Click Here to see Long Beach Black Sox Stats for 2005 season: Sox News
Fred Hanker overcame a slow start to lead the Sox in no less than 8 offensive categories, and was among the leaders in 3 more. Fred was 1st in Avg: (.523), OBP: (.577), Slg: (.937), Hits: (58), 2B’s: (21), W (15), Extra base hits: (30) and total bases: (104), as well as 2nd in HR: (7), runs (36) and 3rd in RBI: (34).
First year shortstop Andy Martinez did more than throw some great leather. The 27 year old led the Sox in runs scored (42), singles (49), and stolen bases (8), and was 2nd in hits (52), OBP (.459), and third in Avg. (.413), and walks (13).
Dale Lopes had a fine year at the plate, but, uh, Dale, about that E.R.A. ! (well, as Fred said, Dale “took one for the team”)
Sox pitchers Chuck Vranich (16-5) and Randy Clay (13-6) were a combined 29-11 on the year.
In just their second year in the So Cal ASA Alliance, the Sox finished third, winning three of the seven Alliance events held, the first one in Palm Springs, another mid-season, and the last one of the year just a couple weeks ago. The Sox were the only team in the Alliance to win more than one tournament during the season. They are among six teams from the Alliance to have qualified for the ASA “C” Nationals to be held in Stockton, California, September 1-5, 2005.
Visit the Sox site for a lot more.