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August 6, 2008
LAGUNA HILLS – FINAL: En Fuego 22, MVP Sports Center 11
With only one blemish on their record En Fuego (12-1) dominated
the competition from beginning to end en route to the 2008
Wednesday Laguna Hills League Championship.
In the four team league En Fuego was a sacrifice fly away from
going undefeated when they lost their final regular season game
to MVP Sports Center 24-21. En Fuego would avenge the loss by
beating MVP in the championship game 22-11. Overall on the
season En Fuego outscored opponents by an average margin of 22.5
to 10.7 runs per game.
En Fuego slipped by Team Orange County (1-10) with an 11-8 win
in the first round playoff game for their fifth win over Team OC
on the season. MVP knocked off The Show (2-9) in their first
round game to get the opportunity to spoil En Fuego’s season
with a victory in the title game. The final match between En
Fuego and MVP would be the fourth meeting of the season between
the two teams. It was fitting since it was a two team race from
the get go. MVP went through the regular season losing only
twice, both times to En Fuego in close games. Coming off the
final regular season win over En Fuego, MVP felt they had the
confidence they needed going into the final game.
Heading into the bottom of the third inning En Fuego trailed
5-4, but started the inning with six straight hits and scored
five runs in the inning to go ahead 9-5. En Fuego would never
trail again in the game. They added three runs in each of the
fourth and fifth innings and with a six run sixth En Fuego went
ahead 21-8 to put MVP away for good. MVP’s high powered offense
sputtered with pitcher Craig Watkins holding them to only eleven
runs in eight innings for the win. “Smart play, solid defense,
and timely hitting are what we preach,” Said Watkins “It’s been
a winning formula for us.”
Team batting champion Jason Martnick (.742) who returned to En
Fuego after a long absence went 5-for-5 in the final game,
scored three runs, and drove in three runs. Team MVP right
fielder Kevin Lorton went 4-for-4 with a walk and scored five
runs to help lead En Fuego to their 21st league championship
overall. Left fielder “Big Game” James Verdi drove in five runs
to give him 35 on the season and help En Fuego to the
championship win. “That’s what we do” Said Lorton. Win another
game, that’s what En Fuego did. During the summer season En
Fuego won 26 of 29 games for a .897 winning percentage. They
also won a league and a tournament title in that span. It has
been one of the best stretches in En Fuego team history. Overall
in 2008 En Fuego is off to a red hot start. In 44 games they
have compiled a 37-7 record, a .841 winning percentage. |
