2017 White Sox Win Spring Crown at Acadiana Amateur Baseball League (LA)
Acadiana (LA) Amateur Baseball League Spring Session
White Sox 13, Rays 1
‘Wilborn Cops MVP Honors’
Submitted by Jude Vice, League President
The Acadiana Amateur Baseball League’s 2017 Spring League Championship Series came to an end on Sunday at Scott McCullough Field at Acadiana High School with the White Sox winning the decisive Game three over the Rays by a final of 13-1.
The White Sox won Game one by a score of 4-3 with the Rays taking the second game 6-4.
With the win, the Sox claimed their fourth spring league championship in their nine-year history, including three titles in the last four years.
Things were close early on as the Rays came out the gates hot, notching five hits in the first two innings off of Sox starter Greg Wilborn. However, Wilborn would strand the bases loaded in each of those innings while only surrendering one run.
The White Sox would tie the game in the bottom of the third inning with an RBI single by designated hitter Jonathan Bourque.
Wilborn would settle down the rest of the way as he threw seven innings while giving up only the five hits and striking out 14 Rays batters.
The White Sox would turn it on at the plate in the fifth inning as they scored three runs that inning along with four in the sixth, three in the seventh and another two in the eight inning.
Catcher Russ Summers delivered on three separate occasions with two-run singles, tallying a total of six RBI for the game.
Former Louisiana Ragin’ Cajun and Los Angeles Dodger farmhand Greg Wilborn would be named the Championship Series MVP. He started two games during the series, winning both while pitching a total of 16 innings. He allowed only one earned run during that span and struck out an incredible 34 batters.
Wilborn also went 4 for 10 at the plate in the series with a triple and an RBI.
The game also featured a touching tribute to outgoing League President and White Sox player Jude Vice as he retired following the contest after playing in the league since its inception in 1998. Vice was the only player AABL history to have played all 20 years. In addition to playing , he also has served as League President since 2005.
Vice’s final at-bat came in the ninth inning and he fittingly roped an RBI single to right field. And with two outs in the bottom of the inning, Manager Mike Guidry called him in to pitch the last out.
For more on the Acadiana Amateur Baseball League, including information regarding the upcoming Fall Wooden Bat League, visit www.acadianabaseball.com.
Game 3 Box Score:
WP: Greg Wilborn (6-0) 7IP, 1R, 1ER, 5H, 3BB, 14K
LP: Ben Leblanc (6-1) 5IP, 4R, 3ER, 6H, 6BB, 5K
Top Hitters: Rays – Tyler Watkins 2-4, Chandler O’Neal 1-2 RBI; White Sox – Russ Summers 3-5, 6 RBI; Luke Acosta 2-4, RBI, 3 Runs; Greg Wilborn 2-5, Triple, RBI; Jude Vice 1-1, Run, RBI