Diamond Notes- July/ August 2007
August 20, 2007
All Star Baseball Academy will be holding a tryout for their fall teams on Sunday August 26. Here is a link for more info: ASBA Tryout
August 8, 2007
The Arizona Firebirds were eliminated from the Connie Mack World Series on Tuesday night after an 8-3 loss to the Dallas Tigers. The Tigers, who played their way in to the Series by winning the Arizona Qualifier in June, loaded the bases in the first before Tant Shepard cranked a grand slam off 'birds starter Devin Fuller for a 4-0 lead. The Tigers would tack on 3 more in the second and never look back. Danny Coulombe relieved Fuller and retired 10 f the last 12 batters he faced, but the AZ bats never got untracked. Tony Strazzara had a pair of knocks and an RBI to lead the attack. Riccio Torrez was 1-3 with a Sac Fly RBI.
August 7, 2007
The Dallas Baseball Academy handed the Arizona Firebirds their first loss of the Connie Mack World Series with a 9-1 mercy rule decision. DBAT had eliminated the 'birds earlier this summer in the Arizona Qualifier tournament, and it was more of the same this time.
DBAT catcher Cameron Rupp is a stud, and he proved it again last night, going 2-3 at the dish and cranking a long homer over the batter's eye. DBAT smoked the ball all night for 10 hits, eight of them of the extra base variety off starter Xorge Martinez from Cochise College and reliever Aaron Rhodes.
For the Firebirds, Zack MacPhee was 3-3 and Matt Newman 2-3 in the losing cause.
The Firebirds face off with the Dallas Tigers at 5:15 tonight in an elimination game.
August 5, 2007
The Arizona Firebirds took their opening game of the 2007 Connie Mack World Series in impressive fashion, dropping the Jack Cust Diamond Jacks (NJ) 9-1 in a mercy rule win. The 'birds broke open a 2-1 game in the bottom of the 4th with solo blasts from Jake Schlander, Woody Nisbet and Zack MacPhee to key the route. Sammy Solis went the distance for the win allowing 4 hits and only 2 walks. Nisbet was 3-3, adding a double, a single and 3 RBIs to his solo homer. The Firebirds face off Monday night against DBAT from Dallas, Texas.
The bracket starts to get tough for the 'birds on Monday. DBat is a tough team that appeared in the CM Qualifier held here in June. A lot of power and some tough arms. The winner gets the privilege of facing off with the Midland Redskins, a perennial national power. The loser gets an elimination game date with the Dallas Tigers who won the Arizona Qualifier.
August 4, 2007
The Arizona Firebirds will begin the defense of their Connie Mack World Series championship tonight in round 1 action in Farmington NM.
Action began last night with a pair of games and will continue through Friday August 10.
Here's the updated bracket.
July 30, 2007
The Arizona Firebirds will have the opportunity to defend their Connie Mack World Series title after claiming the Western Regional in Irvine, Ca yesterday.
The 'birds entered Sunday's championship as the only undefeated team in the tournament, facing the Orange County Renegades. The Rengeades neede to sweep a pair from the Arizona squad, and started the day off with an 11-8 victory, setting up a winner take all final.
With Sammy Solis on the hill and a sense of urgency at the plate, it was no contest. The Firebirds boat raced the Renegades 22-1 to earn the trip to Farmington NM.
The Angels Blue team from Arizona also had a nice tournament, making their way to the final 4 teams before being eliminated by the Renegades.
July 23. 2007
Jaff Decker cranked a pair of towering 2 run homers and earned the win on the mound as the Arizona Firebirds claimed the Connie Mack State Championship over the Angels Blue Team on Sunday at Surprise Stadium. Both teams qualified for the Connie Mack Western regional in Irvine, California, beginning this Wednesday July 25.
Jaff Decker dealing for the Firebirds (L) ASBA's Philip Konieczny puts the tag on Colton Zebe of the Angels
On Saturday night, the Firebirds run ruled All Star Baseball Academy in the early game to set up a meeting with the Angels. A win would send the 'birds to the title game and send the Angels packing. Instead, North High's P.J. Mendoza, a 2009 right hander, tossed a gem of a game, leading the Angels to a 7-5 win. Firebird pitching had trouble finding the zone, walking in 5 runs in one inning without allowing a hit. The Angel's win set up a scenario where 3 teams with one loss would advance to Sunday's championship play.
All Star would defeat Rocky Mountain Baseball behind Merrill Kelly to advance to Sunday.
After a blind draw to determine the pairings, the Angels would battle All Star 2007 in the early game Sunday with the winner earning a spot in the regional and the right to battle the 'birds for the state title. After staking All Star to a 2-0 early lead, Jake Saylor would uncork a 4th inning 2 run blast into the left field bullpen to tie the game. The Angels would score a pair in the top of the seventh to take a 4-2 lead. In the bottom half, ASBA's Mike Delos would lead off with what appeared to be a base knock between short and third. Angels SS Chris Murphy made a spectacular diving play and scrambled to his feet to throw out Delos at first. On the next pitch, Jimmy Patterson would launch a massive bomb over the bullpen in left field to make the score 4-3. That was all ASBA could muster, and the Angels, playing with only 9 players all weekend, would earn the right to travel to Irvine for the Western Regional.
Andy Hunter delivers for the Tucson Wildcats (L) Jake Saylor gets some love after his game tying homer on Sunday
At the Mickey Mantle Western Regional in Tucson, All Star Baseball 2009 went into Sunday's Championship round undefeated against the No Cal Rockies, who would need to sweep ASBA to advance. The Rockies would rise to the occasion, taking a double dip and advancing to the Mickey Mantle World Series in McKinney Texas.
July 16, 2007
The Arizona Firebirds and All Star Baseball 2009 advanced to the 2007 Mickey Mantle Western regional by claiming the top 2 spots in the state tournament this weekend. The two teams split of pair of games on Saturday night and Sunday morning. ASBA 2009 will claim the #1 seed from Arizona by virtue of a coin flip. The western regional will be held next weekend in Tucson.
Tyler Doolittle puts the tag on Mike Pomeroy
Andrew Walter on the mound for the Firebirds
The Ahwatukee Warriors took home the Sandy Koufax State Championship by defeating the Dodgers on Sunday morning. They will advance to the Western regional in West Covina , CA next weekend.
The 2007 Sandy Koufax State Champion Ahwatukee Warriors
July 14, 2007
Mike Pomeroy delivers for ASBA '09 (left) as Ryan Wescott swings it for the Firebirds in last night's Mickey Mantle play
Here are game results from last night in the Sandy Koufax (14U) and Mickey Mantle (16U) State Tournaments:
In Koufax:
The Ahwatukee Warriors defeated the AZ Pilots 13-0 and will play the Dodgers tonight at 5:30.
In Round 1 Mantle play:
All Star Baseball (ASBA) 2010 edged the Players Academy 8-7
Firebirds defeated Douglas 14-0
Tucson High topped the Garden of Gears in a mercy rule.
ASBA 2009 dropped Northwest baseball 15-5.
In Round 2:
Firebirds over ASBA 2010 14-0
ASBA 2009 run ruled Tucson high
Douglas eliminated Players Academy
Garden of Gears eliminated NW Baseball 4-3
July 12, 2007
The state tournaments for Mickey Mantle (16U) and Sandy Koufax (14U) baseball will be held this weekend at the Surprise Sports Complex. Mantle games begin Friday at 5:30 and 8:00 on the Royals side of the complex. The first round Koufax games will be played at 5:00 Friday on the Rangers side. The Koufax bracket is here, the Mantle bracket will be up later today.
The Connie Mack state tournament will be held next week, July 20-22 at Surprise.