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Ravens blast way to victory in title game

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By ADAM ADKINS

aadkins@tampatrib.com

Published: April 11, 2009

BRANDON - Alonso did exactly what Gaither coach Frank Permuy hoped his team would be able to do in Friday night.

"They came out smokin'," Permuy said.

And the Ravens never looked back.

Tito Martinez started the game with a leadoff home run, and the Ravens went on to post a 6-2 win against the Cowboys in the 29th annual Saladino Tournament title game at Don Powell Field, giving Alonso its second tournament championship in the last three years.

Recent history for Saladino champions has been very good regarding the team's fortunes in the ensuing postseason. Each of the past five Saladino champions have advanced to at least a regional final in the playoffs, with three of those teams advancing to the state tournament.

"I hope history keeps repeating then," Alonso coach Landy Faedo said. "They're a good team, and they've been playing good ball all year with consistency. They limit big innings, and our pitching staff, they give us a chance to win games and our hitting has really been coming around for us. I just want them to be humble. I want them to enjoy what happened tonight, and enjoy the experiences they had the entire week, but to be humble and know there is a lot more at stake now."

The homer by Martinez (2-for-3), which came on the second pitch from Gaither starter Alex Milne, was just the start for Alonso. The next batter, Tyler Ding (2-for-5), drilled a double to left-center, and Casey Smit (2-for-4) followed with a single up the middle to put the Ravens up 2-0 only three hitters into the game.

Alonso added two more in the second and one each in the third and fourth innings to build the 6-2 lead, and the Ravens pitching staff made sure it stood.

Starter Jordan Huchro yielded five hits in three-plus innings, but the damage he allowed was minimal. The only two runs he yielded came on solo homers by Mike Danner in the first and Drew Doty in the third. Ding came on and allowed only one hit through three innings of work, and Thomas Dorminy, who also went 3-for-3 at the plate, closed the door with a perfect seventh, striking out the final two hitters.

Gaither had some scoring chances but never could muster a clutch hit. The Cowboys stranded eight base runners through the first four innings, leaving the bases loaded in the fourth.

Alonso moved to a perfect 3-0 against Gaither this season, following up on a pair of Class 6A-District 7 wins. The title-game loss certainly was tough for the Cowboys to swallow, but Permuy was pleased with the way his team fought during their run over the past week.

"The end result is a little disappointing, but if anyone would have told us that we would be here at the beginning of the season with what we have, I would have bet my house against it," Permuy said. "I didn't think we were capable of being in the finals with the pitching staff that we have and the youth that we have. I'm looking forward to the tournament next year."

Reporter Adam Adkins can be reached at (813) 259-7616.

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