Saturday's Report

Southern California ASA Championship

July 12-13, 2003 - Santa Fe Springs - Saturday's Report

Raymar's Raul Ramirez slides in safe ahead of tag by Pantera's Fernie Ramirez

The Southern California championships got underway Saturday July 12, 2003 at Little Lake Park in Santa Fe Springs, California, where twelve ASA "C" teams are vying for two berths the ASA "C" National tournament in College Station, Texas, over the Labor Day weekend.

The tournament is a modified double elimination, meaning that only an unbeaten team will win the Southern California championship, though the second berth will be awarded to the loser's bracket champion.

Winner's Bracket Games

In 9:00 a.m. first round games, it was the Amigos over the So Cal Rebels, 8-5, L.A. Kanakas over Palm Springs Express, San Diego Fastpitch over the Panteras, and the Damn Yankees prevailing over the Gamecocks, 8-2.

Paul Castillo's bases loaded triple keyed Rounders win

In second round games, the Amigos stayed hot, edging Raymar 3-2, advancing to the winner's bracket semi-finals. The Amigos' opponent will be the El Segundo Rounders, who sent the L.A. Kanakas into the lower bracket with a 7-2 win. That game was much closer than the score indicated. The Kanakas took a 2-0 lead in the 3rd inning when Jimmy Buentello singled home two with two outs. The Rounders bounced right back and took a 3-2 lead. Going into the bottom of the sixth, the Rounders still led 3-2, until the Rounder's Paul Castillo broke the game open with a bases loaded triple to the gap in right center. The Rounders added one more for the 7-2 final. Mitch Mendenhall was the winner pitcher for the Rounders, staying out of trouble, and not having to face the heart of the order with men aboard.

Meanwhile, the other two second round winner's bracket, San Diego beat the L.A. Heat 5-3, while Genesis routed Damn Yankees, 16-3. Dan Zupp was the winning pitcher for San Diego, while Joe Crawford delivered the key hit, a 2 run triple, then came home to score another as San Diego pulled away.

Loser's Bracket

In afternoon loser's bracket games, the Panteras won a slugfest with Raymar in the heat of the day, 11-7, with Fernie Ramirez picking up the win. The Kanakas eliminated the Gamecocks.

Ernie Marez's So Cal Rebels eliminated the L.A. Heat, while Palm Springs, playing without a number of their regulars still managed to defeat Damn Yankees.

The 5:00 p.m. games of the day proved to be among the best. The Kanakas jumped out to a 5-0 lead against the Panteras, but Fernie's crew battled back to tie the game and took a 7-7 tie into the 7th inning. But the Kanakas prevailed as Arnie Apostel stroked a line drive single to the gap in left center for the game winner, bringing home Mike Manlinguis from third, with two out.

A few minutes later, Palm Springs appeared to have stolen a win -- literally, when "Big D" Darrly Goree stole home in the top of the 7th -- from second base, no less. (He was advancing to third base when the Rebels pitcher and catcher conferenced near the pitcher's circle, and Darryl kept going, to break the 4-4 tie.

So Cal Rebels Jeff Vasquez is all smiles after delivering game winning hit in bottom of 7th inning

However, Ernie Marez's team was not rattled, and rallied for two runs in the bottom of the 7th inning. Milton Smith doubled home the tying run, then scored the winning run, when Rebel's right fielder Jeff Vasquez bounced a base hit to right field to end the game.

Twelve teams started the day on Saturday, but only six remain: four unbeatens: Amigos, the El Segundo Rounders, San Diego Fastpitch and Genesis, while the Kanakas and So Cal Rebels are the only two survivors in the loser's bracket. The tournament is a modified double elimination, so one loss eliminates any chance of winning the tournament. Two bids to the ASA "C" Nationals will be awarded, however, with one going to the tournament champion, and another to the second place team that wins the loser's bracket.

Winner's bracket semi-finals start at 9:00 a.m., Loser's bracket gamses at 11 am, Championship game at 1pm and the battle ofr second place at 3:00 p.m.

Games are at Little Lake Park in Santa Fe Springs.

Milton Smith's drove home the tying run for the So Cal Rebels with a 7th inning double, then scored the winning run on Jeff Vasquez's single to right; Young Brian McNaughton came on in relief for the win

For Winner's and Loser's brackets, click links at upper left.

For Photo Gallery from Saturday, July 12, click the camera: