Tournament synopsis
by Miguel Garcia
For the first time since 2009, the A’s returned to the SFBL Miami Open played in Miami Beach and Coral Gables. The tournament has been running for over 10 years with the A’s participating in over 5 of them and taking home championships in 2008 and 2009. Overall, the tournament was a great success for the league and the A’s. With great weather and a picturesque backdrop at Flamingo Park, the A’s captured all three round robin games to earn the playoff bye and then defeated the Miami Red Sox 6-1 in Monday morning’s championship for their 3rd Miami Open Championship.
The team was led by great pitching as all four starters were dominant giving up only 5 runs the entire tournament and 2 earned runs. Offensively, Alan Clark, Eric Perez, Rudy Placensia, Luis Cabral and Chicho Vengoechea had huge tournaments and the team combined to score 33 runs with a .381 batting average in the wood bat competition!
Day 3 May 27, 2013
Championship game
Miami Red Sox – 1
Coral Gables A’s – 6
Coral Gables A’s win their 3rd Miami Open championship.
by Miguel Garcia
The championship game of the 2013 Miami Open would prove to be best game of the tournament as the two teams battled the first 5 innings before the A’s broke open to win 6-1 and capture their 3rd tournament championship over the Miami Red Sox. After the Red Sox took an early 1-0 early on a costly A’s error, the A’s tied the game in the 4th with an RBI single from Chicho Vengoechea. The A’s then added 2 runs in the 5th to take the lead on a 2 run base hit from Jose Torres. The A’s put the game away in the 7th with a 3 run inning which featured 2 walks, 2 HBP, a SAC fly from Alvaro Gomez and a hit from Luis Garcia.
The A’s were led by their pitching once again as Chris Snevel took the hill and went 7 innings. Although not as dominant as the A’s are accustomed to, Chris struck out 3 and gave up only 5 hits, but did walk 5 as he was squeezed by the home plate umpire. Barry Rooks came in the 8th and pitched the final two innings and dominated with 5 strikeouts. Offensively, the A’s combined for 9 hits with 2 from Vengoechea. Eric Perez, Alvaro Gomez, Alan Clark, Rudy Placensia, and Leo Portes all added hits.
Overall, it was a great tournament. Well organized by the SFBL and well played by the A’s who were led by great pitching: 4 Win, 28 IP, 2 ER, 31 K. Offensively, the A’s were led by Alan Clark who went 9-13 (.692) with 6 runs scored and 2 doubles. Eric Perez also had a huge tournament going 6-11 (.545) with 2 doubles, 7 runs scored and 3 RBI. Luis Cabral went 5-8 (.625) with 5 RBI. George Hassell did a great job atop the lineup with a .429 OBP and 5 runs scored. Rudy Placensia played in his first tournament with the A’s since 2007 and showed signs of the past going 6-11 (.545) with a team high 5 RBI. Chicho Vengoechea also had a great tournament coming off a recent elbow surgery going 4-8 with 2 RBI. Big props also have to go out to Leo Portes who continues to disprove father time as he caught all 28 innings of the tournament and added a big hit in the championship game.
Day 2 May 26, 2013
Semi-Final Playoff
Miami Red Sox – 7
Dade Diamondbacks – 4
SFBL Hall of Famer John Emmons pitches with the bases loaded
D-Backs Steven Rozenman on the mound
D-Backs fall short in an epic battle
by Jay Habacht
In what proved to be the best game of the tournament, SFBL Hall of Fame pitcher John Emmons faced D-Backs Steven Rozenman in an epic battle. Mario Figueredo would turn a hit and a stolen base into a run in the 1st inning for a 1-0 lead. Steven Rozenman pitched a great game for The D-Backs, shutting down a potent Red Sox offense for the 1st 3 innings. The Red Sox would get on the board with 2 runs in the 4th, while The D-Backs would answer with a run for a nail-bitting 2-2 game after 4innings. The D-Backs would plate 2 important runs in the 5th, highlighted by Erick Enriquez RBI double off the right field fence for a 4-2 lead. Steven Rozenman would come out of the game after 5 innings and The Red Sox would take advantage, scoring 3 runs off D-Backs reliever Robik Leal. Robik hit the 1st 2 batters he faced and gave up 3 hits in the inning for a Red Sox 5-4 lead. Andy Celaya would come in to pitch inning 7 and 8 and give up only 1 unearned run. Chaz Lemoine pitched the 9th and gave up 1 run. The D-Backs would load the bases in the bottom of the 9th with 1 out. With the winning run at the plate, manager Jay Habacht brought in SFBL Fall 2012 homerun champion John Delgado off the bench for an exciting at-bat! John would hit a towering pop up on a belt high fastball for the 2nd out. “It was a perfect pitch to hit” said John Delgado “I should have hit that one”. Red Sox pitcher Dave Burba struck out the final batter to end a great playoff game. Erick Enriquez and Robik Leal paced the offense with 2 hits each. Steven Rozenman gave up only 2 runs in 5 IP. Great game to Mickey Filippucci and The Red Sox.
Cory Casuso safe at 3rd
Mario Figueredo tag at 2nd
D-Backs Yusbell Ortega RBI single 5th inning
D-Backs Erick Enriquez RBI double 5th inning
Robik Leal base hit 9th inning to load the bases – sending the winning run to the plate
Coral Gables A’s – 8
South Florida Rays – 0
by Miguel Garcia
Although the game was already determined to not have an effect on the A’s playoff, the team started the game were it left off on Saturday as they banged out 6 hits in 2 innings to take an early 8-0 lead. Alex Pena took the hill and earned the victory. Alan Clark continued his scorching start with another 2 hits while Eric Perez, Rudy Placensia, Jose Martinez, and Luis Cabral each added hits. George Hassell also continued to get on base with 2 walks and 2 runs scored.
Day 1 May 25, 2013
Game 1
Coral Gables A’s – 5
Dade Diamondbacks – 1
A’s Alex Arteaga throws to 1st – D-Backs Yusbell Ortega slides back
D-Backs Albert Ulloa rounds 2nd
A’s beat D-Backs in opener
by Miguel Garcia
The A’s opened tournament play versus a familiar face as Jorge Hernandez, typically part of the A’s tournament pitching roster toed the hill for the Dade Diamondbacks. But Hernandez was not able to overcome a potent A’s offense which combined for 10 hits and defeat the D’backs 5-1. The A’s were led on the hill by Alex Arteaga who went 8 innings while striking out 10 and giving up only 6 hits and 1 run. Barry Rooks pitched the final inning striking out 2 and earning the save.
Offensively, the A’s were led by Rudy Placensia who went 2-3 with a key 2 out 2 run double in the bottom of the 6th which gave the A’s a 4-0 lead. Alan Clark also had a huge game going 3-4 with an RBI and run scored. Adding hits in the victory were George Hassell, Luis Cabral, Miguel Garcia, and Ramses Tur.
D-Backs Jorge Hernandez records 1 of his 5 strikeouts
D-Backs Ariel Amory base hit 2nd inning
D-Backs Andy Chavarriaga hit 4th inning
Ground ball off pitcher D-Backs Jorge Hernandez glove – play made by Frank Lorenzo
D-Backs lose in pitcher’s duel
by Jay Habacht
It was a great morning for baseball at Flamingo Park in Miami Beach. The A’s would put up an unearned run in the 1st for a 1-0 lead, eventhough the ball never left the infield. The D-Backs would go quietly in the 1st, as A’s pitcher Alex Arteaga mixed his pitches and showed good control early. Both teams failed to score in the 2nd. The A’s would score another unearned run in the 3rd inning for a 2-0 lead. D-Backs pitcher Jorge Hernandez pitched brilliantly, but the D-Backs offense was stuck in neutral most of the game. It wasn’t until the 6th inning that the A’s would add 2 more runs for a 4-0 lead. A 7th inning 3 hit rally would plate Andy Chavarriaga on Ariel Amory’s double for a 4-1 A’s lead. The A’s would add another run in the 9th for a 5-1 final score. Jorge Hernandez pitched a complete game, 3 ER, 5K’s vs The A’s potent offense. Andy Chavarriaga was 2-3, BB, run and Ariel Amory hit the ball hard, going 2-2, 2B, BB, HB. The A’s played excellent defense all game long, making several spectacular plays when they needed it most. Good game to manager Miguel Garcia and The A’s.
Miami Red Sox – 11
South Florida Rays – 1
Cory Casuso pitched well for The Miami Red Sox. The Rays played well early on. It wasn’t until midway through the game off Rays relief pitching that The Red Sox were able to break open a 1-1 game.
Game 2
Dade Diamondbacks – 5
South Florida Rays – 1
Rays Donny Gagliano runs out a grounder to D-Backs Robik Leal
D-Backs pitcher Frank Lorenzo
D-Backs beat Rays, clinch playoff birth
by Jay Habacht
The D-Backs traveled from Miami Beach to Coral Gables High School for game 2. Frank Lorenzo took the mound for The D-Backs and assumed total control of the game. The D-Backs would score a run in each of the 1st 4 innings for a 4-0 lead after 4. The Rays went to the bullpen and were able to slow down The D-Backs’ offense. Both teams would tack on a late run for a 5-1 final score. Frank Lorenzo pitched a complete game, 1 ER, 11K’s. Mo Chavarriaga was a perfect 3-3, RBI and Albert Ulloa was 2-4, 2B, RBI. Good game to manager Dave Carnevale and assistant Jay Auriemma of The Rays.
Chaz Lemoine RBI double 3rd inning
Albert Ulloa double 6th inning
Miguel Adrian single 8th inning
D-Backs Jake Marder makes a great catch in right field
