The Amigos and Long Beach Black Sox came to Stockton with high hopes, finishing second and third, respectively in the tough So Cal Alliance league. The Black Sox were the only team to win more than one league tournament, winning three, including the last one of the year in July. When the manager’s draw was completed on Wednesday, they found themselves staring at the prospect of playing each other, in a second round winner’s bracket (if both won) or elimination bracket game (if both lost) Unfortunately for both clubs, it was the latter, as both teams suffered tough losses in their first games Thursday at the ASA “C” Nationals, against two strong opponents.
The Black Sox faced off against the Santa Rosa Storm, which finished third in two qualifying tournaments earlier, including the Memorial Weekend event won by McLaughlin Air and where the Rounders finished second. The Sox led 6-2 in the game but Santa Rose stormed back, and won the game, 8-7.
The Amigos faced the Nielson Gamblers, which finished 9th in last year’s 70 team ASA “C” Nationals in Nebraska, going 3-2. The Amigos came out on the short end of a 5-3 score against the Gamblers.
And so Friday morning, at 10am, the two teams, the Amigos and the Black Sox found themselves squaring off in an elimination bracket game. Gino Sarracho of the Amigos came up big, with two home runs and 5 RBI to carry the Amigos to the next round, and oust the Long Beach Black Sox from the tournament. Sarracho hit a three run shot in the third to stake his team to an early 4-1 lead, then crushed the Sox hopes in the 7th with a two run shot to extend the lead to 7-2. The Black Sox rallied in the 7th, loading the bases with one out, scoring one, but a fly out and ground out ended their season Friday morning. Click here to read Black Sox player-manager Fred Hanker’s final notes on the tournament.
Sorry to hear that Black Sox. Congratulations to the Amigos. Thanks for the updates Jim though I may be the only one left here in SoCal watching and waiting to hear.