March 4, 2008 — Claudio Enterprises overcame a four-run deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning Monday night to beat the Seaborne Stealers 23-22 in a battle of the top two teams in the Bob Owens Slow Pitch Softball League.
The win gave Claudio the outright lead atop the standings as both teams came into the game tied for first.
Batting first, the Stealers came up with two unearned runs on three Claudio errors to take the early lead. Claudio responded with six runs in the bottom of the inning on a three-run home run by Juan Santana, a two-run shot by Wilfredo Ferere, and an RBI single off the bat of Tony Cruz to lead 6-2 at the end of one inning.
The Stealers scored five runs in the top of the second inning to retake the lead at 7-6. They scored five runs on a three-run home run by Michael Schjang and solo shots by Eustace Davis and Enrique Soto. That lead was again short-lived, as Claudio exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the inning on a grand slam by Luis Alexander, a three-run home run by Miguel Rodriguez, and an RBI single by Cruz, to go up 14-7.
The Stealers scored three runs in the top of the third on a two-run home run by Angel Torres and an RBI single by Michael Schjang to get to within four at 14-10. Enercido Bon's two-run home run in the bottom of the third, however, extended the Claudio lead to six at 16-10 after three completed innings.
The game was tied at 16 in the top of the fourth inning when the Stealers scored six runs on a three-run home run by Guido Schjang, a two-run single by Samuel Ramos, and an RBI single by Owen Pimentel. Claudio again responded. They scored two runs on Alexander's second home run of the game, a two-run shot, to lead 18-16 at the end of four innings.
The Stealers were not done scoring, however, as they plated four runs on a solo shot by Ronald Schjang Jr. and RBI singles by Davis, Eric Flynn, and Guido Schjang to take a 20-18 lead. Claudio had no answer in the bottom of the inning.
RBI singles by Freddie Pimentel and Guido Schjang extended the Stealers lead to four in the top of the sixth at 22-18. Claudio again had no answer in the bottom of the inning.
After the Stealers failed to score in the top of the seventh, the stage was now set for the Claudio comeback. They scored all the runs they would need in the bottom of the inning without recording an out. Claudio scored five runs on RBI singles by Bon, Cruz, Juan Isaac, Miguel Pena, and the eventual game-winner by Rodriguez.
Claudio's ace, Julio Carmona, picked up the win on the mound, while Ramos got the loss for the Stealers. Top hitters for Claudio were Alexander, 4 for 4 with two home runs and six RBIs; Bon, 4 for 5 with a home run and three RBIs; and Rodriguez, 4 for 5 with four RBIs. For the Stealers, Guido Schjang went 3 for 5 with five RBIs; Davis, 4 for 5 with a home run and two RBIs; and Owen Pimentel, 4 for 5 with one RBI.
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