| 1995-2005
- EN FUEGO MILESTONE: 10 YEARS OF EN FUEGO SOFTBALL
September
13, 2005
LADERA
RANCH FIELDS – FINAL: En Fuego 21, Coral Farms 13
September
12, 2005 marked the 10-year anniversary of the first game in En
Fuego softball team history. The team didn’t plan a celebration
party and did little to acknowledge the long time standing of the
club in South Orange County softball, but as En Fuego nears 600
games and 400 wins they take a look back over 10 years of softball.
It
all started like most softball teams, some friends get together and
make up a team as in the case of En Fuego’s first line-up.
The team founder’s manager Jason Teague and general manager Vince
Petruzzi assembled players and friends from various teams. There
has been a lot of softball played along the way with a lot of good
times and classic memories. Through the ups and downs En
Fuego has been able to keep a consistent core of players while
adding key components over the years. The tradition has grown
strong, as En Fuego has continued a level of consistency over the
years that is nearly unparalleled. Few teams have stuck together for
this long period of time and few have been as successful for this
long as well.
“It’s
been an amazing run, if you really think about it.” Said manager
Craig Watkins “What we have been able to sustain for such a long
time makes me proud.” En Fuego, as of their ten year anniversary,
has compiled a record of 396 wins 184 losses and 11 ties in a total
of 591 games for a .679 winning pct while playing in 37 leagues and
37 tournaments. “Hopefully we can make it at least another ten
years together.” Said catcher Jason
Santoro. “I am glad we
have kept the same core together all these years, we haven't had to
make too many changes over the years and still teams bring out their
'A' team to beat the red and black.” Said outfielder Vince
Petruzzi.
Although
about 100 players have donned the En Fuego jersey over the years a
core of six to eight players have stayed with the club for most of
the past ten years.
Officially the team has had only three managers over the
years (Jason Teague, Jason England, and Craig Watkins), but for the
majority of the wins and games played Craig Watkins has been at the
helm and is known by most team members simply as ‘Coach’.
Some core players have locked up positions on the team over
the years and are known by those positions, which has made it easy
for manager Craig Watkins when filling out the line-up each game.
In
the 37 leagues En Fuego has entered they have played at numerous
fields winning at least one championship at each location including:
Oso Viejo Fields, Chapparosa Park, Alicia Park, Trabuco Hills
High School, Ladera Ranch Fields, Laguna Hills Field, and Tustin
Sports Complex.
Although the majority of the 37 tournaments have been played
in Orange County the team has traveled as far as Palm Springs, Simi
Valley, Torrance, and most recently to St. George, Utah.
Most of the memorable trips and success have been during the
weekends in Palm Springs, but En Fuego has also had some great wins
in Huntington Beach at Worthy Park and Edison Field.
One
day after the 10-year milestone En Fuego opened up a new season at
the Ladera Ranch Fields in Mission Viejo. It was their first league
game played there since the summer of 2004 when En Fuego finished
runner-up to league champ Stac Pac. En Fuego met the veteran team
Coral Farms in the opener and began the start of another solid ten
years with a 21-13 win. Santoro and outfielder
Kevin Lorton led the
way with four hits each.
Newcomer Jeff Johnson homered in his first game with the team
and Corrie Willkie added a two-run shot to contribute to the En
Fuego victory.
Notes:
With the win En Fuego is now only three wins shy of 400 in club
history…It was the 592nd game in team history as well…En Fuego
is playing on Tuesday and Thursday nights this fall, it is the first
time the team has played two nights in the fall since
1996…Outfielder Jerry Langner, who along with Johnson, made his En
Fuego debut collecting his first hit as a member of the team in his
very first at bat.
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