Beacons
Slay Goliaths To Win Expansion Series
October
15, 2009 (Federal League Wire Service)
The Lighthouse Point Beacons
won their second consecutive, and record tying seventh overall,
Expansion Series championship with a resounding 14-7 win over
the Davie Goliaths in the fifth and final game of the series.
Brant
Spring, just as he did in last season's Game 5, started for the
Beacons and turned in a bulldog performance to earn the win.
Despite a sore groin, Spring tossed seven innings, allowing five
earned runs on 11 hits. Spring reversed his numbers from his
Game 3 start as he walked only one and struck out five.
Matt
Sperry started for the Philistines and took the loss after
permitting seven runs on six hits and five walks in just over
three innings.
The
Goliaths opened the scoring in the top of the first as Danny
Negron led off with a single and scored three batters later on a
single by David Bourns.
The
Beacons immediately responded with three runs in their half of
the first. Jimmy Efre and Keith Nicoll walked to open the frame.
After advancing on a ground out, both runners scored on Chris
Basso's RBI single. Jeff Fazio's bloop single to right moved
Basso to third, and Jose Morales' single scored Basso.
In
the second, the B's stretched their lead to 4-1. Doug Robinson
led off with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Nicoll.
An RBI single by Randy Talley in the top of the third cut the
lead to 4-2, but the Guiding Lights pushed three runs across in
the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-2 lead and drive Sperry
from the hill.
A
two run double by Jamie Siragusa and a long sacrifice fly by Pat
Vadala gave the Beacons a five run advantage.
The
Goliaths did not fold, however, scoring twice in the fifth to
make the score 7-4. An RBI double by Negron and another RBI
single by Talley reduced their deficit to three.
A
four run rally in the home half of the fifth gave the
Illuminators a commanding 11-4 lead. Robinson, Efre, and Nicoll
opened with consecutive singles to load the bases. Vadala's RBI
single scored Robinson. Basso drew a walk to force home Efre,
and Nicoll scored on Fazio's sacrifice fly.
After
the Goliaths scored a run in the top of the sixth on the daring
base running of Jose De Los Rios, Pat "Babe" Vadala
punctuated the Beacons' offensive explosion with a three run
home run in the bottom of the sixth to give the defending champs
a 14-5 lead.
An
RBI single by David Cruz and a run scoring double by Terrence
Broussard in the top of the seventh capped the scoring.
Basso
relieved Spring and pitched two scoreless innings to seal the win.
In
the top of the ninth, one out singles by Bourns and Cruz gave
the G-Men a glimmer of hope, but Broussard lined out to third
and the quick thinking Morales threw to Nicoll at second to trap
Bourns off the bag for a game ending, and series ending, double
play.
After
the game, the editors of South Florida Baseball Report awarded
Pat Vadala the playoff MVP. Vadala hit .350 in the series with
two home runs, seven RBI, and nine runs scored.
For
the Goliaths, the loss was a disappointment as the were unable
to send departing manager Jason Silver out a winner. Silver, who
led the Goliaths to four league titles in nine seasons, will be
moving on to manage a team in the Senior Circuit next season.
David Bourns was named as his successor.
For
the Beacons, this championship represented a character test.
After recording a perfect regular season, the Expansion Series
presented the team with their first taste of adversity. While it
may not have been an artistic success, the Illuminators
responded and delivered another championship.
Expansion
Series Highlights-Goliaths Edge Beacons In Game 4: The Davie Goliaths have
forced a fifth and final game in the Expansion Series after
notching a 5-4 win in Game 4, Monday night.
Eric
Brotherhood tossed a complete game six hitter for the
Philistines. Brotherhood walked six and struck out six.
Jimmy
Efre went the distance for the Illuminators and took the loss
after allowing four earned runs on nine hits. Efre walked three
and whiffed four.
The
Goliaths struck for three runs in the bottom of the first after
loading the bases with none out. David Bourns singled in one run
and Terrence Broussard singled in two more. Randy Talley's long
home run leading off he third gave the G-Men a 4-0 advantage.
The
Beacons struck for three runs in the fourth. After Pat Vadala
reached on an error, walks to Chris Basso and Jeff Fazio loaded
the bases. Jose Morales was hit by a pitch to bring in Vadala,
and Brant Spring singled up the middle to drive in Basso and
Fazio.
In
the bottom of the fifth, Brian Genetti's two out bloop single to
right drove in Jason Silver with an all important insurance run.
Genetti was only in the lineup because David Cruz had removed
himself from the game after the first inning for an unspecified
cause. The Goliaths were also hampered as centerfielder Michael
Kandersack injured his ankle after being tagged out in a rundown
in the fourth. Kandersack, whose status for Game 5 remains
unclear, injured his ankle after being picked off first by Efre.
The
Beacons' best opportunity to stage a rally came in the top of
the seventh inning. Spring led off with another single and
moved to second as Doug Robinson drew a walk. Efre walked to
load the bases before Keith Nicoll bounced into a force play at
second. Spring scored on the plat to cut the margin to 5-4, but
after Jamie Siragusa walked to refill the bases, Brotherhood
induced Vadala to ground into an inning ending double play.
The
Beacons did bring the go ahead run to the plate with two out in
the ninth after Nicoll singled, but Brotherhood fanned Siragusa
to end the game.
The
series will go to Game 5 for a second consecutive season as
Brant Spring (0-1 in the series) opposes Matt Sperry (also 0-1)
on Wednesday night at Coral Glades.
Expansion
Series Highlights-Beacons Persevere In Game 3: The Lighthouse Point Beacons
survived a little internal drama and a ninth inning rally born
of their own wildness as they defeated the Davie Goliaths, 8-5,
in Game 3 of the Expansion Series. The win gave the Illuminators
a two games to one lead in the best of five series.
Brant
Spring started for the Beacons against Matt Sperry for the
Goliaths in a rematch of Game 1. Spring was lifted in the fifth
inning with a 6-2 lead and was visibly upset with the decision.
Spring was charged with two runs on four hits in four innings.
The normally accurate Spring walked five and hit three batters,
while striking out one.
Sperry,
meanwhile, took the loss after allowing eight runs on seven hits
and six walks in five and two thirds innings.
Chris
Basso, who tossed four and third innings of relief, was awarded
the win after permitting two earned runs on two hits. Jimmy Efre
got the final two outs of the game and recorded a save.
The
Beacons opened a 5-0 lead in the second inning against Sperry.
Jeff Fazio's RBI single began the scoring. Efre and Jamie
Siragusa both added two out, two run, singles in the inning.
After
the Goliaths dented the scoreboard in the top of the third on
three consecutive walks and a hit batter, the Beacons restored
their five run lead on a home run by Basso leading off the
bottom of the third.
Randy
Talley's RBI double in the fourth brought the Philistines to
within 6-2, but Joe Morales' two run single in the bottom of the
sixth gave the B's an 8-2 lead and chased Sperry from the hill.
The
G-Men added a run in the seventh aided by two Beacon errors. The
score remained 8-3 until the top of the ninth when Basso opened
the frame with a quick out before loading the bases on a walk to
Terrence Broussard and back to back hit batters.
Efre
entered in relief and retired Michael Kandersack on a bouncer to
first as Broussard scored. Efre walked Danny Negron to load the
bases before passing Jason Silver to force home another run, but
with the tying runner on first, Efre induced Talley to ground to
short. Jeff Fazio flipped to Keith Nicoll at second to force
Silver to end the threat and the game.
The
Beacons can clinch their second consecutive championship, and the
Goliaths will be hoping to force a fifth and final game, when
the series continues with Game 4, scheduled for Monday
night.
Expansion
Series Highlights-Beacons Win Game 2: Although neither team played
like they wanted it, somebody had to win Game 2 of the Expansion
Series, and, in the end, the Lighthouse Point Beacons prevailed
with a 14-13 win over the Davie Goliaths to even the series at
one game a piece.
The
teams traded the lead six times, were tied numerous times, and
the game ended with the tying run on third.
Steve
Liebrecht started for the Beacons and Eric Brotherhood started
for the Goliaths, but neither pitcher factored in the decision.
Liebrecht came out to start the third inning, but a biceps
injury prevented him from facing a batter in the frame.
Liebrecht, who permitted three runs on one hit and five walks,
may be out for the rest of the series.
After
Rick Schaut provided the Beacons with three innings of gutsy
relief, Jimmy Efre earned the win for the Illuminators. Jeff
Hall, Game 1's winner, took the loss after allowing five runs on
three hits in two innings.
Pat
Vadala's two run home run in the top of the ninth provided the
Beacons with a 14-12 lead after two Goliath errors conspired to
tie the score.
Vadala,
Jose Morales, and Jamie Siragusa led the Beacons with three
hits. Brant Spring, inserted in the lineup, had two hits and two
RBI.
David
Cruz had three hits and three RBI to pace the Philistines.
The
series continues with Game 3, scheduled for Saturday.
Expansion
Series Highlights-Goliaths Take Game 1 In 10 Innings: The longest winning streak
in Federal League history is over as the Davie Goliaths defeated
the Lighthouse Point Beacons, 9-6, in 10 innings in Game 1 of
the best of five Expansion Series. The Beacons had not lost
since Game 3 of last season's Series.
David
Bourns hit a three run home run in the top of the 10th inning to
put the Philistines ahead for good. With the score tied at 5-5,
Danny Negron had led off the extra frame with an infield hit and
moved to second on a passed ball. Jason Silver's sacrifice bunt
advanced Negron to third. With one out, the Beacons elected to
walk Randy Talley intentionally to set up a potential double
play, but Bourns lined an 0-1 pitch over the fence in left
center field to give the G-Men an 8-5 lead.
Anthony
Sanchez added an RBI single in the inning to create a four run
advantage. Doug Robinson's home run in the bottom of the inning
closed the scoring.
Matt
Sperry started for the Goliaths and pitched into the eighth.
Jeff Hall worked the final three innings, escaping jams in each
frame, and earned the win.
Brant
Spring started for the Beacons and took the loss. Spring was
charged with all nine runs, five earned, on 11 hits in nine and
two thirds innings.
The
Beacons opened the scoring in the third on Pat Vadala's RBI
single, but the Goliaths took a 4-1 lead in the fifth. After
loading the bases with none out on singles by Terrence Broussard
and Sanchez sandwiched around a hit by pitch, Boussard scored on
Michael Kandersack's ground out. Another run scored on an error
and two runs came home on Randy Talley's two run single to left.
Talley
hit a short fly to left that Jamie Siragusa momentarily
misjudged. Sanchez and Negron scored as Siragusa's diving
attempt came up just short. Talley was out at second, attempting
to stretch his hit into a double.
The
Beacons rallied to tie the score in the sixth. A sacrifice fly
by batting champion Bryce Toledo, an RBI single by Doug
Robinson, and an RBI double by Jimmy Efre brought in three runs.
Shortstop Danny Negron's alert play, trapping Efre off of
second, prevented Robinson from scoring on Efre's double as the
third out occurred before Robinson could score.
Another
Beacon error allowed the Goliaths to take a 5-4 lead in the
seventh, but the Illuminators tied the score in the bottom of
the inning on Jeff Fazio's sacrifice fly.
The
Beacons squandered opportunities to score in both the eighth and
ninth innings after putting the leadoff batter in both frames
aboard.
The
series continues with Game 2, scheduled for Wednesday night.
Team
USA Captures Senior Circuit Crown: Team USA rallied for six
runs in the top of the ninth and defeated the South Florida Sun
Devils, 7-6, in Game 4 of the Original Division's Championship
Final Series. The win gave the USAs the crown with a three games
to one series win.
Ironically,
the Sun Devils had won Game 3 on Saturday to extend the series
having rallied for six runs in the top of the ninth in that
game.
Tuesday
night in Game 4, the Solar Satans built a 6-1 lead through eight
innings. Jason Lipoff's RBI double in the third, combined with a
run scoring wild pitch gave the Devils a 2-0 lead.
The
USAs scored a run in the top of the sixth when Shaun McAndrews
walked, stole second, and scored on a one out single by Jason
Diaz. The Sun Devils quickly responded scoring four runs in the
bottom of the inning. Bryan Greer was hit by a pitch with the
bases loaded to force in one run, another run scored on a wild
pitch. Jeff Wenger's RBI single made the score 5-1, and Tino
Burgess worked a bases loaded walk as the Devils scored four
times on just two hits.
In
the meanwhile, Sun Devil starter Chris "Evel-Ka"
Snevel kept the powerful Team USA lineup at bay until the top of
the ninth. The fateful frame opened with Snevel walking both
Marty Stern and Wilmer Puerta before Hugo Hesny deposited a
three run home run over the left field fence to cut the lead to
6-4.
Sean
Grove, who won Game 3 on Saturday, relieved Snevel and retired
Alvaro Gomez on a fly ball to right field, but Ponchie Rodriguez
singled. Andrew Medina then lifted a high drive to right center
that, for a moment, looked like a game tying home run, but hit
the fence. Rodriguez went to third and Medina held at first with
a long single. Moments later, both trotted home as McAndrews
launched a home run to left center that gave the Bald Eagles a
7-6 lead.
The
Sun Devils did not go quietly in the bottom of the ninth as Matt
Stubbs led off with a single and Bryan Greer drew a two out
walk, but Marty Stern, who pitched all nine innings, got Anthony
DeFillipis to fly out to left to end the threat, the game, and
the series.
Stern
allowed eight hits, walked four, hit two, and struck out seven.
Snevel worked eight innings and permitted five runs on five
hits. Grove, who yielded three runs on three hits in one inning,
took the loss.
After
the game, the Team USA players showered manager Dennis Olmezer
with ice, but the cold reality is that financial issues may
prevent the USAs from defending their crown next season. Olmezer
has not been able to secure financing for the team and has
indicated that the Senior Circuit champs will withdraw from the
league.
In
the other dugout, the loss signaled the end of a career for Sun
Devils' manager Jon Simon. In 16 seasons, Simon piloted the Devs
to a 317-231 record and won two championships. Simon will be
replaced by long time assistant Anthony DeFillipis.
