Sacramento Firebirds Win 18A World Championship

The Sacramento Firebirds, a team comprised of players from the 18AAA Barons, Brewers, Firebirds, Redbirds, 18AA Red Sox and 30AA Gators won the 18A NABA World Championship Tournament on Sunday October 5th.  The Firebirds finished pool play with a 4-1 record and the fifth seed in the playoffs.  In the playoffs the Firebirds absolutely dominated their opponents, winning by scores of 13-1, 13-3 and 11-3.  Championship Game MVP Honors went to Jerran Hamelin of the Barons who went 4-5 with 3 RBI's capping off a 9-10 8 RBI final day.  Jerran also won the Home Run Derby on Friday night.  Curtis Broome pitched a six hit complete game.  Congratulations to the Firebirds.  Visit http://www.sacfirebirds.com for more information

Bases Loaded Sharks Finish Second in 18 Open

The team was comprised of 6 40 year olds a couple 30 something and the rest 20 year olds. We went 5-0 in the pool and won the Pool trophy. We were the number 2 seed and played the number 6 seed game one of the playoffs. Despite hitting well and getting a lot of base runners, we were losing in the bottom of the ninth 6-3. Stranding too many runner and giving up too many runs on errors. Keith Miller managed to keep us in the game and Steve Connally closed it to keep it close. In the bottom of the ninth we managed to score 4 runs in one of the most thrilling victories of the tournament.

In game two of the play-offs we were facing a team that also was undefeated except for a forfeited game. The successful protest which caused the forfeit was for an illegal player and the game was against the Sharks. Since the illegal player forfeit was against the Sharks this set up a pay back grudge match in the Arizona teams mind. The trash talk preceded the evening before and continued up until game time. The Sharks stayed out of the trash talk contest and remained calm and quiet (most of us anyway). However, we did our talking on the field were it counted, with a 15-5 10 run rule victory. This was especially sweet as the Sharks 18A/AA team last year faced this team and had a good game ending in a 4-2 win.

In the Championship we battle ahead for a brief moment in the early innings only to give back the lead on a two error inning. But the game remained close even in the ninth with the DB Darts barely holding onto their 8-6 lead. With two runners on in scoring position the Sharks number 5 hitter flew out to the outfield. DB Darts successfully twarted several Sharks rallys with great defense and likewise the Sharks shut down the DB Dart attack that had 10 run ruled most teams. The DB Darts first two play-off games were won by the 10 run rule. DB Darts finished pool play as the number one seed and the Sharks as the number two, and so the tournament ended that way.

Special thanks to the great pitching the Sharks - including Dave Moore, Nate Brooks, Ron Arostegui, Mark Woefle, Steve Connally (who also hit 429), James Norberg, and Keith Miller (who also palyed OF and hit two triples). Sacramento also welcomes a new comer to the Sharks and Phoenix baseball - Doug Govan who caught all but two games and was the defensive find of the tournament for the Sharks. Doug threw out almost all base stealers against the Sharks and also picked off three runners at first. Once with the bases loaded and two outs. In most games a past ball was just no seen. Also thanks to a last minute fill in Dan Flores who played nearly every position at one time or another.

In hitting this tournament, special mention should go to James Norberg who had a great hitting tournament leading the team with a 571 Average, followed closely by Doug Govan at 538 and Phil Sosa at 424, Steve Connally at 429, and the 300 plus hitters included Paul Joncich, Ken Miller, Charles Scuitti, Wil Bunkley, Jason Christian, and Bruce Volpe. Also Govan, Charles Scuitti and Keith Miller lead the team with 2 triples each, and Norberg, Joncich, Jason Christian and Ken Miller had one triple each setting a new Sharks record of 10 triples for the tournament. Plus we must mention Kudo's to Kenny (TUTU) Miller who hit one over the center field fence at around the 400 Mark, just to prove it could be done.

In the championship game special mention to Kenny for his 2 doubles for 3 ABS and two walks in the Championship game, giving him a 4 for 5 on base performace. Also Paul Joncich (pretty boy Newsman as we call him) for a great defensive tournament and a 3 for 5 performance in the Champioship game. We held a telepromter that said hit for him and ho followed. Everyone on the team hit over 200 except one and he was a hard working coach and should be completely forgiven for a bad hitting tournament, especially since his wife brings the scrilla.

All in all great fun for everyone at this tournament and we will be back next year to go for the ring. NO more watches willbe our battle cry in 2004.

Other Sacramento Teams Make Playoffs

In the 48 & Over Division the California Patriots also made it to the Championship Game only to lose and finish as the runner-up in their division.  More details on this game will be released when they become available.

Also in the 48 & Over Division the Old Gold reached the first round of the playoffs only to be knocked off. 

Complete results and details will be released when they become available or can be found at www.dugout.org