey 5, Page Brake 1 |
| WP-Travis Price (1 hitter); LP-Chris Kemper |
| Team Rainey's Roy
Guinaldo, Ralph Salcido and Jason Porto had 2 hits each in the
win. |
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Game 2: Casa Trejo 40+ 6, The Leafs 0 |
| WP-Mark Bennett (2 hitter); LP-Greg "Spud" Barker |
| Casa Trejo's Frank (Paco)
Jimenez was 4-4. |
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Game 3: Captain Dan's 5, The Bombers 4 |
| WP-Rich Woods; LP-Sonny Perkins |
| Captain Dan's
player-manager Don Didion took matters into his own hands, belting a grand
slam home run for his team in the win. |
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Game 4: Mexicali Secc. 37 Fastpitch 10, Edge 5 |
| WP-Alejandro Villalobos; LP-Russ Snow |
| Mexicali's Julio
Mendez had 2 hits to lead the way. |
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Game 5: The Bombers 6, Team Rainey 5 (8 innings, tie breaker) |
| WP-Tony Hunhoff in relief of Sonny
Perkins; LP-Tony Peeples |
| The Bomber's Juan
Carlos had the game winning hit, while teammate Mario Perez had 2
hits. |
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Game 6: Edge 8, Leafs 0 |
| WP-Cary Weiler; LP-Greg "Spud" Barker |
| The Edge's Keith
Barker homered in the win. |
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Game 7: Page Brake 7, Captain
Dan's 0 |
| WP-Mike Lorange (2 hitter). LP-Chad Hardesty |
| Page's Tommy Gray
and Chad Alvey each had 2 hits and scored 2 runs. Blake
Miller scored two more for the Utah team. |
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Game 8: Casa Trejo 3, Mexicali 2 |
| WP-Mark Bennett; LP-Gabriel Marquez |
| Casa's veteran
Fred Garcia was a perfect 4 for 4 in the win. |
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Game 9: The Bombers 14, Page Brake 0 (3 innings) |
| WP-Panfilo Valdez; LP-Chris Kemper |
| The Bomber's
Carlos Verdugo had a 3 run homer, Pepe Aguila also homered;
Albert Mendibles added two triples, while Damian Guerrero also
had 2 RBI. |
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Game 10: Mexicali 12, Leafs
0 (5 innings) |
| WP-Alejandro Villalobos; LP-Greg "Spud" Barker |
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Game 11: Team Rainey 9,
Captain Dans 5 |
| WP-Travis Price; LP-Rich Woods |
| Team
Rainey third baseman Ralph Salcido homered and
tripled, while teammates Rod Rainey, Jason Porto, Mike
Butler and Jesse Duncan all had triples. Captain
Dan's Brian Fowler doubled, Neil Sauerheber tripled
and Chad Hardesty had an RBI in the losing effort. |
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Game 12: Edge 3,
Casa Trejo 1 |
| WP-Anthony
Martinez in relief of Russ Snow; LP-Mark Bennett |
| Keith
Barker singled in the first tie breaker run, while
Raul Ramirez added an insurance run with an RBI
single. |
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2004 Best of The West Tournament Announced
Schedule and Announcement of Venue Change
Winchester CA, July 25, 2004 – With a last minute venue change from
Soboba Sports Complex to beautiful new Winchester Park Softball Complex,
the 14th Annual Best of The West will be played July 31 – Aug 1, as
originally planned. The complex is still only about a 15 minute drive from
the Hotels in Hemet, CA. Eight top Teams will compete for the Best of The
West title, with two-time defending champion Team Rainey returning to
attempt a Three-Peat. Team Rainey is currently ranked 12th in the World,
based upon ISC final rankings prior to the ISC World Tournament, to be
held in Fargo, ND Aug 13-21, 2004.
“Much thanks to Sam Goepp of the Valley Wide Recreation & Parks District
for coming through with the facility at Winchester Park Softball Complex,
at the very last minute” stated Tournament Director Dave Blackburn.
“Without Sam’s cooperation and understanding, the Tournament was
temporarily in jeopardy, when we lost access top the Soboba Sports Complex
on Saturday July 31, due to a private wedding. I am happy to be holding
the 14th Best of The West Tournament at this excellent new 3 field complex
at Winchester Park”.
Directions to the Complex and Hotels are listed after the schedule.
Addresses are also listed for ease of use with Mapquest.
2004 Best of The West Fastpitch Tournament
Schedule
POOL A
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Team Rainey, Whittier CA
Page Brake, Salt Lake City UT
The Bombers, Yucaipa CA
Captain Dan’s, Lakewood CA
POOL B
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The Leafs, Fullerton, CA
Casa Trejo 40+, Yucaipa CA
Edge Fastpitch, Lakewood, CA
Secc 37 Fastpitch, Mexicali MX
SATURDAY JULY 31
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Game #1
9:00 AM Field #1
Team Rainey Vs Page Brake
Game #2
9:00 AM Field #2
The Leafs Vs Casa Trejo 40+
Game #3
10:45 AM Field #1
The Bombers Vs Captain Dans
Game #4
10:45 AM Field #2
Edge Fastpitch Vs Mexicali Secc. 37 Fastpitch
Game #5
12:30 PM Field #1
Team Rainey Vs The Bombers
Game #6
12:30 PM Field #2
The Leafs Vs Edge Fastpitch
Game #7
2:15 PM Field #1
Page Brake Vs Captain Dans
Game #8
2:15 PM Field #2
Casa Trejo 40+ Vs Mexicali Secc. 37 Fastpitch
Game #9
4:00 PM Field #1
The Bombers Vs Page Brake
Game #10
4:00 PM Field #2
The Leafs Vs Mexicali Secc.37 Fastpitch
Game #11
5:45 PM Field #1
Team Rainey Vs Captain Dans
Game #12
5:45 PM Field #2
Casa Trejo 40+ Vs Edge Fastpitch
SUNDAY AUGUST 1
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Single Elimination Championship Play
4 Quarterfinal Games
Game # 13
8:30 AM Field # 1
Pool A 2nd Place Vs. Pool B 3rd Place
Game # 14
8:30 AM Field # 2
Pool A 3rd Place Vs. Pool B 2nd Place
Game # 15
10:15 AM Field # 1
Pool A 1st Place Vs. Pool B 4th Place
Game # 16
10:15 AM Field # 2
Pool A 4th Place Vs. Pool B 1st Place
2 Semi-Final Games
Game # 17
12:00 Noon Field # 1
Winner Game # 13 Vs. Winner Game # 15
Game #18
12:00 Noon Field # 2
Winner Game # 14 Vs. Winner Game # 16
Championship Game
Game # 19
1:45 PM Field #1
Winner Game # 17 Vs. Winner Game # 18
The Complex is located right behind the Winchester Elementary School,
which is located at:
28751 Winchester Rd., Winchester , CA 92596. Use this address in Mapquest
for directions.
Driving Directions using the 60 (Pomona) Freeway from the LA County Areas
to the Complex:
Take CA-60 E toward I-5 S/SANTA ANA/POMONA.
Take I-215 S toward SAN DIEGO
Take the CA-74 E exit toward HEMET
Keep LEFT at the fork in the ramp, which becomes CA-74
Turn RIGHT onto WINCHESTER RD/CA-79
Turn Right at HADDOCK ST, and the Complex is located behind the
Winchester Elementary School, which is at 28751 WINCHESTER RD.
Hotels that have available rooms in Hemet
Best Western - Hemet
2625 W Florida Av, Hemet
(909) 925-6605
Motel 6 - Hemet
(909) 929-8900
3885 W Florida Ave, Hemet
See you at the Ball Park on Saturday July 31.
Dave Blackburn
Tournament Director
14th Annual 2004 Best of The West
Men's Fastpitch Softball Tournament
Email: daveb@virtvent.com
310-266-7803
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