It was quite "Z" weekend for San Diego
Fastpitch, as they captured the So Cal ASA's second
league weekend tournament at De Muth Park at Palm Springs, on Sunday, March 2,
2003. San Diego's "Z-man" pitcher Dan Zupp led the way, pitching San Diego
to the championship, including a hard fought 6-5 win over the Kanakas in the
title game. San Diego was 5-1 on the weekend, going 2-1 in Saturday in round
robin play, and a perfect 3-0 on Sunday in the single elimination bracket,
with wins over Santana Concrete, Genesis, and the Kanakas. Zupp received
plenty of help from the (3) Nuanez brothers, John, Joe and Jaime, and third
baseman Jay Crawley, who homered on Sunday, capping one of the San Diego wins.
Remarkably, San Diego won the championship
without their second pitcher, Lee Thomas.
Dan Zupp
(pictured at left), like his counterpart on
the Kanakas, Joe Edwards, was a workhorse, pitching in all of his team's
games, and a perfect 5-0 on the weekend. (Add that to the perfect 3-0
weekend of the other "Z-man", Billy Zylstra, of the El Segundo Rounders, and
that's 8-0 for "Z" weekend!)
San Diego didn't do things the easy way,
playing finding themselves in close games throughout the weekend, but managing
to find the magic when it counted.
Third baseman Jay Crawley was steady all
weekend both on defense and at the plate, where he went 6-16, with 3 home runs
and 12 RBI's. Terry Brightwell was also steady all weekend at the plate where
he went 8-17, with 2 RBI's.
Jaime Nuanez and younger cousin Michael
Romero helped out on immensely Sunday providing the much needed speed in the
outfield and steady sticks on offense, going 5-10, with 2 RBI's and 8-10 with
a homerun, and 2 RBI's respectively.
RECAP OF SAN DIEGO'S MARCH TO THE TITLE:
Saturday's Round Robin:
San Diego was 2-1 in Saturday's round robin
play, and captured the top seed in the "B" Pool, which consisted of Graceful
Wood, the Panteras, and the Amigos.
Game 1 vs Graceful Wood (Won 6-5):
John Nuanez took the rubber in the first
game for San Diego. Despite falling behind 4-0, the crew from San Diego
fought back to tie the game 4-4, after scoring 2 runs in the 2nd inning on a
2-run homer by Jay Crawley and added 2 more runs in the 4th inning. In the top
of the 5th inning, Dan Zupp entered the game and pitched 5 strong innings,
surrendering only 1 run in the 1st of 3 "Tie Breaker" innings.
Game 2 vs Amigos (Lost 9-0):
Dan Zupp was scheduled to start this game,
but because he pitched the unexpected 5 innings in the first game, and the
fact that this game immediately followed the first game, San Diego opted to
give the ball to John Nuanez to start the game. In their only loss of the
weekend, San Diego surrendered 4 runs in the 1st and another 4 runs in the 2nd
inning, to a very good hitting team. Once again, San Diego turned to ace Dan
Zupp, who threw the final 2 2/3 innings surrendering only 1 more run. It was
too little too late though, as San Diego could not find its offense, and the
game was called due to the run rule. (Wonder if anyone would have
predicted a San Diego championship for the weekend at this point?)
Game 3 vs Panteras (Won 8-6):
If there were any doubters about San Diego,
this game sent a message that San Diego was determined to find its game. Dan
Zupp started and finished this game (6 innings). Jay Crawley again provided
much of the offense contributing 4 RBI's, his last 2 RBI's, coming by way of
another 2-run homer, proved to be the game winner as they were their final 2
runs. Dan Zupp pitched very well against a very explosive Panteras lineup,
holding them to 1 run most of the game before they exploded for 5 runs in the
final inning before Dan finally ended the game with a strike out.
The 2-1 round robin finish was good enough
for the top seed in the "B" Pool, and a first round bye, til the 11:30am game.
More importantly, it gave San Diego an opportunity to get some
"reinforcements" for Sunday's single elimination bracket, in the form of Jaime
Nuanez and Michael Romero. The two were a welcome arrival for San Diego,
combining for 13 hits between them. Jaime Nuanez was 5 for 10, while Romero
was an unbelievable 8 for 10. Meanwhile, the Kanakas managed to get some of
their regulars to the ballpark on Sunday as well, enroute to the title game.
Sunday's Single Elimination Bracket
Game 1 vs Santana Concrete (Won 4-3):
Dan once again started and finished this
game (7 innings). This was a hard fought win against a very tough Dave Meltz,
who kept San Diego's hitters off balance much of the game. San Diego led 2-1
going into the 7th inning. With 2 outs, though, Santana Concrete scored 2 runs
on a fly ball that at first appeared to be a routine final out, however, the
left fielder lost ball as it moved directly into the sun. Dow 3-2 in the
bottom of the 7th, Santana's left fielder suffered a similar fate on a fly
ball hit by Jay Crawley, losing it the sun, and allowed Crawley to reach 3rd
base. Terry Brightwell brought Jay home with the tying run on a RBI single,
followed by a single by Michael Romero. Bryan "Woody" Woodworth, ended the
game with a 2 out RBI single to right field, and San Diego, in the parlance of
Jimmy Valvano, had "survived and advanced".
Game 2 vs Genesis (Won 7-4):
Dan Zupp again got the starting nod, and
went the distance enroute to the semi-final win. Joe Nuanez, Terry Brightwell,
Jay Crawley, and Jaime Nuanez had two hits each, while Nuanezs' younger cousin
Michael Romero was 3 for 3. Crawley again provided the power, with a 3-run
homer, the big blow in the game.
Z-man Dan Zupp was strong, surrendering
only 7 hits over the 6 inning performance against a potent Genisis offense.
Dan was also supported with some great defensive plays. Trailing 7-4 in the
5th inning with runners at 2nd and 3rd, Doug Shaw was brought in to pinch hit
and he hit a rocket to Woody Woodworth at 2nd base that ricochet off of his
knee to shortstop Mike York who proceeded to throw out Doug Shaw by a step for
the 3rd out of the inning.
Championship Game vs Kanakas (Won 6-5):
San Diego entered the championship game
with a 5-1 record, and not surprisingly, handed the ball once again to Dan
Zupp. Zupp was again brilliant, appearing to get stronger as the day wore
on.
San Diego 1st:
Woody Woodworth grounded out to 2nd (1 out), while Joe Nuanez
singled. Brian Webb reached base on an unsuccessful fielders choice. Mike
York followed with an RBI single bringing in Joe Nuanez from second. Webb was
thrown out trying to advance to 2nd for the second out, and Jay Crawley flew
out to center for the third out. (SD Fastpitch 1, Kanakas 0)
Kanakas 1st: Hector Spathias
reached base on an error, and was sacrificed to second by Jimmy Buentello,
pitcher to second baseman covering. Big Rick Mc Carthy then launched a 2 run
homer to give the Kanakas the lead. Kanakas 2, SD Fastpitch 1
San Diego 3rd: After Woody Woodworth
opened the inning with a fly out to right, Joe Nuanze singled to center,
followed by a Brian W. single to left. Mike Y. flew out to left for the
second out, but Jay Crawley singled home Joe Nuanez with a single to center.
With the game tied, brother Jaime Nuanez singled down the left field line to
bring home the go-ahead run. With the bases loaded, Kanakas pitcher Joe
Edwards escaped the jam with a pitcher-to-home ground out to end the inning.
(SD 3, Kanakas 2).
As the Kanakas came off the field, however,
a bit of controversy erupted, and continued as the players headed for their
dugout. Word were exchanged between pitcher Joe Edwards and his teammates.
After the shouting was over, Edwards grabbed his gear and left the ballpark.
Hector Spathias was pressed into duty and pitched the rest of the way for the
Kanakas.
Kanakas 3rd: The outburst appeared
to motivate the Kanakas, though, as they tied the game. Hector Spathias led
off the inning with a solo homer to center field. Mc Carthy just missed
homering for the second time in the game, with a fly out about 5-10 feet from
the (slo-pitch distance) fence. Zupp escaped the inning with the score still
tied at 3. (SD 3, Kanakas 3)
San Diego 4th: Johnny Nuanez was
hit by pitch, and sacrificed to second by Woody Woodworth, pitcher to the
second baseman covering. Joe Nuanez single brother Johnny home, for a 4-3 San
Diego lead. (SD 4, Kanakas 3)
San Diego 5th:
Jay Crawley popped out to first for the first out, while Jaime Nuanez gronded
out to short for the second out. With two out and no one aboard, young
Michael Romero delivered again, this time with a solo homer to right center
field. (SD 5, Kanakas 3)
San Diego 6th:
Woody Woodworth singled to right, stole second, and reached third on a
throwing error to second. Joe Nuanez walked to put runners at the corners.
Brian W. brought home what would prove to be the winning run with a sacrifice
fly to center. The inning ended when Joe Nuanez was called out for leaving
the base early. (SD 6, Kanakas 3)
Dan Zupp took a 6-3 lead into the final
frame, but the Kanakas would not go quietly.
Kanakas 7th: With one out, Arnie
Apostol singled to center. Hector Spathias flew out to center for the second
out. Jimmy Buentello kept the Kanakas hopes alive, with a single to center.
Apostol scored on a wild pitch [SEE PHOTO BELOW] San Diego catcher Joe Nuanez
insisted he tagged Apostol out, but the umpire did not agree. To quote the
old TV show, "you make the call" after viewing the photo. Rick McCarthy
followed the play, with another RBI hit, driving home Buentello to cut the
lead to 6-5. Zupp then reached back, and prompted a fly out to left by Louie
to end the game, and give San Diego the first place hardware.
With the victory over Genesis in the final
game of the day, the Rounders finished 6-1, with the best overall record on
the weekend, and the third place trophy. Unlike many consolation third place
games, this one meant something, as the victory enabled the Rounders to catch
Genesis for first place in the alliance. San Diego is now a couple of points
behind the Rounders and Genesis after two league weekends.
The Rounder's own "Z-man", big Billy
Zylstra notched a perfect 3-0 record on the weekend, including back to back
shutouts over the Kanakas and Raymar on Saturday to go with his win over
Genesis on Sunday. The Rounders played seven games on the weekend, but never
faced a team out of their own pool, the "A" pool. The Rounders defeated
Genesis Saturday morning, 4-2, Santana 10-2, Kanakas 2-0, Raymar, 8-0, Raymar
again Sunday, lost to the Kanakas 4-2, then defeated Genesis to end the day.
The offensive outbursts by the Rounders were powered by nearly every member of
the team, with Paul Castillo, Eric Geierman and Tom Morton having huge
weekends at plate. Jim Crotzer added a handful of RBI's to the mix.
All five "A" Pool teams made it to the
second round of the "Elite Eight" second round of Sunday's elimination
bracket, and three of the four teams in the semi-finals (Kanakas, Rounders and
Genesis) came from the same "A" Pool, San Diego being the notable exception.
Longtime fastpitch booster Vicki Oltean and
her crew from the City of Palm Springs put on (another) well run tournament,
complete with a full concession, and fields in top notch condition. Oh, and
course, there are those the postcard perfect vistas in nearly every direction,
and weather in the 70's during the day, with crisper evenings and mornings in
the low 50's. Snow-capped mountains provide a beatuful backdrop, rising high
over the City of Palm Springs. With plenty of lodging and restaurants, Palm
Springs Fastpitch remains a great destination for So Cal's fastpitch players
and fans.
Be sure to log into the official So Cal ASA
website for more details and photos. Speaking of the official So Cal ASA
site, can you spot commish Robert Hernandez in Maddy's photo gallery here?
Hint: he's in uniform.
The So Cal ASA will return to Palm Springs
once more, on April 5 and 6, 2003, before the hot weather rolls in. First,
however, teams will return to Santa Fe Springs on March 22-23, 2003 for a bit
of March madness, hosted by Raymar.
The El Segundo Rounders, meanwhile, are off
to Las Vegas over the St. Paddy's Day weekend, to compete in the third annual
"Swing Swing" tournament, hosted by David Bell. The Rounders are the two-time
defending champions of the event, going undefeated (9-0) in the past two
years. Last year, the Rounders knocked off a tough El Paso Texas team in the
finale.
Sunday, March 2
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
San Diego Fastpitch 6, Kanakas 5. WP-Dan Zupp;
LP-Hector Spathias;
THIRD PLACE GAME:
El Segundo Rounders 9, Genesis 4. WP-Billy Zylstra;
LP-Joe Salcido
SEMI-FINAL GAMES:
San Diego Fastpitch 7, Genesis 4. WP-Dan Zupp;
LP-Wayne Geisler
Kanakas 4, El Segundo Rounders 2, 6 inn. WP-Joe
Edwards; LP-Jim Flanagan
QUARTER-FINAL GAMES:
Genesis over Damn Yankees
San Diego over Santana Concrete
Kanakas over Panteras
Rounders over Raymar
Seeding for Sunday:
A POOL:
-
El Segundo Rounders (Third place)
-
Santana Concrete
-
Kanakas (Second place)
-
Genesis (Fourth place)
-
Raymar
B POOL:
-
San Diego (First place)
-
Panteras
-
Graceful Wood
-
Amigos
C POOL:
-
Damn Yankees
-
Gamecocks
-
Palm Springs
-
So Cal Rebels
Weather for the tournament
weekend:
FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE 40S.
HIGHS 67 TO 77.