EN FUEGO: BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONS!
THEY BEAT NUNYA IN THE TITLE GAME FOR THE SECOND SEASON IN A
ROW.
April 14, 2011LAGUNA HILLS – FINAL: En Fuego 31, Nunya 16
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By
winning the 2011 Spring Thursday Championship En Fuego didn't
just continue their dominance in the highly competitive Thursday
night league at Laguna Hills they seemed to raise it up another
level as they pummeled Nunya in the championship game for the
second time in as many seasons, 31-16. With two mercy
championship wins in a row over an extremely tough opponent such
as Nunya as well as continuing to have the best overall record
season after season, En Fuego has continued to prove their
dominance against the best of the best. "Getting to the top of
the mountain is a challenge," said En Fuego third baseman
Jason England, who had a stellar
season for En Fuego batting .630 with a .725 on base percentage,
"staying on top when everyone is trying to knock you off is
another story."
As much as En Fuego opponents strive to knock them off the
mountain En Fuego seems to equally thrive on the challenge.
"It's the competition." Said En Fuego right fielder
Kevin Lorton, En Fuego's co-most
valuable player who went 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs
to help lead En Fuego in the championship game. “We have always
wanted to compete in the best leagues and against the most
competitive teams." En Fuego has proven over time, the tougher
the opponent the more determination by a team that rises to the
occasion.
Nunya (7-5) took care of business by getting by Stac Pac (7-3-1)
in the first round playoff match up 16-14 to advance to the
finals where they would await the winner of the En Fuego and the
3 Inch Killers game. En Fuego (9-2-1) would jump out to an early
lead on 3 Inch Killers (6-5) and led 9-5 when rain came and
halted the game in the bottom of the first inning. After two
delays Nunya's wait would now be a week. The rain and poor field
conditions caused the suspension of the En Fuego and 3 Inch
Killers game and the playoffs were postponed.
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One week later En Fuego received surprising news when they were
informed they would advance to the championship game when 3 Inch
Killers were unable to field a team for the makeup date and
forfeited the first round playoff game. This set up the rematch
of last season’s championship game between Nunya and En Fuego.
In the championship Nunya scored six runs in the top of the
first but En Fuego would answer back with five runs. After both
teams failed to score in the second Nunya plated six more runs
in the top of the third to lead by seven. En Fuego managed a run
in the bottom of the third to get within six runs. Nunya then
added a run in the top of the fourth to once again go up by
seven, 13-6. Although it appeared as if Nunya was controlling
the game an En Fuego storm was brewing. "In recent times,
trailing in games hasn't fazed us." Said
Vince Petruzzi. Poised and
confident, En Fuego would erupt for eleven runs in the bottom of
the fourth inning. They rattled off eleven hits including
Jerry Langner's first of two
three run home runs in the game. Langner was the game MVP going
3-for-4 with two home runs, seven RBI and three runs scored. For
the first time En Fuego took the lead 17-13 after four innings.
As experienced as Nunya is you could clearly notice the momentum
swing towards En Fuego in the faces of their opponent. As
expected this was going to be a battle as Nunya scored three
times in the top of the fifth to make it a one run game, En
Fuego 17, Nunya 16. The offensive attack by En Fuego was
relentless and continued in the bottom of the fifth inning once
again led by Langner. En Fuego collected twelve more hits as
their first thirteen batters reached base as they scored
fourteen runs including Langner's second three run home run in
as many innings, for the walk-off mercy championship win 31-16.
Said
En Fuego Manager Craig Watkins.
"It was back and forth, and then it was over." For Nunya it was
stunning as all they could do was watch as En Fuego rolled to
the big victory for the second time in as many seasons.
Second baseman Mike Kerr went
4-for-4 with four RBI and scored three times and Petruzzi also
went 4-for-4, drove in two, and scored three runs in the win.
Corrie Willkie went 3-for-3 and
scored four runs. Co-MVP Jason
Martnick went 2-for-4, scored twice, and drove in four runs.
Martnick led the team with a .727 batting avg., 32 hits, and 11
doubles. Greg Reynolds added two
hits and walked once while scoring twice and drove in two runs
in the victory.
It was another typical En Fuego "team" victory and season.
"There's a sense of trust and security with the teams
consistency". Said Watkins. "It's understated when you've been
playing alongside some of the same guy for years. You believe in
him because you know what he can do."
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Notes: On February 24, 2011 En Fuego trailed Nunya 19-9 in the
last inning of a regular season game when they scored 11 runs
for the come from behind win to shock Nunya. It was the second
win of the season against Nunya and including the championship
game En Fuego went 3-0 versus Nunya to sweep the season
series...En Fuego had twelve of fourteen batters hit above .500
during the season, seven batted .600 or better and two batted
above .700 for the season...Martnick's team leading .727 batting
avg. kept Mooneyham from another Triple Crown…Mooney had another
outstanding season for En Fuego batting .703 and led the team
with eight home runs and 33 RBI in only nine games...Ryan
Johnson also had a big season for En Fuego, challenging
Mooneyham with 6 home runs and 26 RBI both second to Mooneyham
in only eight games respectively...In only eight games
Cesar Reyes batted .600 with six
extra base hits on the season…Collectively the En Fuego team
batting average was .601 for the season as they scored 20 or
more runs in 10 of 11 games...On March 31, 2011 the highly
anticipated 100th game between En Fuego and Stac Pac was played.
Stac Pac came away with the victory 17-14 this time but En Fuego
leads the all-time series 55-43-2...En
Fuego has now appeared in thirteen consecutive championship
games in the Thursday league at Laguna Hill winning three out of
the last four championships. |
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EN
FUEGO SOFTBALL CLUB
2011 SPRING
THURSDAY NIGHT LAGUNA HILLS LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
Top Row (L to R): Mike Kerr,
Greg Reynolds, Kevin Lorton, Jason Martnick, Jerry Langner, Justin Shultz,
Cesar Reyes.
Bottom Row (L to R): Jason England, James Verdi, Craig Watkins, Ryan Johnson,
Vince Petruzzi, Corrie Willkie (Not pictured: Jason Mooneyham). |
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