Avenue Boyz splinter opponents for first
By Missy Hinks

On a bright and sunny Saturday, softball players were reminded what the game of softball is all about. Using a wood bat, and the restricted flight of a cork center ball, it was not the person with the newest, most expensive bat that won the game, but the team that employed both strategy and base hitting. The Avenue Boyz were that team.
The Avenue Boyz picked up their first win against Joe's Quick Stop. Spectacular diving catches by Boyz outfielder, Ryan Aikens, helped keep the pressure on Joe's. With the international tie-breaker rule in effect in the ninth inning, Avenue Boyz singled to score teammate Juan Perez, and take the victory.
The Avenue Boyz flew past both team Tatonka and Horsemen to breeze into the finals undefeated.
The Avenue Boyz faced Tatonka again in the finals. Team Tatonka matched runs with the Boyz through the first three innings, but gave up a two-run lead in the fourth, on doubles by Arlen Vela and Juan Perez. Smelling victory, Boyz outfielder Ryan Aikens homered to add two more runs to their cushion. Teammate Nate Vela came out with the long ball of his own, homering in the top of the sixth. Team Tatonka was not about to go quietly, down by five runs, Tatonka chipped away at the Boyz lead, and scored four runs on singles in the sixth. Up by one run in the seventh, the Avenue Boyz held Tatonka scoreless to take the trophy.
Other hot tournament bats:
First place, Avenue Boyz (4-0):
· Nate Vela had a fantastic tournament, batting nine for 12. He slammed six singles, a double, triple, home run and two RBIs.
· Ryan Aikens batted six singles and a home run, and two RBIs.
· Arlen Vela batted five singles, two doubles and two RBIs.
· Juan Perez hit one single, two doubles, two home runs, and five RBIs.
Second place, Tatonka (4-2):
· Lead-off batter Matt Cresto batted 14 singles for the day with two RBIs.
· Nate Minkel hit five singles, a double, triple and five RBIs.
· Russ Ferrar hit five singles, two doubles, a triple, and two RBIs.
Third place, Horsemen (2-2):
· Mike Madrigal had a great tournament total going seven for eight, with three singles, one double, one triple, two home runs, a sacrifice and five RBIs.
· Jaime Galvan batted three singles.
Ojai Sports:
· Second baseman Rick Vogel batted two singles, and slammed a three-run home run.
· John Mc Connell added three singles and one RBI.
·Bob Lang hit five for eight with four singles and a double.
Frank's Rooter Service:
· Matt Villegas batted seven singles for the day.
· Steve Torres hit a single and two triples, one RBI.
T.A.C.T.:
· Mike Whitson batted a tournament total seven for nine with six singles, one double and one RBI.
· Jeff Stetler batted a six for eight with four singles, a triple and a three-run home run.
Joe's Quick Stop:
· Joey Vega scored twice and batted two single.
· Outfielder Terry Schleicher hit four for seven and added four singles and an RBI.
Silver Bullets:
· Matt Salmons singled and homered with a total of three RBIs.
The All-Wood Bat Tournament was made possible by Penny and Rick Vogel and Marti and Mark Weedon of Ojai Sports, who provided all of the bats and balls for the tournament.

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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