2007 Tournament

2007 Baseball International Spring Training Tournament

Cincinnati Reds Spring Training Complex

We returned to beautiful Sarasota and the Cincinnati Reds Spring Training Site in 2007. Each of our ten teams played seven 9 inning games over the four day weekend.

2007 Tournament Champions were the Northeaster Thunder led by Steve Duclos. The Champs featured Marshall Miller, Omar Borges, Mike Davey, Kris Gaida, Bob Graham, Todd Neuman, Ed Sabelawski, Sammy Santiago, Joe Dushane, Brian Johnson, Wally Lailer, plus batboys Steven Duclos Jr and James Miller.

The Egg Yokes proudly display their trophies as winners of the Goodwill Division. Managed by Gene Rueckert, the Yokes included Paul Laubenstein, Jeff Butcher, Al Spector, Dick "Easter Egg" Kruger, Paul Spaulding, John DeMico, Patrick DeMico, Teddy Schafer, Ron Weiss, Dean Glasser, Vinny Piroso, Bill Brockway, Norm Nefsky and both of their groupies.

The New England Red Sox took a game to get it in gear, but then powered their way through the competition. Next year with Dice K, there will be no beating Phil Manooshian, Todd Smith, Martin Mastovich, Peter Kolopenuk, Vincent Pellecchia, Ryan Pellecchia, Mark Smith, Harvey Krupnick, Daniel Taylor, Dave Duffy, Ethan Bloomberg, Eric O'Connor, and Rick Hill.

The Leesburg Brewers were recruited by eagle eye scout Bo Wemm. His lucky nine were Jay Morano, Pete Bessa, Rich Hammler, Martin Cybulski, Dave Bell, Ralph Frasca, Steve Hicks, Bryan Matthews, Scott Engle, Steve Jaekle, and Brian Mclaine.

Harvey's Wallbangers bashed the competition into submission and were proudly represented by Harvey Sherman, Eric Collier, Mike Friedman, Terry Dornbusch, Mark Bromann, Lynn Voight, Greg Semuskie, Bob Duff, Robert Brown, Bill Lear, and Horacio Gandini.

The Italian Stallions were the pride of Italy. Lead by Il Duce Rick Sorci, the Stallions Greg Goodman, Stephen Ichniowski, Jack de Heer, Dave Kelpin, Sam Lynch, Rodger Foreman, Richard Crane, Dick Loescher, Jeffrey Levens, Charles Evans, David Kelley, and Sasha Muratov were a closely knit bunch. Not only did they dine together at night, but according to the police report they all shared the same room.

The Nor'Easters were captained by Mon Capitan Al Harchik (2006 Curacao MVP) who rallied Pres Pieraccini., Jay Sadowski, Mike Mercier, Mike Mahan, Tom Hamre, Rick Fleurent, Aaron Gluckler, John Dusenberry, Joe Militello, John Malikowski and Ken Sloat to turn their season around by game 7.

Ed Garelick's Gringos were as tough as they come. With Craig Francis, Richard Grayson, Charles Hildebrandt, Herb Otto, Charles Bradfield, Bill Peck, Scott Weiner, Bill Burke, Amato Lanzetta, Don Swartz, Don Drown, and Dave Harvill, they set a record for most clubhouse beers downed in a given day.

Steve Faigin's Fanatics had a master plan to set up their defense and pitching so they would be primed for game 8. The players chasing Faigin with bats after the 7 game tournament ended included Paul Mermel, Rovert Cooper, John Chmura, Mark Loewenstein, Alan Bernstein, Bob Finn, Ralph Beachley, Al Hurley, James Trapane, John Means, Scott Lewis, Jon Catalano, Irv Barlia, and Steve Farmwald.

Bill Smith's Smithereens were overlooked by all, but lead their division going into the final games. Who could forget the great play of Ron Ernst, Robert Ciunci, Dan Borgmeyer, Gragg Balin, Ron Russo, John Ambler, Bob Morris, Gary Mendelsohn, Kevin Sullivan, Mike Cordasco, Doug Henderson, David Montgomery, and their great power hitter Chad Morgan.

The New England Red Sox playing in the main stadium. Note the ball over the pitcher's head. The pitcher claims it's a pop out while the batter claims it's a home run. We'll have to do video next year.

The Smithereens on the losing end of a bang-bang play at 1st. Clearly manager and 1st base coach Bill Smith is feeling their pain.

Game action in the main stadium. The crowd was evidentially still on the way to the game.

Close your eyes, and this looks just like a major league spring training game. Of course when most of you closed your eyes you starting seeing naked women, but that's a different website.

I offered the 2nd baseman the chance to buy and destroy this picture, but all his money was tied up in the post game beer bash.

The view from right field on a beautiful January morning in Sarasota.

In a surreal photo, the Smithereens set their defense and prepare to do battle.

The pitch is on it's way and the batter is primed.

Recently signed by the Stallions from the Siberian League, Sasha Muratov throws his 100 KPH fastball. You do the math.

Bo Wemm showing the form that made him his team's best manager.

Stallion-Brewer action. Clearly the umpire is busy thinking about lunch already, but its only 9:30am.

The Gringos with their infield defense set and a runner leading off 2nd.

Moments later: 1st and 2nd, one out, grounder to the Gringos shortstop, runners advancing, the whole play in one photo!

Being one with the tree?

The third baseman gets ready to bounce on a bunt with the palm trees adding that spring training flavor.

Bill Smith reaches into his bag for the steroids he would pass out to his team before the first game. Sadly, he only had enough for the first two days of the tournament. Once he had to start handing out the Viagra instead, his batters were always off balance.

Bob Duff demonstrates his classic batting stance after Jimmy Trapane signals the pitcher to hit the batter.

Action on field two with the main stadium in the distance. Checking out the pitcher, batter, and catcher, this would appear to be a 13 MPH fastball!

The weather was great as our players dined like the pros outside under the Florida sun between games of the daily doubleheaders.

Game three action with the runner thrown out by a mile at first. By game 7, the runner wasn't even in the picture anymore.

Action from practice field two were this batter is clearly primed for a home run.

The batting cages are dedicated to all time hit king Pete Rose.

While the practice fields are dedicated to the Cincinnati Reds all time great players and hall of famers.

Going for two after getting the force at second.

Strike Three! The bat stands frozen in time after being rung up in the first game. Some guys just can't pace themselves at the opening night reception.

As his team cheers him on by showing they have complete faith in his fielding by not making a move to back him up, Teddy Schafer pursues a slow roller back to the mound.

Wild Thing came in to relieve, and I think it is pretty safe to say that this pitch was probably called a ball.

The consummate pro, the pitcher quickly overcame the call to throw a strike on the next pitch.

The Nor'Easters won it all in 2006, but struggled in 2007 after losing their ace. Already on the hunt for the 2008 championship, Al Harchik was seen last week scouting pitching in Sri Lanka and Ghana.

While we used the Cincinnati Reds minor league clubhouse, the major league locker room was being preped for the opening of spring training in a few weeks.