The Miami Lakes Optimist "Panama
Mutiny" has been crowned 2012 USSSA WOOD BAT CHAMPIONS
The tournament was played in
Kendall, Florida on September 5th-9th. The Mutiny started pool play 1-1 but
finished strong winning 3 games in a row to become the last team standing wth
4 wins and one loss. The team started elimination play
against the Miami Ridge Rats. The Mutiny was down 3-1 in the last inning when
the team tied it 3 - 3 and took the game to extra innings. The
Ridge Rats went on top 4 - 3 in the 7th inning but the resilient
Mutiny tied it and then won it on a walk off double, by Oscar Colindres and won
5-4. Jake Alfaro pitched 5 strong
innings with 1 one run allowed in the no-decision. The winning pitcher was
Adrian Vega. The Mutiny then faced the Danny Berry Diamond Backs in the
Semifinal. The Mutiny won the game 3-1 on a strong pitching performance by
Jordan Brown. Jayme Villafane hit a double in the 5th inning to score Jake
Alfaro with the go ahead run. Armando Becerra followed with another
double to make the game 3-1. Brown was the winning pitcher going 5
innings and one run allowed. The
Championship game was a matchup between the defending Tamiami Youth League Champions, "Miami Farm System Gamers" and the
defending, USSSA Premiere League Champions "Panama
Mutiny". The face off ended in a 8-3 win for the
Mutiny. Branden Vital, the winning pitcher, put an end to any chance the Gamers
had of winning by pitching 4 strong innings in the victory.
Players pictured middle row Armando
Becerra, Jayme Villafane, Adrian Vega, Christopher Sanchez, Jordan Vega,
Players bottom row; Yohan Canel, Branden
Vital, Ray Sobrino, Alejandro de la Paz and Jake Alfaro.
Top Row: Player Development Director
Guillermo Becerra, Assitant Coach and Scouting Director Matt Villafane, Head
Coach Elbert Alfaro, Trainer: Tony Lugo.