In the 2007 Cal Cup Tournament over the 4th of July weekend. The Newport Beach Storm came back from being down 6-0 in after six innings. The Snappers (Terrapins) had Mike Hoyt on the mound, a former closer for the Long Beach Armada (Golden Baseball League) and was Canadian pitcher of the year. The Storms Pitcher “Daniel Fenwick” with only three days rest took the mound for the Storm but came out flat which proved he need his five days of rest after giving up(4) runs in four Innings.
Hoyt held the Storm to only (2) hits threw (6) innings of work until the7th inning. The Terrapins “Tony Gonzales” had two doubles on the day and two Rbi’s. Terrapins catcher “Matt Graves” also had a great day at the plate with (3) hits on the day and (2) Rbi’s. In the seventh Inning with two runners on the Storms power hitter “Terry Mermer” hit a 400+ ft three run HR to make the score 6-3 Terrapins.
After that home run the Storm went on a hitting spree and Coach “Frank Sasone” had to pull Hoyt. The Terrapins were out of pitching which would be their down fall. With two men on base and “ Shevas Shima” at the plate Shima hit a double to score two more runs to tie the game at 6-6. No runs on either side were scored in the eighth inning after a Lehman 1-2-3 inning . Closer “Craig Stringham” shut down the Terrapins in the 9th to keep the score tied at 6-6.
In the 9th inning “Terry Mermer” led off the inning with a single up the middle to put the winning run on base. Lehman than entered pinch runner “ Jason Machado” for more speed on the bases. Machado than made it to second on a wild pitch which would turn out big. Big Daddy “Hugo Hernandez” came to the plate with one out and a man on second. Hugo hit a hard shot up the middle to centerfielder “Charles Scuitti” and the winning run was headed for home. Scuitti made a great throw to the plate but with the throw being a little wide and the speed of Machado it would not be enough and the Storm left em standing on the field for a 7-6 come from behind win.
Championship Game MVP:
Terry Mermer for his three run homerun and (3) Rbi’s and the game winning run.
Winning Pitcher: Craig Stringham (Storm)