August 14, 2003 — The V.I. Explorers annihilated their third-round opponent to advance to the next round of the American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame 12-and-under tournament Wednesday, in Cooperstown, N.Y. The Explorers defeated the Atlantic Coast Badgets, 12-2.
The Explorers did it with sheer power. Homeruns were the name of the game as the Explorers pounded three of them in one inning. They came off of the bats of Jose Rivera (2-run), Jaleel Miller (2-run) and Malik Graham (solo). Miller and Graham homeruns were back-to-back.
Kai Smith was perfect from the plate in one appearance. Khamal Simmonds and Graham each had two hits in three at-bats. Rivera had two hits in three at-bats.
Simmonds was the winning pitcher for the Explorers.
J. Ryan took the loss for the Badgets.
The Explorers are ranked 16th and will face the No. 1 ranked San Carlos {California) Stingers at 8:30 a.m. Thursday. The elimination games continue Thursday, with the championship game to be played on later in the evening. The Explorers are playing in the ninth week of a ten-week tournament. The winners of each week's tournament will return to play in the eleventh-week final championship tournament.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
