The Houston Aces Fastpitch Team had a strong showing at Red Rock placing 2^nd out of the 16 team bracket. It was the first year the Aces had traveled to St. George. Here is a recap of the games played last weekend.

In the first game, the Aces did not get a chance to play. They were scheduled to play Utah Desert Dawgs, but due to a time zone change that the Aces were unaware of the change and arrived later than scheduled. So they were forced to forfeit the game and took a 2-0 loss.

In the 3 P.M. game of their pool the Aces took on undefeated C/R Portland who was ranked #20 by the ISC. In what was a pitchers duel, Wayne Wells held Portland to no runs through 6 innings. Enter Jason Smith who kept that streak going until the game reached extra innings. The game went to international rule, Jason Smith held Portland off not allowing a run despite a mandatory runner at second to start the inning. When the Aces came to bat Anselmo Zamorategui was the runner for the Aces at Second. The next batter was not able to advance the runner on the sacrifice bunt. With 1 out number 9 hitter Saul Davila came to the plate, on the second pitch thrown Saul hit a gap to left center scoring the game winning run. That gave the Aces their first win, they next awaited the Cardinals for their final pool game.

In their final pool game the Aces played the Cardinals of California. This game was a back and forth battle. In the first inning the Cardinals went up 2-0 with a 2 run shot to right field. The Aces got one back in the 1^st making it 2-1. It stayed that way until the 4^th, when Moises Davila came up with 2 men on base and hit a homerun to left field making the game 4-1. The Cardinals though would not let up eventually tying the game in their final at bat evening the score 4 - 4. In the bottom of the 7^th the Aces came to the plate with the top of the order. Joe Morales singled to center field, next Mario Perez laid down a sacrifice bunt, advancing Joe to 2^nd base. In the 3^rd spot Craig Buttar hit one through to center scoring Joe and giving the Aces the win 5-4. The Aces would advance to the Elite 8, winning their pool and a top seed.

The Aces would face ISC ranked #22 Team Rainey on Sundays opener. Wayne Wells started the game, and in the first gave up the only run Team Rainey would have in the game with a homerun to right center. He then held Team Rainey 6 innings while the Aces bats were hot. In the second with 2 man on, Moises Davila hit a home run to right center. The Aces would add 3 more before the game was over ending it at 7-1 and advancing to the semi-finals.

In the semis the Aces would face ISC ranked #5 Patsy’s. Jason Smith would take the mound against Patsy’s Terry Luster. In a close pitcher battle Patsy’s got off first scoring 1 in the 3^rd. The Aces countered with 1 run in that same inning tying the ball game at 1-1. No runs would be allowed until the 5^th when Patsy’s catcher Frank De Groat hit one out to left field giving them a 2 - 1 lead. In the top of the 5^th with 2 men in scoring position Patsy’s brought in Gerald Muzelar. Benny Carmona hit a gap to right center for a triple and scoring 2 and taking the lead 3-2. Benny then scored on the next pitch, a passed ball making it 4-2. Wayne Wells entered in relief and held the lead for 2 innings giving the Aces the win and advancing to the championship game.

In the championship game the Aces would face ISC ranked #13 So Cal Bombers. In the championship game, starting pitchers Travis Price and Wayne Wells threw three scoreless innings each, before the Bombers broke the ice in the 4th inning, scoring two runs. The Bombers’ Darren Box led off the inning with a single to center. Paul Walford followed with a single to right, and both scored on a two-RBI single to right by Raymundo Parra. Houston catcher Troy Gilmore got the Aces to within one with a solo home run over the centerfield fence. Houston then got their best look at the game when Benny Carmona followed Gilmore’s home run with a single to center,Anselmo zamorategui got to 1st on an infield error. Ben Duron legged out a bunt to load the bases. Enter pitcher Sean Whitten for the Bombers. Whitten struck out the next hitter and induced an inning ending force out at second base to escape the jam. The bombers then scored 5 more runs ending the game at 7-1

The Aces would like to thank Roy Stout, Ken Hackmeister, Fastpitchwest.com, Al's and the City of St. George for a great tournament. We appreciate all that was done to promote the game of Fastpitch. We look foward to returning next year. The Aces will next play in Brownsville, Tx. You can check for updates at WWW.Houstonaces.com, Fastpitchwest.com, and Al's Fastball.

Anselmo Zamorategui
semoz81@hotmail.com