2014 White Sox Sweep Angels in Acadiana Spring Championship
Acadiana Amateur Baseball League, Lafayette, LA 18+
White Sox Sweep Angels in Spring Championship Series
Standing (L to R): Steven Sparkman, Kris Allain, John Russ, Scott Hasten, Russ Summers, Jude Vice, Eric Hotard. Kneeling (L to R): Josh Perez, Jonathan Bourque, Chase Wooley, Chad Jimenez, Mike Guidry, Bill McDaniel, Aaron Fast. Styling and Profiling (L to R): Kreg Savoie, Championship Trophy, Lee HebertSubmitted by Jude Vice, Acadiana League Vice President
The Acadiana Amateur Baseball League, located in and around Lafayette, Louisiana, wrapped up its 17th season of play with a best of three Championship Series between White Sox and Angels, with the White Sox sweeping for its 3rd overall league championship. White Sox won the spring league in 2010 and the fall wood bat league in 2013.
In Game 1, the White Sox’ bats exploded for 17 hits en route to an impressive 14-7 victory over the regular season champion Angels.
Leading the way in that game was Sox second baseman Josh Perez who went 4-6 with a double and 4 RBIs out of the lead-off spot. The top four batters in the order combined to tally 11 of the team’s 17 hits.
On the hill, Lee Hebert came on in relief of starter Damian Babineaux in what was a close game to shut down the Angels offense for the final four frames. In four innings of work, Hebert only allowed one run and fanned six while earning the save.
In Game 2 of the series, early offense and dominate pitching highlighted the game.
White Sox starter Kreg Savoie was effective in tossing eight strong innings while only allowing one earned run on eleven hits while striking out six Angels batters.
At the dish, Sox left fielder Russ Summers was the star as he went 3 for 4 with a home run and two runs batted in. Summers would be named the Championship Series MVP, as he combined to go 5 for 8 in the two games with a double, home run and four RBIs.
The White Sox, who came into the postseason as the #2 seed, finished with a combined record of 13-5. The Angels, the two-time defending AABL Champs wrapped up their season with an impressive 11-5-1 overall record.
Overall, it was another successful season for the Lafayette, Louisiana based MABL league. There were six teams that competed in the 15-game regular season. The top three teams made the playoffs.
In addition, postseason awards were handed out for three major categories and the winners were:
·League MVP – Chad Jimenez (White Sox) – .568 AVG, 14R, 1 HR, 15 RBI, 13 SB
·Pitcher of the Year – Bryce Martel (Angels) – 6-1, 2.66 ERA, 71 IP, 13 BB, 57 K
·Manager of the Year – Bryce Martel (Angels)
The league also continued its relationship with the MABL league from Baton Rouge, the Red Stick Amateur Baseball League, and put on the 3rd Annual RSABL/AABL Inter league All-Star Game on Sunday, July 6th.
The AABL All-Stars won that game 8-3. The game was played in Lafayette. RSABL now leads that series 2-1.
Bryce Martel (Angels) and Seth Lahaye (Brewers) were named the game’s Co-MVPs. Martel got the win on the mound, tossing four shutout innings while giving up only three hits, with no walks and three strikeouts. Lahaye went 3 for 4 with a triple and run scored.
The AABL will resume play on September 2nd as for the second year in a row, the league will put on a fall wood bat league. The 9-game season will be played weeknights at Fabacher Field in Broussard, Louisiana with the championship game being played at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Fieldon the campus of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.