Las Vegas Road Trip VI

FINAL RESULTS FROM LAS VEGAS

The competition was fantastic this weekend and the winners are:

The Rhinos charge past the Toro's in the AA/AA-Major

Maccabi USA wins over the Souvenirs in the A-Major

Rude-Pac flexes some muscle to take the A over Colton

The Las Vegas road trip was played on April 13-14 at Sunset and Warm Springs Parks, just south of the famous Las Vegas strip.  Weather this year was much more favorable than last year when it seemed like there wasn't going to be a game played.  Temperatures were in the low 90's with a little wind on Saturday and no humidity, so the Midwest guys were wondering why they couldn't feel the heat on them.  That’s right, it’s a dry heat.

Once again the tournament grew in size and quality.  The first year of the Road Trip there were 19 teams in 2 classifications, this year there were 34 teams in 3 classifications.  While the tournament has always had its share of good teams and pitchers, this year all 3 classifications out-did themselves.    The biggest question in all classifications, since it was the first tourney of the year for most, was how the players would hold up in the heat.  As the teams wanted, it was only a 2-day event and teams in the losers bracket could be playing a lot of games.  The Lacey A’s, managed by NAFA founder Pat Bucknell, had the honor (?) of playing the most games in the tournament and getting their money’s worth as they played 4 games each day before losing in the final of the lower bracket to take third in the AA-Major.  The Long Beach Wolf Pack played 7 games in the A bracket taking third place.  There were a few others that played 6 games in all classifications.

The AA/AA-Major teams all had quality pitching, and watching the games proved that.  At the start of the tournament it seemed like anyone had a chance to win.  There were a few champions from past tournaments, including New Image, WI, Sta Cecilla, Baja, Mex, and Defending champions SAA of Utah.  The competition was fierce on Saturday with a lot of close games and what some thought were upsets.  Come Sunday morning, the final 4 teams in the lower bracket were looking at a long day ahead of them if they kept winning.

As mentioned above, the Lacey A’s were on a roll and kept winning to get to the last of the lower bracket game against the Topeka Toro’s of Kansas.  The Toro’s were 3-1 at this point, losing to the Rhinos of Baja, Mex in the winner’s bracket final.  In this game, the Toro’s had Tony Buckley in the circle against Rob Hunter.  The Lacey A’s got on the board first with Darin Michael scoring after signaling at the leadoff spot and moving around the bases to score on a sacrifice fly.   In the top of the second, the Toro’s scored 5 runs on two hits, including a triple by Dwayne Corcoran. 

The score remained the same until the bottom of the 3rd with the A’s taking advantage of an error to score 2 more runs and an additional run in the 4th to get within 1 run, 5-4 with Josh Pettett coming in relief of Buckley.  The Toro’s came back in the 4th with 3 runs to extend the score to 8-4.  In the inning they had 5 hits including a 2-run double by Jared Pinkerton.  Shawn Koster came in for relief of Hunter in the inning.  Pettett held off the A’s for the remainder of the game to get the Toro’s into the championship game and a rematch with the Rhinos.

In the Championship game, Pettett kept the ball for the Toro’s against veteran Panafilo Valdez of the Rhino’s.  They came into the game with 4-0 record with wins against Page Break, UT, Geo Per, Tx,, Texas Carnage, TX and the Toro’s.  Both teams had some chances to score in the early innings, but the pitchers were able to get out of trouble and keep the score 0-0 until the top of the 4th.  With 1 out, Chris Leaf tripled and scored on a fielder’s choice.  After another one scored and the second out, the Toro’s scored 2 more runs on an error by the Rhinos right fielder to take a 4-0 lead.  In the 6th, the Rhinos were finally able to get on the board scoring 3 runs and taking advantage of an error to get within 1 run.

In the seventh, Joe Bruley walked to get on base for the Toro’s and scored on a double by Dean Bales.  The Toro’s took a 2 run lead into the bottom of the 7th.  Able Sanchez opened the inning with a single.  Alan Salgado took Pettett to a full count before earning a walk to get the tying run to first.  Derek Mason was the next batter and taking a tough pitch that the Toro’s thought was strike three, hit a triple past the Toro’s centerfield who attempted to dive for the ball.  Both runs scored to tie the game.  Tony Gonzales, Jr was the next batter and he blooped a single over the second baseman to win the game and championship for the Rhinos. 

Rhinos - Baja, Mexico	Topeka Toro's - Kansas

The A-Major had 6 teams in the tournament with all having about the same caliber of pitching.  Maccabi USA, PA and Spokane Souvenirs, WA were the teams that were in the Saturday afternoon winner's bracket final with Maccabi beating Spokane to go to the championship game Sunday afternoon.

In the lower bracket final, Spokane had Dominic Mason in the circle against Josh Gray of the Wabash Elite from Indiana.  Wabash was making their first appearance at the Road Trip.  

Wabash was the visitors and Josh Fields opened the game up with a single and scored, along with Dave Spargo who had walked, on a triple by Luke Harness.  Wabash had more chances to break the inning open with 3 more singles, but runners were caught at the plate twice to end the inning.  In their half of the inning, Spokane took advantage of a dropped third strike to get the leadoff man Nick Leva on board and he scored on a double by Mike Koentopp.  Mike also scored to tie the game at 2 runs apiece.  

Spokane scored 2 more runs in the bottom of the second with 3 hits including a 2-run double by Leva.  The rest of the the game saw limited runners on base until Spokane threatened in the last inning.  With the bases loaded Koentopp hit a line drive to second and the runner at first was forced out as well.  Gray struck the last batter out and Wabash remained only 2 runs behind.  Mason only allowed a one out walk in the final inning to end the game 4-2 and send Spokane to the championship game and a rematch with Maccabi.

Maccabi USA was 3-0 going into the championship game with wins over the Atoka Jaguars, OK, Juarez FP, TX and Spokane.  Jason Gluckman was in the circle against Spokane's Jim Robinson.  Leva led off for Spokane and scored the first run of the game.  Maccabi answered right back as leadoff hitter Larry Silfen walked and came around to score to tie the game.

In the top of the 2nd Spokane’s Collin French tripled to open the inning and scored on a passed ball.  In the bottom of the inning Maccabi took advantage of two walks to open the inning with Paul Rubin doubling in two runs.  Maccabi scored 4 more times in the inning on 2 base hits and an error to take 7-1 lead.  In the 3rd, the first two batters walked again and scored and Rubens had his second double of the game in the inning as well.  Maccabi was now up 10-2 and Gluckman was coasting to the championship.  In the game, he had 8 strikeouts in 5 innings and only allowed 2 hits. 

Maccabi USA, PA	Spokane Souvenirs - Washington

In the A classification there were 14 teams entered into the tournament.  Rude-Pac, CA and the Colton Dirtbags, CA faced each other in the winners bracket final on Sunday afternoon with Rude-Pac coming out on top 10-5.  This sent Colton to the lower bracket final against the Long Beach Wolfpack, CA.  Colton had earlier wins against Reloaded, CA and San Diego Primetime.  The Wolfpack had a little longer route to the game as this would be their 7th game of the weekend. 

The Dirtbags had Jesse Martinez in the circle against Graham Balog of the Wolfpack.  The Dirtbags scored 3 runs in their first at bat including a 2-run double by Donavan Reyes.  The Wolfpack came back with 2 in their half of the inning to make the score 3-2.  The Wolfpack added 2 more runs in the 3rd to take the lead.

Colton scratched out a run in the 5th and 6th to take a brief lead as the Wolfpack tied the game in the bottom of the 6th.  Tommy Obergon came in relief of Martinez in the 5th inning for the Dirtbags.  In the 7th the Dirtbags produced a one to take back the lead going into the final at-bat.  Obergon retired the side in order to preserve the win and head to the Championship game against Rude-Pac.

Rude-Pac was playing their 5th game of the tournament and had a 4-0 record against the Farmington Natives, NM, Burbank Self-Made, CA, Beer Nuts, CA and Colton.  Long time Las Vegas pitcher Dennis Webb was in the circle for  Rude-Pac against Obergon of the Dirtbags. 

Rude-Pac came out strong scoring 6 runs in the first two innings including an RBI triple by Luis Perez.  Martinez replaced Obergon in the 2nd in the pitchers circle.  Rude-Pac added a run each in the 4th and 5th inning.  Colton played tough getting a run in the 5th to keep the game going and preventing the run rule from taking place, but Rude-Pac scored a run in their half of the 6th to end the game and the championship and Webb the win.  In the game, Webb scattered 4 hits and had 3 strikeouts.

Rude-Pac, CA	Colton Dirtbags - CA

Next year with Easter on April 20th, the Road Trip will more than likely be played either the weekend of April 5/6 or April 12/13.  For those that made the trip, we hope you had a safe trip home and that you plan on coming back next year.  For those that weren’t able to make it, hopefully you can plan ahead and come to the tournament next year. 

Stats for the tournament will be up shortly on this site.