2011 Spring Season
2011 PCBL Spring Wood Bat Championship Wed. May 25th @ 7pm / El Cariso Park Reds (6-3-1) -vs- Raiders (9-1)
Raiders Roll Reds in Wood Bat Championship By Scot Sweet / PCBL Staff Writer
|
| One thing was surely different about this years' Wood Bat Championship at El Cariso Park in the Sylmar foothills. We weren't freezing. As a matter of fact, it's the first time in recent memory that this writer didn't require a blanket and a thermos full of coffee while covering an evening championship at this usually chilly venue. And believe me ... it was a welcome surprise! This 68 degree evening brought with it two of the top teams in the Wood Bat division. First we have the top-seeded SVC raiders who lost their first game of the season; only to win out the remaining 9 games to earn the top spot. Then we have the #2-seeded Reds who fought their way into this championship last year; only to get routed by another Santa-Clarita based team; the Tigers. After speaking with coach Phil Leavitt; it was clear that nothing would be more satisfying than to avenge last years' crushing defeat with a win here at El Cariso tonight. Would they prevail? Let's head straight to the action and get our answer .... The Reds fail to score in the top half of the 1st inning; sending the SCV Raiders to the plate in the bottom of the inning to try and get on the board first in this contest. The leadoff hitter grounds out; sending Adam Geery to the plate. He singles hard to left; followed by J.C. Collins who singles to center. With 2 on and 1 out; Roger Acuna singles to left; scoring a run. He is followed by Jesse Garcia who doubles to left-center for an RBI. The Raiders score 2 runs in the inning to take the early 2-0 lead. The Raiders still led by a 2-0 margin as they came to bat in the bottom of the 5th inning. They send up Jester Garcia who is hit by a pitch. He is sacrificed over to 2nd moments later and soon scores on a fielding error. Adam Geery then responds with his 2nd hit of the ball game. J.C. Collins follows with a drive down the right field line for an RBI single. The next batter is Roger Acuna. He hits a sac fly to center for an RBI. Jesse Garcia follows with a single; his 2nd hit of the game. Brandon Loomis responds with an RBI single. When all is said and done, the SVC Raiders tally 5 runs in the inning to take a commanding 7-0 lead through 5 complete innings of play. This would sum up the scoring in this championship; as the Reds would struggle all night on offense. They come up with only 3 hits in this championship; thereby losing their 2nd straight appearance in the Spring Wood Bat Championship. They're a great bunch of guys and I'm certain that we will see them here in this spot again. But the night belonged to the Raiders ..... Congratulations to the 2011 Spring Wood Bat Champion SVC Raiders for a solid effort in this years' championship! They were solid on defense; due heavily to the MVP performance by starting pitcher Icezack Fleming. He had the Reds tied up at the plate for the entire evening; pitching a complete game shut out and allowed only 3 hits while striking out 9. Congratulations, Icezack ... on your great MVP performance! BOX SCORES |
