The Phoenix Tube won the 35 Wood Bat title with an 8-1 win over the Montebello Angels

By Alejandro Rodriguez

LAS VEGAS – Kirk Jacobs had four hits and three RBI, and Freddy Flores pitched a complete game three hitter with eight strikeouts as the Phoenix Tube defeated the Montebello Angels 8-1 to win the Kickoff Classic 35-and-over title.

Tied 1-1 in the top of the fifth inning, the Tube exploded for five runs to build a 6-1 lead. Jacobs stroked a two-run single, Mike Arranzullo added an RBI single, and ex-majaor leaguer Pete Schourek ripped a two-run double to complete the rally.

The title game jackpot was the first in six trips for the Tube. “This was great, for five years we traveled here and each time we left empty handed and now to finally win it, it’s just a great feeling,” Howe said.

Howe also couldn’t say enough about the team effort in winning the championship. “We’re not about having stars on our team, we’re all about playing as a team and everybody knowing their role and accomplishing the common goal, which is winning,” he said. “We’re like a family, we’re all good friends. This tournament is a pleasure to be a part of.”

Howe praised his team’s balance. “We’ve got a great lineup, great pitching, we play great defense, and all three of those are key in being a great team,” he said.

Angels Manager Robert Oskin made no excuses for his team’s loss. “They’re a good team, we made some errors in that fifth inning and they took advantage of it, so credit to them for that,” Oskin said. “We had been playing well defensively up until this game, but sometimes that’s just how it goes.”

He said. Despite the loss, Oskin still looks forward to playing in the same tournament again next year.

Rob Mojarrdo had an RBI-single in the bottom of the second that drove in Armando Alcantar with the Angels’ lone run. “We’ll definitely be back next year, we always have a lot of fun playing here,” he said.

WP – Freddy Flores, LP – Gabe Carmona

Leading Hitters – (Phoenix) Jacobs 4×4, 3 RBI; Schourek, 2B, 2 RBI