2025 Cyclones Go ‘Back-to-Back’ for 35+ Spring Title in Houston Hardball League
Houston Hardball League, 35+ Spring Division
Cyclones 8, Expos 0
‘Eddie Baray Earns Back-to-Back MVP Honors as Cyclones Defeat Expos 8-0’
Submitted by Dean Cosme, Cyclones’ manager
Jul 21, 2025 – Prior to the beginning of yesterday’s championship game, Eddie Baray announced, “I’m pitching to contact boys, so be ready”. Eddie could not have been more accurate and truthful with that statement. Eddie pitched eight innings and struck out only one batter, and that strikeout came in his last inning of work.
The rest of his outing, Eddie pitched in and around the strike zone enough to induce contact and produce outs. Eddie was able to keep the Expos’ big hitters at bay for most of the game, and the rest of the lineup mostly off the bases.
The Expos’ best chance at getting back in the game came in the fifth inning when the Expos loaded the bases courtesy of two hits and a walk. But with two outs already in the books, the Expos drove a liner to left field, and Eddie was out of trouble.
On offense, the Cyclones took advantage of the Expos’ misplays and made them pay dearly. In the first, Guy Koenig reached on a hard-hit grounder to third base that wasn’t handled cleanly. He promptly stole second base and moved to third on a strike three wild pitch that saw Camilo Galvez reach first as well.
Craig Baser followed with a Sac-Fly to get the Cyclones on the board. Eddie Baray joined in with a hit of his own, and Juan Guedez, courtesy running for Eddie, stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Up next, Josh Granados reached on an error, but that error produced two runs.
In the bottom of the second, Dre Vappie led the inning with a single to right. Justin Putnal followed with a grounder to third, but the ball was thrown into the outfield, and runners were now on first and third. Taylor Scaggs joined in on the action as he laced an RBI single to center, making the score 4-0.
Chad Tineo grounded into a fielder’s choice, moving Justin to third. Chad stole second on the next pitch, putting himself in scoring position. Next batter, Juan Guedez, grounded to third, but the third baseman tripped and was unable to come up with the play, with Justin scoring and Chad moving to third. With runners on first and third again, Guy hit a sharp grounder to the pitcher, driving in the third run of the inning to make the score 6-0.
The Cyclones would score two more runs, one each in the fourth and fifth innings, to end the scoring at eight.
Taylor Scaggs pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to secure the Championship for the Cyclones. It’s the Cyclones’ sixth championship in the Houston Hardball League, including two while in the North Houston Wood Bat League. It’s the third championship in the last six seasons, and the first back-to-back championship for the Cyclones!