2024 Stars and Stripes Memorial Day Tournament 54+ Champions: West Coast Gamecocks
Submitted by Eddie Maldanado, Player/Coach
The West Coast Gamecocks scored 16 runs on 23 hits to defeat the Caballeros 16 to 4 to capture the First Annual Star & Stripes 54+ Championship at CACTI Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach over Memorial Day Weekend.
Leading the offense was Scott Pagano who had three hits and four RBI. Also, Rudy Cesario chipped in three hits and three RBI. Israel Gonzalez had three hits and two RBI’s while Joe Williams and Mike Johnson each logged three hits. Mark Portman also drove in two.
Sam Steed pitched seven innings with 11 K’s allowing four runs. Noel Areizaga pitched the last two scoreless innings.
The Caballeros jumped out in front in the third inning scoring the only four runs allowed by our pitching staff throughout the tournament. We answered in the bottom of the third with five runs to take the lead. We then scored three runs in the fifth, and six in the sixth. The Gamecocks closed out the scoring with a run in the seventh and eighth, accounting for the 16 runs.
It was a great tournament and a great team victory. Congratulations to the Caballeros…I’m sure we will meet again!
