EC All Stars win Puerto Rico 25+
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| The East Coast All Stars won the Caribbean Winter Baseball Championships in Puerto Rico |
East Coast All Stars 10, NY Seminoles 6
By Jeff McGaw, MSBL On-Line
Las Piniero homered and doubled, and Jose Garcia had two hits and three RBI as the East Coast Cardinals defeated the NY Seminoles in the 25-and-over finals at the 18th Annual Caribbean Winter Baseball Championship in Puerto Rico.
Hard throwing Jason Benson, who pitched his team into the finals at the Holiday Classic at Disney in January, scattered 10 hits to earn the complete-game win.
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The All Stars scored five runs in the second inning to take a 7-3 lead and never looked back – at least for long. Garcia, who was named the team's tournament MVP, stroked a one-out, two-run single up the middle to give his team a 5-3 lead. Cleanup man Juan Rodriguez and right fielder Cesar Guzman added RBI singles to put the Stars ahead 7-3.
Garcia was 10-for-17 in the tournament and 2-for-5 with three RBI in the finals. Hot bats and good pitching keyed the championship run. Ray Astio and manager Reggie Benson both batted .500 for the tournament. Benson tacked on five RBI. Cefar Guzman batted a crisp .429 while teammate Dave Scaringe hit .357. Jonathan Gonzalez closed two games for the All Stars while David Chavez, Chris Yager, Cefa Paez, Clay Schmeisser and Kenny Van Brunt Jr. did most of the heavy lifting on the mound.The All Stars added a unique memory to their Puerto Rico experience – a midnight game. When inclement weather rendered Rio Grande Stadium's field unplayable, tournament officials made the decision to move extra games to Roberto Clemente Walker stadium. |
| East Coast MVP Jose Garcia |
On the promise that they would have |
an afternoon game the next day, instead of a morning game, the All Stars played and defeated the Puerto Rico Nationals that niht to clinch a playoff berth.
"Puerto Rico is a agreat tournament,” Benson said. "It's good competition. It's fun and it's a beautiful island. I go there a week ahead with my wife just to enjoy the island.”
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25+ Division |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
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R |
H |
E |
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NY Seminoles |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
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6 |
10 |
3 |
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EC All Stars |
2 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
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10 |
10 |
6 |
WP—Jason Benson. Leading Hitters – (All Stars) Jose Garcia, 2x3, 3 RBI; Juan Rodriguez 2x3, 2 RBI; Cesar Guzman 2x3; Laz Piniero 2x3; Jose Chinea 2 RBI. 2B—Piniero. 3B-Chinea. HR—Piniero. SB—Dave Scaringe ((EC) 3; Jose Garcia (EC); Robert Rodriguez (EC).