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In the noon game, Active Steel hosted the Mariners, both teams anxious to see how their new players from this year’s draft would perform … and there was no disappointment in that regard. New-to-the-league John Fagan was highly effective for the Steelers, striking out seven Mariners in four innings to grab the 6-3 win. Paxton Chatfield took the save. Former major league pitcher Larry Elenes started strong, mowing down the top of the Steelers’ batting order, but was rocked in the second inning by a barrage of Active Steel hits, and the now-retired Houston Astro suffered the loss for the Mariners.
The highlight of the afternoon was the mammoth home run hit by Kal Hiraishi of the Mariners. Knocked out of the park to straight-away center field, the blast went almost 400 feet … especially impressive at sea level.
The Pohakuloa Training Center team, slated to debut against the Crimson Tide at 3:00 P.M., called to advise league officials that the Army team is, unfortunately, withdrawing from the league. Modifications to military schedules and assignments were cited as the cause.
Sater performed exactly the way a “junk ball” pitcher should: he may have looked only mediocre on the mound, but made the mighty batters take back-breaking swings -- whiffing at air -- only to find the ball lodged in the catcher’s mitt and the umpire calling “strike”.
Unfortunately for Sater, his team’s defense was a bit shaky that day, and Active Steel mounted a comeback to tie the game. However, in their last at-bat, Starbird Construction posted two runs and took control to finish winners by the final score of 10-8.
For the Angels, it was a disappointment from the get-go, and the first time in team history that they lost by ten runs or more. Their normally-crisp infield seemed to be absent on this day, and, after the 12-2 loss, the Angels will now have to gear up for their next opponent Starbird Construction.
The Steelers’ John Fagan took the 12-1 win, striking out a dozen batters and giving up only one hit … a double, smacked in the third inning by Toby Turney, who then came around to score the only run of the day for the Crimson Tide.
Normally the team’s first baseman, Hanna pitched effectively and helped his own cause with a 2-run scoring double in the fourth inning. Unfortunately, however, the Canardlys’ fielding was off, and the Mariners took advantage of their opportunities.
Joel Zwak took the 11-4 win for the Mariners.
On the other side of the diamond, pitcher Oscar Delgado scattered eight hits to notch his first win in the 2003 season. Delgado also provided major offensive support for his Angels, scoring three times in their 9-2 victory.
The Canardlys managed to hold onto their modest, but eroding lead over their more-favored opponents until the fourth inning, when the powerful Active Steel bats came to life. Sparked by Shiloh Chenoweth, the Steelers went on to dominate the rest of the contest and run out winners by the final score of 14-4. Fagan recorded his third win of the season for Active Steel, while Dave Thompson took the loss for Canardlys.
Unfortunately for the Canardlys, on this morning, their hopes of securing their first victory in season 2003 were soiled, right along with their new shirts.
Instead of teeing off, the Starbirds were forced to play "small-ball", a style of baseball centered on making the most of little opportunities to squeak a few runs past home plate, hopefully more than the other team can do. And that is just what Starbird Construction did, grabbing a 2-1 lead in the second inning and making it stand up through the rest of the contest.
Mark Sater secured his third win of the year for Starbird Construction, receiving help from Morgan Kruger-Burgess who recorded his first save in the 2003 season.
Craig Hanna, Jr. took the disappointing loss for the Canardlys who can't seem to win, despite strong perfomances in almost every game.
Joel Zwak pitched a shutout, fanning nine batters, to secure the 3-0 victory for the Mariners. Following a fourth place finish in 2002, the Mariners are looking much better this season.
Once again, league-leading pitcher John Fagan secured the victory for the Steelers at the expense of Sacramento Perez for the Angels.
The Angels were not on top of their game this day, making costly fielding errors and a number of mental mstakes. That is all the Steelers needed to run out winners.
On this afternoon, it took extra innings to decide matters as two first cousins faced on another on the mound: Aaron Mori for the Crimson Tide, and J.R. Mori for Canardlys.
The family fued was finally settled when Chris Arena singled to center field, bringing Rocky Alexander II around to score the winning run and securing a 4-3 triumph for the Crimson Tide.
Rocky Alexander II recorded the victory for the Crimson Tide, while Sacramento Perez suffered the loss for the Angels.
Zwak helped his own cause offensively, scoring twice, each time after drawing a walk issued by losing pitcher Mark Sater.
Untested pitcher Danic Voinov took the loss for Active Steel. He was relieved by Paxton Chatfield who effectively fanned six batters in only three innings, but the day still belonged to the Mariners.
In a game where the lead changed five times, an exhausted, but enthusiastic Angels squad emerged with a 7-6 victory, leaving a bewildered group of Canardlys players searching for answers as to why they always come so close to winning, yet go home empty-handed.
In reality, the Canardlys were quite good on this afternoon. Ryan Landis led the team in scoring, and J.R. Mori performed well on the mound, despite taking the loss. Sacramento Perez pitched the bulk of the game for the Angels, but Gerardo Ibarra earned the win.
The real story of the game … in fact, the real story of the day … was the all-star offensive and defensive performance put on by Sergio Lozano of the Angels. In such a tight contest, one player often stands out as the one who made the difference, to insure the victory ... and today, it was Sergio Lozano who made several diving catches in the outfield and slammed a double, accounting for three runs in the fifth inning.
Morgan Kruger-Burgess came on in relief for the Starbirds and kept the Crimson Tide sluggers at bay for the rest of the game, but the damage had already been done … final score 3-2. The former Kealakehe High School standout Morgan Kruger-Burgess recently returned to the Big Island from his collegiate freshman season at Saddleback College in Southern California ... with added muscle on his bones and a newly-developed, deadly fastball that he is learning to deliver with precision, right at the batters' knees.
Unfortunately for the Crimson Tide, the final inning was a costly one, with a walk allowed and an error committed. And those mistakes were all that the Mariners needed to mount a rally, capped by two RBI’s smacked in by team captain Michael Harris, to run out winners by the final score of 5-2.
It was anybody’s game all afternoon as the lead changed periodically, with Starbird Construction nosing ahead by one run going into the final inning. Then, in the top of the last frame, the Steelers rallied to tie the score. Then, once again like in the morning game, the team captain provided the game-winning hit. This time, it was Russ Roy who sliced a two-out double that allowed Kruger-Burgess to score, giving Starbird Construction the 4-3 victory.
Perennial Senior World Series pitcher Mark Sater recorded his fourth win for Starbird Construction, lofting his team into second place. Ganesh Lange suffered the loss for the disappointed Canardlys, a team that is competitive in every game, but which cannot seem to record a victory.
For the Starbirds, it was a disappointment, especially in the area of throwing errors that cost them several runs as well as their enthusiasm late in the game. Veteran pitcher Mark Sater slipped to a pitching record of 4-4 this season with the loss.
In typical Canardlys’ style, they grabbed an early lead, only to have their opponents tie matters at two runs apiece in the fourth inning. It looked as though, once again, the Canardlys would have their faces washed in defeat, but on this day, things were to be different.
J.R. Mori led off the sixth inning for the Canardlys with a solid single. Then, uncharacteristically for Steelers’ pitcher John Fagan, an errant pick-off throw allowed Mori to advance to third base, then score on a wild pitch later in the inning.
Canardlys’ pitcher Ganesh Lange, who had come on in relief of J.R. Mori, retired the rest of the Steelers’ hitters to earn the 3-2 win (even though J.R. Mori performed the lion’s share of the work on the mound). In the end, Mori and the Canardlys were too busy celebrating the team’s first victory to be concerned about the details of the scorebook.
The Mariners put on a 7-run batting clinic in the fourth and fifth innings, roughing up the entire Angels pitching staff in the process. All the while, Mariners’ pitcher Joel Zwak kept cool and collected, earning his fifth win in season 2003 against no defeats, to lead the league among fellow hurlers.
Keegan Lerma relieved Zwak in the sixth inning, but by then, the Mariners had the game well in hand. Kal Hiraishi (with a double and a triple) and Eric Simbeck (scoring three runs) led the offensive attack as the Mariners went on to defeat the Angels by the final score of 11-3.
Mariners’ sluggers Jeff Bailey, Drew Camacho and Eric Simbeck lead the offensive attack, jumping out to an early 6-1 lead. However, the scrappy Canardlys were not about to give up without a fight. Sparked by new-to the-league players Andrew Emsley and James Lidgett, the Canardlys clawed back to within a pair of runs, putting two men on base in the team’s final turn at bat, and sending the potential go-ahead run to the plate. But then, the Mariners’ ace pitcher Joel Zwak reminded everyone as to the reason why he remains undefeated -- snuffing out the Canardlys’ rally by striking out the side to end the game by the final score was 9-7.
Toby Turney went 2 for 3 at the plate and scored a run for the Crimson Tide against stingy Steeler John Fagan, who notched his fifth pitching victory of the season, against only two defeats.
KonaBaseball.com resumes its season on August third with all six teams seeing action. At 9:00 A.M, the two teams tied for second place intend to settle matters, as the Steelers host the Angels. At noon, the never-say-die Crimson Tide squad hopes to avoid a season sweep at the hands of the Mariners. In the 3:00 P.M. game, Starbird Construction faces the Canardlys.
All KonaBaseball.com games are played at Simmons Field (behind the gym in the Old Airport complex). Admission is always FREE, making this one of Kona’s favorite entertainment values for residents and visitors alike.
We will be shooting digitally using multiple cameras. Musicians or others familiar with sound, MIDI and computer-generated music are also needed. Knowledge of software such as Cakewalk, Sonar, etc. is very hepful.
Experience is preferred, but not required, to join the KonaBaseball.com video production team.
If interested, fill out a join now contact information form right here on the web site, or call Jim at 883-3331.
Maybe it was the youth clinic that made the difference for Kealakehe High School player Paxton Chatfield. Whatever the reason, the morning game definitely belonged to the 16-year-old who pitched wizardry at the powerful Angels hitters, and on this day, recorded a victory in the men’s hardball league. Chatfield went the distance on the mound for the Steelers, fanning 5 batters, and shutting out the opponents by the final score of 6-0. Gerardo Ibarra suffered the loss for the Angels.
Offensively for the Steelers, the game belonged to another one of the league’s youth players who recently participated in the Kalae Iki Youth Baseball Clinic. Marcus Hathcock went three for four at the plate, stole a base and scored three of the Steelers’ six runs. What a performance!
In the midday sun, the tide was high as Toby Turney singled to start the game. He promptly stole second base, then scored on Mike Luster’s single. Turney put another mark on the scoreboard again in the third inning, and the Crimson Tide took a two-to-nothing lead to the middle of the fourth.
The Mariners tied matters up in their half of the fourth inning, then went on to annihilate their opponents in the fifth with a 6-run slugfest led by Joel Zwak and Eric Simbeck. That inning represented the difference in the game as the Crimson Tide eventually fell, 8-2.
Keegan Lerma earned the pitching victory for the Mariners, reducing the Crimson Tide's “hitters”, to mere “batters”. He struck out the amazing figure of a dozen, in only five innings of relief.
The game started as a pitchers’ duel, as Starbird Construction veteran pitcher Mark Sater faced the younger, but also experienced hurler, 24-year-old J.R. Mori of the Canardlys. Through the first three innings, the two pitchers butted heads in a scoreless deadlock. In the end, however, on this day and on this mound, youth would eventually prevail. And perhaps with Las Vegas odds saying otherwise, the always-in-it Canardlys would not be denied.
Andrew Emsley, Ryan Landis and Karl Yauauchi led the offensive charge for the Canardlys, who scored twice in the fourth inning, added some insurance in the fifth, then went on to run out winners, enjoying a 5-0 final score.
With Canardly’s manager Randy Hill suffering from a recently pulled tooth, Craig Hanna, Sr. took over the reins and guided the KonaBaseball.com league’s last-place team to their second victory of the season. Now, going into the final round of head-to-head competition, the Canardlys can still cling on to a slim hope of making the playoffs. If they should win the rest of their games, and with baseball tradition being unusual at times, someone better count the teeth missing from the Canardly manager’s mouth at the end of the season.
In recent weeks, the Mariners have stepped away from the crowd, dominating the top of the standings, and perhaps getting too confident for their own good. On this morning, veteran pitcher Mark Sater and his Starbird teammates were determined to wipe the smiles off the faces of the Mariners, who sent former major league pitcher Larry Elenes (Houston Astros) to the mound.
Elenes, coming off injuries suffered earlier this year, was back to his old self, pin-pointing his fastball and tossing a bewildering curve. The two pentagenerians (Sater and Elenes) pitched toe-to-toe through three innings. Then, Elenes started showed signs of fatigue, losing control and hitting a batter with a pitch.
Fortunately for the Mariners, their pitching staff is deep, boasting the league’s top hurlers: Joel Zwak and Keegan Lerma. This time, manager Mike Harris called upon Lerma, who started out shakey, promptly giving up Elenes’ slim lead. Lerma then settled down in the next inning, to eventually capture the win by the final score of 5-4.
Underdog Starbird Construction was in the contest throughout, and ended the game leaving the tying run on base and the potential winning run at bat. It was another disappointing loss for Sater, who performs each week like he is made of iron.
The recipe seemed to be just right, as both Arena and Angel’s pitcher Jorge Perez were effective against the opposing batters, simmering through four innings with hardly a spill.
But in the fifth inning, the pot boiled over. The Tide’s starting pitcher, grilled in the noon-day sun, was forced to hand the kitchen chores to the team’s relief pitchers. Unfortunately, none of them could find the plate.
The table was set for Angels, who began to smell victory, finally putting on the chef’s hat themselves. And, by the end of the luncheon, a crimson-colored goose had been cooked, by the final score of 12-2.
At 9:00 Sunday morning, the Canardlys seemed to have all of the pieces in place, as they tagged Crimson Tide’s pitchers all game. Led offensively by Karl Yauauchi (batting 3 for 4), the Canardlys dominated throughout, pouring on a whopping eight insurance runs in the sixth inning to take the game by the final score of 16-3.
In their last at-bat, the Crimson Tide mounted a rally, but it was too little, too late. The only offensive highlights for the Crimson Tide were provided by Toby Turney and Pete Ewing, who accounted for four of the team’s seven hits, and all three of its runs scored.
On Sunday afternoon, the Angels saw an opportunity to take second spot away from the Steelers, providing that the Angels could get a strong pitching performance from Jorge Perez and that they could steer clear of the “one-inning defensive meltdown” that has plagued their team from time to time this season.
Both teams’ pitchers, Chatfield and Perez, performed up to expectations, but it was defensive throwing errors that spelled the Steelers’ downfall on this particular afternoon.
The Angels capitalized early with alert base running, to take a three-run lead in the first inning. From that point on, they never looked back. Perez made a quick game of it on the mound, allowing the Steelers only two singles in the entire contest. Jose Luis Ibarra and Adrian Villanueva led the offensive charge for the Angels, who went on to win by the final score of 6-0.
The morning game started as a pitchers’ duel, with crisp fielding by both teams, each infield keeping runners off the bases. Then suddenly, Active Steel put together back-to-back-to-back base hits, and a slugfest ensued. Grabbing a 4-0 lead, the Steelers ignited again in the fourth inning, doubling their tally of runs to eight.
Meanwhile, Active Steel’s Paxton Chatfield kept quietly to himself, simply taking care of business on the mound. The high school athlete continued to show that he measures up to the men’s league, this time by throwing only 60 pitches in five complete innings, allowing merely three base hits (all singles) and yielding only one unearned run. Shiloh Chenoweth, team MVP in 2002, came on to finish the game in relief of Chatfield. By that time, however, the Canardlys had already been defeated. The final score was 12-2, lofting Active Steel into a tie for second place with idle Angels.
Offensively, the consistent batting by Todd Gilmore paid off for the Steelers once again. In addition, the father-and-son team of Fran and Kai Miller (one of several such family combos in the league) platooned in the eighth batting position for the Steelers to bat 3-for-3, including a run scored by each of the two Millers, and a base stolen successfully by the younger player.
The one highlight for the Canardlys, in an otherwise dismal day, was the performance by Ryan Landis, who went 2-for-2 and stole a base.
The Mariners, the team that boasts the league’s deepest pitching staff, called upon their third man in the rotation, veteran pitcher (and retired Houston Astro) Larry Elenes to fire fastballs past the Starbirds … and Elenes did just that.
In sharp contrast, Starbird Construction’s pitcher Mark Sater served the Mariners’ batters an array of slow curve balls, sliders and sinkers. On this day, both pitchers were effective through four innings. Then, the afternoon sun began to take its toll on the seasoned veterans. Sater was relieved by Chris Drake for Starbird, and Elenes yielded to Joel Zwak for the Mariners.
When it came down to the finish, the Mariners had kept their noses slightly in front of their hungry opponents all game. Starbird Construction had been haunted by the unlikeliest of culprits … three hit batsmen, each of whom had come around to score a Mariner’s run.
That three-run margin turned out to be insurmountable, even though Starbird Construction sparked a late rally. They loaded the bases in their final at-bat and sent team slugger Derscheio to the plate, hoping to deliver a game-winning, grand-slam homerun. Swinging for the fences, Mark Derscheio ended up duplicating the famous poem’s Mighty Casey … for there was no joy in Mudville, Mighty Mark had struck out. Final score: Mariners 10, Starbird Construction, 7.
Gerardo Ibarra pitched a one-hit shutout for the Angels in a 12-0 rout of the Crimson Tide. Offensively, the Angels started the game with a barrage of base hits, scoring five runs in the first inning. From that point forward, the Angels never looked back, adding to the score in each subsequent inning. Adrian Villanueva had a close-to-perfect day at the plate for the Angels with four hits, three stolen bases and three runs scored.
Chris Drake picked up his first win on the mound for Starbird Construction, handing the Steelers’ Paxton Chatfield the loss. Chatfield, the high school player who has been particularly effective in recent weeks, was again on top of his game. However, the normally crisp defensive play of the Active Steel was not up to par in this game, and Starbird Construction took advantage.
Gabe Aispuro batted 3-for-4 to lead the offensive charge of Starbird Construction. For the Steelers, Dana Myers (an assistant coach for the Kealakehe High School baseball team) also went 3-for-4, with a single, double and triple, but it wasn’t enough. Injured Steeler player Todd Gilmore provided support from the stands, leading the crowd in the singing of “Take Me Out To The Ball Game”, but that wasn’t enough, either.
With the victory, Starbird Construction swept the Steelers in their three meetings during the 2003 season. This could haunt Active Steel at season’s end, should these two teams end up in a deadlock for third place. For inclusion in the playoffs, the Starbirds’ head-to-head success against the Steelers gives them the tie-breaker.
The Steelers, although disappointed with the loss, are still masters of their own fate. A victory against either remaining opponent (Mariners or Crimson Tide) or a loss by Starbird Construction (in their final game against the Angels) will hoist Active Steel into the final playoff spot.
Canardlys’ pitcher J.R. Mori was roughed up by the powerful Mariners to the tune of six runs in the first inning, but then settled down to allow his teammates’ bats time to get the team back into the contest. By the seventh inning, the Canardlys had done just that, pecking away at Mariners’ pitchers Larry Elenes, James McGowian and league-leading pitcher Joel Zwak. In the end, however, Zwak took charge and snuffed out the Canardlys final gasp.
Only a week after “hammerin” Cameron Smay delivered the bases-loaded, game-winning hit, this Sunday’s hero was Chris Drake. Drake went the distance for Starbird Construction, recording his second pitching victory this year. In support of Drake, Robert Balderaz, Matt Buxton, Tyler Roy, and Jerry Bray provided the offensive punch, each crossing the plate multiple times to post a final score of 10-3 over the Angels.
For the Angels, hurler Oscar Delgado suffered his first loss in the 2003 season. In addition, the Angels missed an opportunity to clinch second place (which would have resulted in securing the home team advantage for end-of-season playoff contention).
With Sunday afternoon’s victory, Starbird Construction wrapped up its regular season, posting a record of 7 wins and 8 losses, yet still keeps its playoff hopes alive. The team’s fate, however, rests in the hands of Active Steel. The Starbirds will claim the final playoff spot only if the Steelers lose both of their remaining games (against the Mariners and the Crimson Tide).
Sunday morning’s game was dominated by the Canardlys, an all-too-common occurrence that usually ends up in a narrow-margin loss to them. However, this Sunday morning was to be different, as the determined Canardlys continued to follow through, and posted a final tally of 8-2 over Chris Arena and the Crimson Tide.
In a manager’s surprise, J. Lidgett, normally a position player for the Canardlys, made his debut on the mound, went the distance, and recorded the victory. J. R. Mori, who usually handles the pitching chores, took over at the shortstop position and combined with Ryan Landis and Shadow Diessner to lead the offensive charge for the Canardlys.
However, in their next at-bat, the Mariners scored a run on the second consecutive hit batsman that followed a Steelers’ error and a walk. A fatigued Komo was replaced on the mound by Paxton Chatfield, another youth player who has been making a name for himself in the KonaBaseball.com league this year.
When the league-leading Mariners get hot, they get hot, scoring runs in bunches. This time, they continued with a barrage of hits, tying the score when Mike Harris touched home and taking the lead when Matt Collier crossed the plate.
The Steelers, however, were not about to give up their chance to clinch the final playoff berth. They retaliated in the seventh inning, and the game was deadlocked, once again.
In their final at-bat, the Mariners’ Eric Simbeck lead off with a triple, causing the Steelers’ defense to draw the players in, so as to cut off a possible play at the plate. In the end, it did not matter, as Mariner Mike Keawe ripped a solid single, driving in the winning run, 9-8.
However, the real story of the Angels' day just might be the outstanding play of Dennis Cintas, the oldest player in the KonaBaseball.com league at the age of 56. Amazingly, the elderly statesman plays the demanding catcher's position. Amazingly, the elderly statesman plays the demanding catcher's position. Demonstrating defensive leadership on the diamond throughout the game, Cintas' efforts culminated in the sixth inning with a critical play at the plate, preventing a would-be Canardlys' run, followed by a successful pick-off at second base in the seventh inning, a feat, even for the younger guys.
For the Canardlys, the game was a valient effort. Having finally climbed out of last place just a week ago, the Canardlys were avenging two losses to the Angels earlier this season, each game by only one run. This Sunday's game turned out to be a repeat of history, as the Angels, once again, prevailed by the slimmest of margins, this time 10-9.
Despite the loss, the Canardlys maintain their recently elevated position in the standings. Posting a final win/loss record that is identical to the Crimson Tide, the Canardlys win the tie-breaker, having prevailed, two games to one, in regular-season, head-to-head play against the Tide.
The winner of the morning game will face the Mariners in the grand final at 1:00 P.M. The Mariners earned their direct ticket to the championship game by capturing first place in the regular season.
On the other side of the diamond were the Angels, a team that had suffered a rocky mid-season, but had steadied its course and persevered to grab undisputed second place in the final regular season standings. Still, the Angels finished more than just a stone’s throw behind the mighty Mariners, the league dominators in season 2003.
The 9:00 A.M. contest delivered everything from good hitting and smart base running to strong pitching and crisp fielding. In short, both sides performed at a level of play that was befitting a playoff game.
The Angels loaded the bases in the first inning, but could not cash in as Steelers' ace Paxton Chatfield pitched out of the jam. In the second inning, the Angels again put together back-to-back hits, this time bringing three base runners across the plate.
Bunting and playing “small ball” is the Angels' trademark, trying to add a run or two in each inning. Using that strategy, by the fifth inning, they had quietly amassed a total of six runs. All the while, the Angels were on cruise control defensively, with junk-ball hurler Gerardo Ibarra fooling the would-be hitters, until the third inning when the hungry Steelers took advantage of a walk and an Angels' error, enabling Active Steel to score a pair of runs in retaliation. Then, in the fifth inning, Active Steel posted a couple more runs and closed the gap to two, at 6-4.
In the bottom of the fifth, the most bizarre play occurred, one that appeared to end the Steelers' chances. With two outs and the bases loaded, Adrian Villanueva smacked a long fly ball to center field where Danic Voinov made what appeared to be a spectacular, acrobatic catch, only to discover that the ball had slipped out of his glove and had dribbled onto the ground. The bases had been cleared and the score had advanced to a 9-4 Angels' lead.
Next, despite a margin on the scoreboard that seemed insurmountable, the Steelers embarked upon the most important rally of their season. Turning their hats inside out and upside down, the players on the bench created their own enthusiasm. Soon it was “raining” base hits for the Steelers, and, by the time the Angels saw their next at-bat, Active Steel had notched eight more marks on the scoreboard, and the Steelers grabbed the lead.
That Steelers' sixth inning turned out to be the nemesis for the Angels, who came back with one more run themselves, late in the contest. But the Angels' attempt at a rally of their own turned out to be only a whisper that Shiloh Chenoweth snuffed out in relief for Active Steel, to hold on by the final score of 12-10, and advance to the finals.
In the championship game, Zwak was highly effective pitching the distance for a 5-0 shutout, striking out four batters (surprisingly low for him) and walking two batters (rarely walking anyone). Instead of mowing down the opponents, Zwak turned to his fielders for support, which they delivered. In the final tally, Joel Zwak yielded only three hits to Active Steel, two of which were claimed by opposing pitcher Bryant Komo, including a double in the sixth inning. Each time the Steelers managed to get a man on base, the Mariners buckled down, and the runner would be left stranded.
Having used starter Paxton Chatfield in the morning game, the Steelers called upon Bryant Komo to take the mound in the championship game. Active Steel was hoping that Komo could carry the team through the bulk of the game and that reliever Shiloh Chenoweth would still have enough arm strength to make a second appearance in late innings. Unfortunately for the Steelers, Komo had difficulty finding the strike zone, and early walks proved costly. By the third inning, Komo had to be relieved. However, by then, the damage had already been done, and, from that point forward, the Steelers could not muster the strength to overcome a three-run deficit.
On the other side, Jeff Bailey and Matt Collier added a pair of insurance runs as the Mariners continued to pull away, winners by the final tally of 5-0.
The ceremonies continued as Joel Zwak accepted the award for the league’s most valuable player, and proceeded to cut the cake while the medals were presented to each individual team’s MVP. The players voted most valuable in 2003 were Joel Zwak (Mariners), Kurtis Hawkins (Angels), Paxton Chatfield (Active Steel), Jerry Bray (Starbird Construction), J.R. Mori (Canardlys), and Peter Ewing (Crimson Tide).
Mariners’ manager Mike Harris and a host of his team’s all star players were on hand to take the championship trophy and temporary custody of the perennial plaque (which is displayed regularly in the Kekuaokalani Gym), freshly etched to reflect the Mariners’ 2003 achievement. A runners-up trophy for Active Steel’s finish was also presented.
Regular league action is scheduled to resume in April. Prospective players are invited to register right here on the web site for the 2004 season.
W L G/B
Mariners ................ 13 2 - (Champions in playoffs)
Angels .................. 9 6 4
Active Steel ............ 8 7 5 (Runners up in playoffs)
Starbird Construction ... 7 8 6
Canardlys ............... 4 11 9
Crimson Tide ............ 4 11 9
Joel Zwak, Mariners ___________________________ 8-0 (1 save) Keegan Lerma, Mariners ________________________ 4-0 (1 save) Jorge Perez, Angels ___________________________ 3-0 Morgan Kruger-Burgess, Starbird Construction __ 1-0 (1 save) Jesse Guzman, Angels __________________________ 1-0 Aaron Mori, Crimson Tide ______________________ 1-0 Jose Luis Ibarra, Angels ______________________ 1-0 John Fagan, Active Steel ______________________ 5-2 Chris Drake, Starbird Construction ____________ 2-1 Gerardo Ibarra, Angels ________________________ 3-2 (1 save) Rocky Alexander II, Crimson Tide ______________ 3-2 James Lidgett, Canardlys ______________________ 1-1 Oscar Delgado, Angels _________________________ 1-1 Ganesh Lange, Canardlys _______________________ 1-1 Paxton Chatfield, Active Steel ________________ 2-3 (1 save) J.R. Mori, Canardlys __________________________ 2-3 Mark Sater, Starbird Construction _____________ 4-7 Larry Elenes, Mariners ________________________ 1-2 Sacramento Perez, Angels_______________________ 0-3 (1 save) Shiloh Chenoweth, Active Steel ________________ 0-1 Dave Thompson, Canardlys ______________________ 0-1 Danic Voinov, Active Steel ____________________ 0-1 Mike Luster, Crimson Tide _____________________ 0-2 Nate Waterson, Canardlys ______________________ 0-2 Craig Hanna, Canardlys ________________________ 0-3 Chris Arena, Crimson Tide _____________________ 0-6