CRUISERS SENT HOME EARLY IN PSTS
Feb. 4, 2001

Huntington Beach, CA - It was not to be on this day. The Cruisers headed out to Huntington Beach for their first PSTS tournament this past Saturday. The team wanted to play a tune-up and gauge the talent before heading out to Big League Dreams in Palm Springs at the end of February.

Vinny Lauretta swings for Fences.

Things started off on a bright note as the Cruisers took on the Snot Rags. Some great infield play helped lead to an early 16-4 mercy-rule victory. Shortstop Chad Bickley got things going by turning three double plays in the game. The Rags put an early 2 runs on the board in the first inning. A -two run homerun by Jason Sullivan, his first on the day, gave the Cruisers the lead in the bottom half of the first Nick Cantu & Eric Bolle followed up with base hits to help push 5 runs across that inning.

The bats stayed consistent from there as the team was able to add runs each inning. The game was called in the 5th as the cruisers were able to sit the Snot Rags down 1-2-3 and walk off with a Mercy Victory.

The biggest hurdle was to come. As many Cruiser loyalists have been aware, the second game in tournament play has been their worst draw. The team has not been able to put a solid performance out on the field in their second tourney games for some reason. Today looked to be different as the Cruisers jumped out to a quick 9-3 lead through an inning and a half. Outkast, Did plate a couple in the bottom of the 2nd to make it a 9-5 game.

The Cruiser bats went to sleep from here, as the second game jitters took over. Outkast took advantage, and tied the game in the bottom half of the 3rd inning by plating four runs. The Cruisers responded with a two-run Sullivan homerun in the top of the 4th. However, Outkast was able to score two more to keep pace.

The fifth inning spelled doom for the Cruisers as they could not score even a single run. To compound problems, Outkast broke out and put a solid 6 on the board. At the close of the inning, the ump said that the 6th would be the final inning. An uphill climb to say the least.

Chasing six runs, the Cruisers quickly recorded outs in two of their first three at bats. The top of the line-up was able to start a two out rally. Singles by Chad Bickley & John Rodriquez scored Dan Romero. Then Jason Sullivan stepped in the box and clutched up again. He hit a three-run bomb over the left field fence making it a two run ball-game. Nick Cantu promptly singled to left, bringing the tying run to the plate in Eric Bolle. With the green lite on to swing for the fences Bolle hit a high fly-ball to left ending the game. "I got out of my game, I should have just gone for a hit instead of trying to get the long ball. You live and learn." said Bolle after the game.

After another 2 hour break, the Cruisers took the field again vs. Smoke Screen. Everything was not kosher when the teams took the field. Homeplate faced EXACTLY west, making it very difficult to see the ball once the pitcher released it. At it's peak, the ball would literally disappear into the sun, and then pop out. Both teams struggled dearly in these elements as indicated by the final score. Since both teams were also 1-1, winner advanced to the playoffs, and loser went home. In other words, the playoffs started now.

Smoke Screen took an early 1-0 lead in the top half of the first. The Cruisers responded in the second inning, but not after Bickley lead things off with a swinging K. "I just couldn't see the ball." said Bickley. Rodriquez singled after battling off some pitches. Again, Sullivan came to the plate, and hit a big homerun to left field giving the Cruisers back the lead. A couple errors by the shortstop allowed Cantu & Bolle to reach, and Mike Beltran was able to score one of them with a single. Andy Solis quickly killed the rally by hitting a soft ball to the third baseman, which he didn't run (literally, stood in the box), ending the inning on a 5-4-3 double play.

Smoke Screen took the lead back in the 3rd inning as they were able to plate 3 runs. The Cruisers bats were no were to be found, keeping the game very close. Eventually, the Cruisers were able to tie the game at 4 in the bottom half of the 6th inning. However, Smoke Screen plated two runs in the top half of the 7th to take a commanding 6-4 lead.

Andy Solis & Tony Catania promptly popped up to start the inning, leaving the Cruisers with no one on, and two outs to try and score two runs in a blinding sun. The bottom of the line-up did their best to deliver as vinny, Robert Baytosh & Jim Barr all delivered key hits. A single by Barr scored Vinny to make it a one-run game. With two outs, and men at 1st & 2nd, Dan Romero came to the plate. After taking the first pitch strike, he hit a grounder to the second baseman, which was bobbled for a second, and then tossed to first to end the game. "I was trying to dink it over into right field. I had a very hard time seeing the ball, and I figured a shorter swing would do me some good. Obviously that didn't work." said Romero.

The Cruisers were sent packing, and had to look to the future for redemption. "We'll take one of these one day. You can count on it." said Nick Cantu. Bel Air wound up winning the tournament, Outkast took second and R & R placed third.