The fans packed the stadium and the game was a sell-out, but then the pros left
and we started OUR tournament.
Team China came in 1st
place with a 5-1 record lead by manager Steve Faigin,
Greg Goodman, Bill Brockway, Jim Gillespie,
Joseph Glorioso, Scott Weiner, Larry Falco, Brian Scholtisek, Ray Passaro, Bill
Kassar, Michael DeSando, Ed Berkich, Don Drown, and Bill Smith.
Team China limbers up before their first game at Chain Of Lakes Stadium, spring
training home of the Cleveland Indians.
Rick Sorci lead the Sons of Italy to a second place finish at 4-2, but had
their ace ready for the championship game that was rained out. His roster
included
Roy Yocum, Joe Caligaris, Tedd Schaffer, Jeff
Butcher, Alan Bernstein, Al Hurley, Dave Conrad, James Gallagher, John Demico,
Tim Gilmore, Ed Hughes, Bob Pearson, and
Ron Weiss.
Morning game action on the main stadium.
Major league facilities make playing a wonderful experience, but so does the 75
degree sunny days in the middle of January.
A late afternoon team photo of Argentina lead by Harvey Sherman. Though
they finished in 3rd place, all of their losses were heart breakers. The Buenos
Aires boys were Al Harchik,
Robert Duff, Chuck Lease, Steve Siegel, William Lear, Chuck Gordy, Joe
Militello, Paul Laubenstein, Rick Kramer, Pete Zacharkin, Jack De Heer, Ron
Damschen, and
John Purcell. Notice the ump already checking them out for steriods.
Pre-game warm-ups after a catered lunch served by the Indians official caterer in
the team clubhouse makes ever one feel like a star. And then the game
begins . . . . . .
Heavily favored by Pete Rose to win it all, Ron Russo's Pirates of the
Caribbean team came in 4th, but did beat the then undefeated Sons of Italy
behind Michael Caputo, Michael
Consolmagno, Mike Baltieri, Al Spector, Stu Pepper, Bert Pepper, Joe Maiden ,
James Trapane , Tom Jeffrey’s, John Gilmore, Angelo Kournianos, Dick Irvin,
and Dick Kruger.
The defense is set, the sun is shining, play ball!
And there goes a double down the line!
As word of our tournament spread throughout central Florida, the crowd started
pouring in. If you look closely, you can see both of them.
The home team apparently tries to prod the umpire with a long,
sharp stick in hopes of getting better calls.
Sunny days, temperatures in the high 70's, professional
fields, obnoxious umpires, lots of baseball action, and the carnival is in town!. What more could
you ask for in January?
The view from the dugout.
Game Action from field 1 outside of the main stadium.
