2011 Santa Fe Springs II Tournament

CALI-MEX CHARROS TAKE THE CHAMPIONSHIP

In unusually warm weather, even by Southern California standards with temps in the 90's in April, the Cali-Mex Charros won their first SCIFL event over Balboa, 13-3.

The Charros came out of the round robin despite playing not having their complete line-up available for the tournament.  In fact, in their last game of the round robin, they fielded a team with only 8 players and still won the game.  Pitching duties were shared each game between Cory Avery and Gerald Pyle and both contributed with their bats over the weekend as well.

After going 3-0 in the round robin they faced the Caribbeans in first game of the morning and came out on top, 6-2.  This put them into the semi-finals against the Colton Dirt Bags. Avery faced another young hard thrower in Anthony Martinez and this game was probably the best of the weekend.  Neither team was able to score until the top of the third when the Dirt Bags scored a run putting together 2 hits and and a walk and they added three more runs in the top of the 4th.  Pyle came in relief of Avery in the 4th. MArtinez was able to keep the Charros off the scoreboard until the 5th. Cali-Mex had already scored a run when Avery scored two on a home run blast to get them within one of the Dirt Bags.  Both Pyle and Martinez pitched well scattering hits the rest of the way.  Cali-Mex almost didn't make it to the Championship game as they were down to their final out and a runner on second and Avery at bat.  While tying to intentionally walk Avery, the catcher missed the ball allowing birthday boy Chris Paiva to get to third.  With runners on 1st and 2nd, Eli Salazar hit a lazy pop fly to right and most thought it would end the game but another error by allowed the tying run to score and the winning run came in on the next batter with a Jesse Palacios single and sending Cali-Mex to the Championship game. 

In the Championship game they faced Balboa in both of their first championship game.  With Avery in the circle for Cali-Mex Balboa put together 4 hits to score the first run of the game.  Cali-Mex exploded in the bottom of the second with home runs by Ryan Alvarado, Pyle and Eddie Arnel to score 5 in the inning. Balboa came back with two runs runs in their part of the 4th inning to get back within two runs.  However, Cali-Mex turned it on in the bottom of the 4th and scored 8 runs including home runs by Avery and Palacios, a double by Pat Murray and a triple by Paiva to end the game 13-3 and take the Championship.  

The new and improved Balboa came out of the round robin as the number 5 seed going 2-1.  In their first game of the day they faced the Panteras and hung on to win 6-5.  This put them against the number one seed of the round robin Liberty FP.  In another high scoring game, they came out on top by the score of 10-6 to earn them their first championship game appearance. 

Next up for the SCIFL is the rain make up of the March 19-20 tournament to be held on May 1st and then the third tournament of the year at Little Lake Park on May 21-22.