2012 25+
By Tom Taylor, For MSBL On-Line
Faith Lutheran HS, Las Vegas, Nv., May 28, 2012 – Defense was the difference as Venezuela-based Replay Arenas defeated the Puget Sound MSBL Ravens 8-6 in the 25-and-over finals at the Las Vegas Open.
Venezuela had some, and Puget Sound had substantially less.
The Washington-based Ravens committed five errors and allowed four unearned runs in the loss. The Venezuelans, meanwhile, turned in a flawless defensive effort and outhit the Ravens 12-11 to take the top prize. The Ravens stranded 16 base runners in the contest.
Salin Lanz led all hitters going 4-for-5 with a double and a triple, an RBI, and two runs scored. Teammate German Roterith was 2-for-5 with a double and RBI. Aroldo Mijares started on the hill for Venezuela. Edinyon Urbina relieved him in the fourth and eventually earned the win. Jean Colmenares threw the eighth and Thomas Cabaniel swooped in to throw the ninth and capture the save.
Replay opened the scoring in the third inning when Lanz stroked an RBI triple to the right to score Carlos Montoya. Lanz then scored on Jan Alayon’s perfectly placed bunt single. Lanz also figured in Venezuela’s sixth inning rally when after doubling and moving to third, he stole home on a first-and-third steal situation. Alayon scored what proved to be the winning run on an infield error.
Deryck Christensen took the loss for the Ravens. He threw five and gave way to Jim Radovich.
Venezuela, managed by German Montoya and coached by Gustavo Nadal, punched its ticket to the finals with a 5-2 win over the Colt 45’s. Rene Marrero threw eight innings allowing just one run and had 10 strikeouts. Thomas Cabaniel earned a save and Alayon was 3-for-4 with two RBI.
The Ravens, managed by Paul Davison, were propelled offensively by Christensen who was 11-for-20 with five RBI on the weekend. Its pitchers threw four complete games in the tournament including George Ferrer’s 10-0 pancaking of the Las Vegas Dirt Bags, one of several local baseball teams in the tournament. Paul Fischer threw a complete game in a 7-4 semifinal win over the Montebello Dodgers. The Puget Sound MSBL is one of the MSBL’s largest men’s baseball leagues in the country.
The Las Vegas Open is one of the MSBL’s two adult baseball tournaments in Las Vegas. The other tournament, the Kickoff Classic, is held in March.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Replay Arenas | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 12 | 0 |
| Ravens | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 5 |
(Arenas) Mijares, Urbina (4), Colmenares (8), Cabaniel (9). (Ravens) Christensen, Radovich (6)
WP – Urbina. Sv.— Cabaniel. LP—Christensen. Top Hitters—(Arenas) Lanz 4×5, 2B, 3B, 2 R; Roterith 2×5, 2B. (Ravens) Kuehn 2×3, 2R, 2 RBI; Woods 2×5, 2 SB; Pantohan 2×4, 2 RBI.
Las Vegas Open Final Standings
| 25 Wood Bat Division | W | L | T |
| Colt 45’s | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| PSSBL Ravens | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Montebello Dodgers | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Replay Arenas | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Las Vegas Dirtbags | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Las Vegas Giants | 0 | 3 | 0 |
25 Wood Bat Semifinals –
Ravens 7, Montebello Dodgers 4.
Arenas 5, Colt 45’s 2
25 Wood Bat Finals — Arenas 8, Ravens 6