2011 45+ Central
So Cal Sun Devils 13, Rochester 0
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| The SoCal Sun Devils, 45+ Central Division Champs |
Phoenix Municipal Stadium, Nov. 5, 2011 – Playing with heavy hearts upon hearing grim news about a teammate, the So Cal Sun Devils played inspired baseball and defeated the Rochester Red Wings 13-0 to win the MSBL 45 Central Championship for the second time in three years.
Earlier in the week the team learned that first baseman Frank Castro had been diagnosed with colon and liver cancer. Manager Dennis Swartout knew his team would be inspired but hoped they could remain focused. “I told them let’s do this for Frank, but let’s still play our normal game, go out there and have fun. Every time we go up to the plate, just remember that Frank is with us and he’s playing with us.” he said.
“We spoke with him after the game and he was in good spirits and we voted him as our team MVP” the Sun Devils skipper added.
The Sun Devils scored four times in the second inning. Ed Berakovich contributed a two-run single in the inning. That’s all Chico State University graduate and baseball alumni Dave Morrow would need.
Morrow pitched a complete game five-hitter with four strikeouts and one walk. Sandor Bors had three of Rochester’s hits.
The Sun Devils piled on after that. Dale Edy had a two-run single in a four-run sixth inning
The Sun Devils scored two more runs in the third and one in the fifth for a 7-0 lead, and then mounted a four run seventh. Dale Edy had a two-run single and Brett Stewart and Augie Augustine each had an RBI-single to extend the lead to 11-0. The Sun Devils scored two more in the eighth to cap the scoring.
Swartout, who has been coming to the World Series for 24 years, was not only impressed with his team’s ability to focus through adversity, but their ability to come together as a team.
“Everybody knew their role from the very beginning and just played together really well as a team, we had a lot of injuries to deal with and it was great to see how the next guy was able to step up following a key injury,” he added.
“We’re looking forward to coming back next year, “said Swartout who has come to the series for 24 years.
For the Red Wings, who managed just eight base hits, Sandor Bors went 3 for 3 with three singles.
Despite not being able to defend their championship from 2010, Manager Vernon VanSkiver was still proud of his team’s effort in reaching the championship game two years in a row. “Someone had to get here two years in row, we’re fortunate that we were that team that was able to,” VanSkiver said. “We’re looking forward to next year and hopefully we can get back to the Finals once again.”