FORT MYERS, Fla. - The good news is that we no longer have curfews. The bad news is that we no longer have curfews.
While we all appreciated your posts of support and encouragement, the National Wind didn't live up to our expectations, or yours, in dropping an 11-4 decision to the Ohio Classics in the first round of the 4A Roy Hobbs baseball tournament at Hammonds Stadium, home of the Minnesota Twins.
It was a week in which we tried to get as much rest as possible between days, yet still enjoy some of the night life in a very warm southwest Florida climate. Rest is now no longer on our radar.
Jerry Solomon got the start against the 5-seed team based mostly out of the Cincinnati region of the state. The Wind were the home team by virtue of being the 4-seed. The Classic wasted no time in getting started. Solomon, despite two walks in the first inning, still deserved a better fate as the Classic scored five runs on just one hit and never looked back.
The Classic opened the first with two walks. The Wind then committed three errors - one in the IF and one in the OF and on a pop-up dropped at first base in foul territory that would have been the second out of the inning. After a wild pitch, The Classic got its first hit of the game and two more runs scored to make it 4-0. After another wold pitch, the runner scored on a grounder to second base.
The Wind temporarily collected themselves and began a run to cu the deficit to 5-3 after 3. Tom Maney, Tim Brown, Ralph Caputo and Wayne Carney all had key hits and the Wind felt like ol' Mo was taking a turn. The Classic, with just 11 players on the roster, then answered with a 6-spot in the 5th on three errors, two infield singles and a double to make it 11-3.
The Wind still believed it would show some gust. Jim Konstantakis came on in the 6th and stopped the Classic on just two hits over the next three innings. But the Wind could just muster up up just one big threat - that in the 8th inning when Caputo crushed a single to center to open the inning, but was erased on a fielder's choice. With two outs, Wayne Newcomb lined a single to drive in Caputo, Paul Watson singled, but a grounder to first ended the threat.
John LaTorre pitched a perfect 9th, but the Wind went down in order to end the game and the tournament for the Wind.
Ralph Caputo was named the Wind MVP for the tournament with Wayne Newcomb finishing a close second. Terry Barton and Tim Brown also garnered votes from the team.
jimk
-- Edited by sfgiants on Friday 22nd of November 2013 04:03:59 PM
It's very hard to win one of these marathon tournaments... Next year a roster of 20 and 10 pitchers.... Then I'll come down and rent out the pink shell and be ur myxologist for the occasion Saturday night! Every kind of rum concoction that u can think of! Tough one men.... Pitching and Defense! Sour taste for sure... I'm not sure I like the stadium games... There aren't as many areas to warm up... Could have made a difference? Ahhh the elusive ring! All for the RING!
Stadium games were a blast except that the Twins stadium is under construction. We simply didn't play well enough when we needed to. The Ohio Classics were a better team than us that day, and you only get one chance to prove who is the better team.
The unbeaten and top-seed NorCal Giants then beat Ohio 10-2 to advance to this morning's finals against the Bill Lee/Mike Caldwell-led New England Red Sox.
New England ousted The Seattle-based Washington Titans, 7-1. John Olerud's father catches for the Titans.
Our team, by far, was the smallest market team in 4A. So being seeded 4 was something to be proud of. And, yes Pete, we will try to load up on pitching next year and already have our sights set on two more we'd like to have join us. The wheels are always turning, brother. We WILL be back.
Great, great showing fellas....It's always tough when you lose, especially when you know you didn't play your best...but an outstanding week none the less...!!
With this years post season efforts at a close, I want to announce that today is day one of the training season for the Cubs trip to Florida in 2014 to take the 45+ Fall Classic. The motto for the 2014 effort is "No excuses!" My 2006 Fall Classic ring is lonely!!! The training for the road to the rings starts today!!!
NO - you guys didn't let anyone down. To the contrary - you guys were noticed and made significant waves with the Hobbs organization this year. What you've done is shown that some of the better BB players are from right here in our area. You've inspired a lot of players to work harder at their games and increase the participation from this area on the national scene.
