San José Captures 2016 World Series Father/Son American Title
The San José Father/Son Team won it's third title and 2nd in 4 years on Sunday with a dominating 11-4 victory over the Capital City Cardinals.
San José opened the tourney with a well played 10-2 victory over perennial rival LA Athletics. Hayden Hibberd and Jackson Yandle pitched 2 scoreless innings each for the kid's pitching and Jeffery Aguirre threw 3 scoreless innings with Rich Zuvella finishing the game. On offense, Nick Caravelli led the team with a 4-4 game with a double, triple and 3 RBIs. Matt Zuvella chipped in with 2-3, 3 runs, 2 SBs, a double and 2 RBIs .
In Game 2 vs the defending Champion Paramount Pirates the SJ squad fought back from a 15-5 deficit to score 10 times in the last 2 innings to fall by a score of 16-15. Rich Zuvella had 2 hits and 2 runs, Mikey Denevi delivered a 2-run double and Tim Denevi added a single and 2 runs.
On Friday San José accomplished a sweep of the Cardinals and A's by scoring winning walk-off victories on Hit-By-Pitches! In the opener at Goodyear Stadium, SJ scored a run in the 4th on an rbi single by Mike Denevi following a booming double to center by Nick Caravelli. Hayden Hibberd, Houston Hibberd and John Yandle held the Cardinals scoreless through the 7th but the Cardinals answered with a run in the 8th and the teams went into extra innings tied at 1-1. In the top of the 10th the Cards scored 2 and looked to be poised to win. However, the SJ squad answered with a couple of foretelling hit-by-pitches by David Smith and Don Chambers followed by a bunt single by Matt Zuvella loading the bases. After a home to first double play the SJ team was down to their final out and Chris Chamber lofted a towering fly ball to deep right center that just fell off the glove of the center fielder allowing the tying runs to score. An intentional walk to N Caravelli and a walk to Mike Denevi led to the bases loaded situation and big Kraig Constantino was drilled and the SJ group had the win, 4-3. Don Chambers was the winning pitcher.
In the nitecap SJ led 7-3 after 7 on Mike Denevi's 2 hit 3 rbi day and rbi's from Hayden Hibberd and Matt Zuvella and a 2 rbi knock from Rich Zuvella. The A's scored 3 in the 8th and 3 in the 9th to take a 2-run lead. However, San José, who had fought in every game, came back in the bottom half when Jeffery Aguirre Sr and Mikey Denevi led off with singles. After 2 were out, Scott Cruse walked, Jeffery Aguirre walked and 'Donnie Baseball' Chambers came through with a 2-RBI single to tie it. With the bases loaded, Chris Chambers was hit by the pitch for the game winner with a final of 11-10!
San José was the Division Winner and would play the Paramount Pirates in the Semi's.
With Fireballer Houston Hibberd on the mound the SJ squad scored 3 in the third on a double by Nick Caravelli Jr, a single by Mike Denevi, a double by Kraig Constantino, an rbi sac bunt by Rich Zuvella and a clutch single by Daniel Hall. In the 3rd SJ added on with a run on a single by Don Chambers, double by Chris Chambers and eventual bases loaded HBP to Hayden Hibberd. Houston Hibberd allowed 2 in the 4th and left leading 4-2 after 5 with 6 K's. Mike Denevi entered and held the Pirates to 4 hits and 0 runs with an outstanding play at SS by Nick Caravelli gunning down a run at the plate on a great tag by Don Chambers. We were now headed to the Final as the Cardinals knocked off the A's.
In the Final on Sunday, San José sent out lefty Chris Chambers and he responded by throwing 4 innings of no hit no run baseball! San José scored 2 in the first on singles by both Chambers, an error, and a sac fly by Hayden Hibberd. An rbi single by Don Chambers gave SJ a run in the second. In the 3rd N Caravelli singled and Kraig Constantino delivered a 2-out clutch single to score him. We tacked on 3 more runs in the 5th on singles by C Chambers, N Caravelli, Kraig Constantino, Rich Zuvella and Daniel Hall. Don Chambers drove in N Caravelli Sr in the 6th. Subs scored 2 more in the 7th when Chris Denevi, both Aguirres, and Dave Smith all had hits. We finished the scoring with a single by Jon Cruse followed by a sac fly from Donnie Baseball completed our scoring.
John Yandle, the venerable lefty and famous batting practice pitcher for the real Giants pitched the 5th through the 8th giving up just 2 runs and Houston Hibberd finished the game in the 9th.
Chris and Don Chambers each were named MVP of the Championship game and Nick Caravelli Jr was the MVP for the Weekend, going 12-for-17 in the 6 games. Constantino chipped in with 6-13 with a four 2-out clutch rbi's, Don Chambers was 9-20 and Mike Denevi 5-12 with 6 rbi's.
The group had a great time in Phoenix with outstanding dinners and of course the kids took the celebrations well into the night. This was San José's best father/son team to date and the group hopes to return for many more years with dreams of winning many more rings!