July 14, 2006 – It was an error laden game as the Virgin Islands Big League All Star team was eliminated in the semifinals by the Dominican Republic, 7-6, in the Latin American region of the Latin American region of the Big League World Series.
Timothy Brewer kept the Dominicans off stride with an onslaught of curve balls and allowed no earned runs. The V.I. defense committed six costly errors. However, they were helped by the Dominicans who likewise committed six errors.
The V.I. scored first in the bottom of the first inning when Kahmari Leonard ripped a lead off double off the left-center field fence. He later scored on a Causton Merchant Jr. sacrifice fly to center field.
The V.I. then committed its first error in the top of the second inning, when Merchant threw a ball into center field as he tried to throw out Jose Ventura as he stole second base. Due to the errant throw Ventura was able to come all the way home.
The V.I. scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning off of two errors by the Dominicans. However, the local team quickly returned the favor in the top of the fourth inning, allowing the Dominicans to score two runs on two errors.
The V.I. regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning thanks to poor defense by the Dominicans. Lamont Joseph scored on an error made by the Dominicans' third baseman, Leonardo Vincente.
The Dominicans were able to tie the game at four, as V.I. left fielder John Meyers Jr. misgauged a ball over his head. The V.I. regained the lead, 5-4, due to a throwing error by Dominican catcher Ricardo Martinez in the bottom of the sixth inning.
In the top of the seventh with two outs and runners on second and third, Dominican Luis Dominguez hit a ground ball that V.I. shortstop LeShawn Lettsome played wrong and could not recover in time to get the runner at first and allowing the tying run to score. The Dominicans were able to add two additional runs to take a two run lead into the bottom of the inning.
The Virgin Islands rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring one run, but that was short of tying the game.
The V.I. next plays Venezuela at 10 a.m. Saturday for the bronze medal.
R- H-E
Dominican Republic 7- 6-6
Virgin Islands 6- 5-6
Winning Pitcher: Edison Ramos
Losing Pitcher: Timothy Brewer
Top Hitters: RD- Leonard Vincente 3 / 4
VI- Causton Merchant 2 / 3 and Kahmari Leonard 2 / 4
