2013 45+ National

‘Lloyd does it the plate and on the hill for Fedlock’

By Alex Kushel, special to MSBLNational.com

Tradition Field, Port St. Lucie, Nov. 16, 2013—Ray Lloyd pitched seven strong innings and allowed just two runs while also drilling a base-clearing three-run double in the sixth inning as the Southern Maryland Fedlock cruised past the Puerto Rico Royals 12-2 at Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie.

Fedlock defeated the same Royals team 4-3 in walk-off fashion in the 2012 45 National Finals.

This year, the outcome never seemed in doubt. Fedlock never trailed and steadily pulled away. The team has now won nine championships in 14 years, and it has owned the 45 National division at the Fall Classic having played in the finals five out of the past six years, and having won the championship in four of those years.

“It was nice to have a comfortable lead this time,” Fedlock manager and Fall Classic Hall of Famer Dave Cross said. “We had great pitching and timely hitting. We had a lot of different contributors and some great performances from our team during the tournament.”

Lloyd stepped up to lift his team to victory on the mound and at the plate. He went 3-for-4 with two doubles and five RBI. Fedlock pulled away in the sixth inning as Lloyd ripped a three-run double to the left-center gap.

Lloyd was effective because he pitched to contact and let his defense work. He scattered 11 hits, struck out only one, and walked none. Lloyd did not allow an extra base hit.

“Ray was great and he delivered for us in a big game,” Cross said.

Dwayne Conteehad two singles and reached base three times while driving in two runs. Mike Garrison and Danny Lee both recorded two hits and Dave Toth had a double and two RBIs. Eddie Fuller reached base twice and had a single.

Fedlock pushed across two runs to open the scoring in the first. Garrison had a leadoff double and scored on Contee’s RBI base hit. Lloyd produced a run-scoring single to make it 2-0.

Puerto Rico tied the score in the top of the second, but Pete Cressey’s RBI fielder’s choice in the bottom half of the inning made it 3-2 and Fedlock would never relinquish the lead for the remainder of the game.

Fedlock scored twice in the third inning to jump ahead 5-2. Lloyd crushed an RBI double and Chris Kelly added an RBI single. They pulled away with a six-run sixth which included a two-run double by Toth. Lloyd’s three-run double put the game out of reach to make it 12-2.

Contee pitched two scoreless innings in relief and surrendered just one hit and one walk.

Ronald Berrioswent 3-for-3 with three singles and Jose Delgado, Josue Ortiz and Luis Ortizeach had three hits apiece to lead the Royals offense.

Royals starting pitcher Jorge Ojeda struggled and was chased in the fifth inning without recording an out. Ojeda pitched four innings and was charged with six runs on nine hits while walking one and he did not register a strikeout. Carmelo Morges and Jose Lopez pitched in relief for the Royals.

The Royals offense recorded 12 singles, but stalled with runners in scoring position throughout the game.

“We have the same core of guys each year and they played great,” Cross said. “It was very satisfying to win another championship.”