Hillsborough County Saladino Tournament

Quincy1,000+ posts

April 08, 2009
Playoff time at the Saladino Tournament

Most of the county's top teams survived three days of pool play to advance to today's Saladino Tournament quarterfinals, which will feature some intriguing matchups throughout.

Heading into the single-elimination tournament format that begins today, Times sports writer Eduardo A. Encina takes a look at the quarterfinal matchups.

Gaither (6A-7)(14-4) vs. Wharton (5A-8)(10-7), 10 a.m.

The Lowdown: Both teams emerged from pool play with one-run wins on Tuesday. Gaither's 7-6 comeback win over Hillsborough might have been one of the tournament more exciting games thus far. The Cowboys' wins haven't been remarkable, but they've gotten timely hitting when they've needed it, especially from CF Drew Doty, who has five extra-base hits (3 doubles, 2 triples). A team that starts just three seniors has little to lose.
Side note: Wharton coach Scott Hoffman was an assistant under longtime Gaither coach Frank Permuy for six years.
Player to watch: Gaither 3B Mike Danner is 7-for-11 in the tournament with two homers and 6 RBIs.

Plant City (6A-8)(8-11) vs. Armwood (5A-8)(16-3), 1 p.m.

The Lowdown: Plant City the tournament's surprise team, but don't sleep on the Raiders. The competition Plant City plays in Class 6A-8 -- which includes national heavies Lakeland and Sarasota -- has them battle tested. But Armwood has emerged as the team to beat in the tournament and the Hawks will go to ace Robert Benincasa (7-0, 0.61 ERA) in the quarterfinal. The senior righthander is arguably the county's top big-game pitcher and is coming off a complete-game two-hitter against Middleton in the Hawks' Saladino opener.
Side note: During their current five-game winning streak, the Hawks have allowed just 1.6 runs a game.
Player to watch: Plant City's Kyle Madill is 5-for-12 in the tournament and has a double, triple, home run and 2 RBIs.

Plant (5A-10)(14-5) vs. Brandon (5A-8)(15-4), 4 p.m.

The Lowdown: The Panthers responded from a 7-6 loss to Plant City in their Saladino opener (thelast of three straight one-run losses) by outscoring their opponents 24-0 in their next two games, so Plant looks to be back to its usual dominating self. Despite those scores, the Panthers entered the final pool play day hitting just .278 as a team (Mychal Givens' .431 batting average leads the way). The key to the Eagles' success in their Saladino defense will be their pitching, which has allowed just four runs in three games.
Side note: These teams met in last year's Saladino quarterfinals, with Brandon emerging victorious 4-2, with current Brandon sophomore Chase Sparkman throwing 3 1/3 perfect innings in relief for the save.
Player to watch: Plant SS/3B Graham Ramos has tied the Saladino Tournament record for home runs in a tournamnt with three.

Tampa Catholic(3A-11)(14-4)vs.Alonso (6A-7)(16-2), 7 p.m.

The Lowdown: The Crusaders are the hottest team in the field, heading into their matchup with the Ravens searching for their 14th win in a row. This will be T.C.'s toughest test since facing Jesuit in the Crusaders' season opener. Meanwhile, the Ravens have recovered well from the loss of ace Ray Delphey for the season, allowing just seven total runs in the tournament's first three games -- all while scoring in double digits in each game. That might be more difficult against a Tampa Catholic pitching staff that has shown a lot recently.
Side note: Alonso is 12-2 in the Saladino Tournament the past three years.
Player to watch: T.C.'s Ryan Henry is hitting .460 on the season and has reached base in every one of the Crusaders' 18 games.

Posted by Times Editor at 12:43:16 AM on April 8, 2009
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4/8/095:23 AM

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Quincy1,000+ posts

April 08, 2009
Saladino Tournament Quarterfinals
All quarterfinals at Brandon. We'll post updates on the games as they finish.

Gaither 9, Wharton 3: Gaither (15-4) prevailed in the first game of Wednesday's quarterfinals. The Cowboys scored nine runs over the final four innings to knock the Wildcats (10-8) out of the tournament. Gaither sophomore Zach Jackson went 3-for-3 with a double, a run scored and an RBI. Gaither pitcher Micahel DeFranco went 5 2/3 innings, allowing nine hits, three runs, two walks and three strikeouts for the victory.

Armwood 8, Plant City 5: Armwood overcame a two-run deficit in the first inning to advance to the semifinals. The Hawks (17-3) were led by lead-off hitter Billy Farrell, who went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs while reaching base four times. Armwood took the lead for good in the second inning when Farrell scored on a sacrifice fly for a 4-3 lead. Hawks sophomore Josh Spano and freshman Jordan Fameree each scored twice in the victory. Armwood pitcher Robert Benincasa earned the win, going six innings with seven strikeouts and five hits.

Plant 2, Brandon 0: The Saladino’s defending champions were bounced from the tournament as Plant beat Brandon 2-0 in a rematch of last year’s quarterfinal matchup. The teams combined for just seven hits, but Panthers senior Jake Lowe threw a complete-game four hitter and drove in the game’s only two runs with a two-out double in the fifth. The win marked Plant’s third consecutive shutout win after the Panthers dropped their tournament opener to Plant City. Both runs scored after a single, fielding error and hit batter loaded the bases for Plant (15-5), setting the stage for Lowe’s winning double down the leftfield line. Spencer Dewey was 2-for-3 for the Eagles (15-5). The win was Panthers coach Dennis Braun’s 100th victory at Plant.

Alonso 10, Tampa Catholic 0 (6 innings): Ravens pitcher Thomas Dorminy had four RBIs, including a three-run homer in the first and an RBI double in the third as Alonso opened up a 10-hit attack and ended the Crusaders’ 13-game winning streak. Every hitter in Alonso’s order had at least one hit, highlighted by Casey Smit, who hit two doubles. Dorminy struck out 10 in six innings and allowed just five hits for the Ravens (17-2). Tampa Catholic (14-5) had its opportunities early. The Crusaders stranded the bases loaded in the third with one out after Dorminy struck out the next two batters to end the threat. Tampa Catholic also left runners at second and third in the fourth inning.

Posted by Times Editor at 12:32:55 PM on April 8, 2009
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4/8/0911:38 AM

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Quincy1,000+ posts

April 09, 2009
Saladino Tournament Seminfinals

Gaither 6, Armwood 3

Gaither advanced to Friday's Saladino Tournament final with a 6-3 win against Armwood. The Cowboys fought off a bases loaded jam in the top of the seventh inning to hold on to the win. Gaither junior Mike Danner gave the Cowboys the lead for good in the second inning with an RBI double to score Justin Delgado for a 3-2 lead. A sacrifice fly in the fourth inning scored Gaither senior Zach Ruiz for a 4-2 lead. The Cowboys will go for their fourth Saladino title - their third in seven years.

Alonso 9, Plant 4: Alonso can win its second Saladino Tournament championship in three years tonight after beating Plant 9-4 in Thursday’s second semifinal game at Brandon. The Ravens (18-2) found the outfield gaps often with seven extra-base hits (five doubles, one triple, one homer). Ravens 2B Tyler Ding continued an amazing Saladino with three doubles and three RBIs and Thomas Dorminy hit his second homer in as many games, a solo shot to right center in the first inning against a Plant team that hadn’t allowed a run in three games. Alonso SS Tito Martinez scored two runs and hit a leadoff triple to open the game while LF Matt Brandy was also 2-for-3 with an RBI double. Plant (15-6) ran itself out of rallies early, ending the first, third and fourth innings with two failed steal attempts and a runner that was picked off at second. Plant rallied from being 5-1 down in the fifth when a bases-loaded walk and a wild pitch plated a pair of runs and added another on Dylan Henderson’s run-scoring single in the sixth, but Alonso starter Jose Fernandez struck out seven, including five in his final six outs, and allowed just five hits in six innings.

Posted by Times Editor at 7:12:50 PM on April 9, 2009
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4/9/095:41 PM

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Quincy1,000+ posts

Saladino final: Gaither-Alonso

By ADAM ADKINS
aadkins@tampatrib.com
Published: April 9, 2009

BRANDON - Odd years in the Saladino Tournament this decade have been very good for the Gaither Cowboys.

Tonight, they'll get a chance to make 2009 a special one.

Gaither earned a spot in the 29th annual Saladino Tournament championship game with a 6-3 victory over Armwood on Thursday. The Cowboys will face Alonso at Brandon tonight at 7.

The Cowboys had advanced to at least the tournament semifinals in each odd year this decade. With Thursday's win, they'll have a chance at their fourth Saladino title and third this decade after winning the tournament in 2003 and 2005.

"I don't know why that is," Gaither coach Frank Permuy said of the odd-year success. "I think we've had better teams in even years, but it just didn't happen. I think you've got to get a break. You've got to get a game pitched like Wednesday from Michael DeFranco.

"We're very happy to be coming back today. That was big. The kids really came through. I've been saying all along, resiliency. These kids are resilient. We've got a chance."

Mike Danner had a big game for the Cowboys, going 3-for-3 with three doubles, two RBIs and a run scored. He scored the Cowboys' first run on a Brady North double in the first, gave the Cowboys a 3-2 lead with an RBI double in the second and scored the Cowboys' final run of the game in the sixth, coming home on a passed ball.

Gaither starter Austen Thrailkill was solid, allowing two runs on six hits in 52/3 innings.

"He came clutch," Danner said of Thrailkill.

Armwood mounted a rally in the seventh and loaded the bases, putting the tying run on first, with one out. However, Dylan Hathcock settled down to strike out the next two hitters to help Gaither advance.

Zack Powers went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Kristian Calibuso went 3-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Hawks.

Alonso continues offensive fireworks

There doesn't seem to be any stopping Alonso, which in five Saladino Tournament games has scored 53 runs.

The latest beating came in Thursday's semifinal as the Ravens rapped out nine hits (six for extra bases) in a 9-4 victory over Plant.

"I wouldn't have thought we would have scored that many runs in this tournament," Alonso coach Landy Faedo said. "But at the same time it doesn't surprise me."

The Ravens (18-2) have averaged about eight runs a game for the season, a stat that didn't bode well for Plant (14-6), which had to dip rather deep into its bullpen Thursday night.

When starter Sergio Pita left the game after the fourth inning, Alonso's lead stood at just 3-1. The Ravens still appeared in command, however, with sophomore starter Jose Fernandez continuing to throw fastballs in the 90-mph range.

Offensively for the Ravens, shortstop Tito Martinez led off the game with a triple and scored the game's first run, second baseman Tyler Ding went 3-for-4 with three doubles, and designated hitter Thomas Dorminy hit a solo homer.

4/9/0911:35 PM

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Quincy1,000+ posts

Ravens Blast Way to Victory

By ADAM ADKINS
aadkins@tampatrib.com
Published: April 11, 2009

BRANDON - Alonso did exactly what Gaither coach Frank Permuy hoped his team would be able to do in Friday night.

"They came out on fire'," Permuy said.

And the Ravens never looked back.

Tito Martinez started the game with a leadoff home run, and the Ravens went on to post a 6-2 win against the Cowboys in the 29th annual Saladino Tournament title game at Don Powell Field, giving Alonso its second tournament championship in the last three years.

Recent history for Saladino champions has been very good regarding the team's fortunes in the ensuing postseason. Each of the past five Saladino champions have advanced to at least a regional final in the playoffs, with three of those teams advancing to the state tournament.

"I hope history keeps repeating then," Alonso coach Landy Faedo said. "They're a good team, and they've been playing good ball all year with consistency. They limit big innings, and our pitching staff, they give us a chance to win games and our hitting has really been coming around for us. I just want them to be humble. I want them to enjoy what happened tonight, and enjoy the experiences they had the entire week, but to be humble and know there is a lot more at stake now."

The homer by Martinez (2-for-3), which came on the second pitch from Gaither starter Alex Milne, was just the start for Alonso. The next batter, Tyler Ding (2-for-5), drilled a double to left-center, and Casey Smit (2-for-4) followed with a single up the middle to put the Ravens up 2-0 only three hitters into the game.

Alonso added two more in the second and one each in the third and fourth innings to build the 6-2 lead, and the Ravens pitching staff made sure it stood.

Starter Jordan Huchro yielded five hits in three-plus innings, but the damage he allowed was minimal. The only two runs he yielded came on solo homers by Mike Danner in the first and Drew Doty in the third. Ding came on and allowed only one hit through three innings of work, and Thomas Dorminy, who also went 3-for-3 at the plate, closed the door with a perfect seventh, striking out the final two hitters.

Gaither had some scoring chances but never could muster a clutch hit. The Cowboys stranded eight base runners through the first four innings, leaving the bases loaded in the fourth.

Alonso moved to a perfect 3-0 against Gaither this season, following up on a pair of Class 6A-District 7 wins. The title-game loss certainly was tough for the Cowboys to swallow, but Permuy was pleased with the way his team fought during their run over the past week.

"The end result is a little disappointing, but if anyone would have told us that we would be here at the beginning of the season with what we have, I would have bet my house against it," Permuy said. "I didn't think we were capable of being in the finals with the pitching staff that we have and the youth that we have. I'm looking forward to the tournament next year

4/10/0911:41 PM

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Quincy1,000+ posts

Norton Captures Home Run Derby

The Tampa Tribune
Published: April 11, 2009

BRANDON - East Bay senior Chris Norton hit five home runs in the second round Friday to beat defending champion Jay Laurienzo of Hillsborough and win the Saladino Home Run Derby.

Laurienzo hit three homers in the final round.

"This is just a lot of fun being out here for spring break," Norton said. "This has been great out here hitting home runs with guys I've known since I was little."

Norton, a catcher and pitcher, has two homers in the regular season, but said his power stroke is coming together and he feels strong.

"I'm getting on a hot streak right now," he said. "Hopefully I can keep it going for the last four games of our regular season and districts, too."

Norton hit two homers in the first round Friday but said he waited on pitches inside at the belt to take balls down the left-field line.

Brandon's Mike Smith hit four homers, including three in a row, to lead the first round, but he hit only two in the deciding round.

Spoto's Arley Benton finished third in the final round behind Norton and Laurienzo, hitting two homers and a ball off the wall for two additional points.

4/10/0911:42 PM

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Quincy1,000+ posts

Saladino All-Tournament Team
Posted Apr 11, 2009 at 03:24 AM
Updated Apr 11, 2009 at 03:29 AM

Here is the 29th annual Saladino Tournament all-tournament team:

Co-MVPs: Tyler Ding, Alonso and Thomas Dorminy, Alonso
First base: Tripp Merrell, Sickles
Infielders:
Graham Ramos, Plant;
K’Shawn Smith, Plant City;
Mike Danner, Gaither
Outfielders:
Drew Doty, Gaither;
Ryan Henry, Tampa Catholic;
Jose Fernandez, Alonso
Catcher: Marlon Mitchell, Hillsborough
Pitchers: Mychal Givens, Plant; Robert Benincasa, Armwood
Designated hitter: Chad Taylor, Jefferson
Best Defensive Player: Zack Powers, Armwood
Best Hitter Award, as selected by Paul Fernandez of Latin & American Sports:
Mike Danner, Gaither
Team Spirit Award: Armwood
Team Sportsmanship Award: Gaither

Players who were strongly considered for all-tournament selection:

Gabriel Collazo, Wharton;
Kory Wan, Gaither;
Parker Pope, Freedom;
Zach Ruiz, Gaither;
Sinjin Sato, King;
Michael Smith, Brandon;
Jake Lowe, Plant;
Dylan Hatchco ck, Gaither;
Adam Pendleton, Alonso;
Anthony Hernandez, Tampa Bay Tech;
Spencer Dewey, Brandon,
Tito Martinez, Alonso

4/11/092:45 AM

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BigRed10+ posts

Quincy,

You mentioned the loss of Delphey. What happened to Ray?

4/11/0911:54 PM

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Quincy1,000+ posts

Alonso’s Delphey Suffers Torn ACL
Posted By Adam Adkins at Apr 04, 2009 at 03:26 PM
Updated Apr 04, 2009 at 03:36 PM

If Alonso’s baseball team is going to make a run in the 29th annual Saladino Tournament - and potentially later in the state playoffs - the Ravens are going to have to do so without their top pitcher.

Senior right-hander Ray Delphey suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during Thursday night’s victory against Sickles and will miss the remainder of the season, Ravens coach Landy Faedo said Saturday afternoon.

Faedo said Delphey, who has signed with USF, injured the knee while running the bases during Thursday’s game. Delphey, who was on crutches and wearing a brace on the knee before the Ravens’ Saladino opener against East Bay, will undergo surgery next week, Faedo said.

Delphey was 5-0 this season with a 0.92 ERA. He held opposing hitters to a .111 average and struck out 64 strikeouts in 38 innings pitched.

4/12/095:28 AM

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