Toros Score Six in the Seventh For a Come-From-Behind Win

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS (June 15, 2008) The Bay Area Toros stood one game from first place at the start of this evening's game and Corpus Christi was determined not to share the top spot with the visiting Toros. Bay Area had already accomplished what no other team in the league could by finally breaking the BeachDawg’s unblemished record at home by winning yesterday 3-1. To finish the series tied at two apiece was considered a perfect Father’s Day Gift for those in the Toros organization.

The game began as though the Toros were not determined enough to reach their goal as starting pitcher Alex Fernandez would only last into the Third Inning giving up three runs. His relief would follow suit allowing two additional earned runs. Entering the late innings, the Toros found themselves in the hole 5-1.

BeachDawg starting pitcher Gustavo Vazquez had handled the Toros well through the first six innings but after retiring one in the Seventh, he had to leave the mound after injuring his back. His relief, Garardo Valera, would enter the game with high hopes since the Toros seemed to not be able to muster any offense. Valera, however, would walk the first batter he faced and then proceed to hit the next, loading the bases since a Toro had reached prior to Vasquez’s exit by en error. What occurred next was a series of mistakes which propelled the Toros to score six runs, all of which were unearned. During the fiasco, the Toros’ bats would come alive. Two runs reached home each on a Greg Plecki single and a Grant Massie triple .

After the dreadful inning, Corpus Christi could not recover and closer Ryne Nelson would enter the game for Bay Area and earn his fourth save. Valera would be credited with the loss (0-1) and Toro pitcher Marcus Moore, who pitched last before the surge, was given the win (1-0). Both teams are now tied in first place.

Errors Cost Toros First Place

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS (June 13, 2008) The Bay Area Toros (11-8) and the Corpus Christi BeachDawgs (12-7) entered last night's game tied atop the Continental Baseball League standings and were out to vie for the coveted top spot. By the end of the night both teams played a defensive battle that was decided by costly errors.

The Bay Area Toros would work toward the opening score when lead-off hitter Grant Massie reached base on a single and was pushed along by a sacrifice bunt and then a groundout. While on third, BeachDawg starting pitched Ryan Kondratowiz would make an errant pitch which would allow for Massie to dart home providing the Toros with a 1-0lead which they would enjoy into the following inning.

In the Seventh Inning, Toro reliever Loren Lauver would walk the lead-off batter, Earl White. White would then manage a stolen base and would eventually advance to third on a passed ball between Lauver and catcher Kyle Wells. The slip would cost the Toros their lead as Michael Estrada would slice a ball down the left field line bringing White home.

The Toros would fail to break the tie in the Eighth Inning and would bring pitcher Will Smeltzer into the game in the bottom of the inning to speed through the Corpus order. Unfortunately, mistakes continued to pile up for the Toros. BeachDawg Tyler Kmetko would reach on an error and would be followed by a base-hit bunt by Brad Coleman. The play would develop when Smeltzer could not reach the ball in time. The following batter, Brandon McCabe, would reach on yet another error. With bases loaded, Kmetko would cross homeplate on a passed ball and Coleman would score on a sacrifice fly. The lead would hold for Corpus as Bay Area could not produce in the final inning.

Both teams will continue the fight for first tonight at 7:05PM in Corpus Christi.

CBL Game Shorts for Saturday, May 31, 2008

By Olivia Dodson
Copyright 2008 TexSport Publications

These are the results from games around the Continental Baseball League for Saturday, May 31, 2008 games.

At Texarkana, Texas
Corpus Christi BeachDawgs-14
Texarkana Gunslingers-5
Win: Rene Recio Loss: William Jackel

At Texas City
McKinney Blue Thunder-9
Bay Area Toros-2
Win: Donald Furrow Loss: Will Smeltzer

Schedule for Sunday, June 1
McKinney Blue Thunder at Bay Area Toros at 6:35pm
Corpus Christi BeachDawgs at Texarkana Gunslingers at 7:05pm

CBL Game Shorts for Friday, May 30, 2008

By Olivia Dodson
Copyright 2008 TexSport Publications

Games of Friday, May 30, 2008:

At Texarkana:
Texarkana Gunslingers-9 Corpus Christi BeachDawgs-1
Win: Brandon Wells. Loss: Garardo Valera.

At Texas City:
Bay Area Toros-8 McKinney Blue Thunder-4
Win: Kevin Cooper. Loss: Andrew Kelne.

Schedule for Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1:

McKinney Blue Thunder at Bay Area Toros
Corpus Christi BeachDawgs at Texarkana Gunslingers

CBL Game Shorts for Thursday May 29, 2008

By Olivia Dodson
Copyright 2008 TexSport Publications

The McKinney Blue Thunder dropped the Corpus Christi BeachDawgs 4-1 in Continential Baseball League action on Thrsday night.

The Texarkana Gunslingers won their first game of the season, defeating the Bay Area Toros 9-2 in Texas City.

Game stats are below:

At McKinney:
McKinney Blue Thunder 4 Corpus Christi BeachDawgs 1
Win: Marcus Markary (1-0). Loss: Ryan Kondratowiz (0-1).
Save: George Castillo (1). HR: None.


At Texas City:
Texarkana Gunslingers 9 Bay Area Toros 2
Win: Ryan Williams (1-0). Loss: Keegan Laycock (0-1).
HR: None.

Highlights: TEX - Gene Crimoli 3-4 RBI 2 runs; Jay Reynolds 2-5 3 RBI.
BA - Greg Plecki 2-5 RBI 1run; Jose Suncar 2-3 1 run

AROUND THE CBL for Wednesday, May 28, 2008

By Olivia Dodson
Copyright 2008 TexSport Publications

Below are the stats and game notes from Wednesday evening's Continenal Baseball League (CBL) games

At McKinney, Texas:

Two games, both scheduled for seven innings, due to rescheduling of Tuesday's game.

Corpus Christi BeachDawgs 6
McKinney Blue Thunder 5
8 innings

The first game is Trey Salinas' first game as field manager of Corpus Christi. He assumes the position from his father, Hector Salinas. The elder Salinas will now focus on his role as BeachDawgs' GM. The younger Salinas enjoyed a nine-year career in professional baseball primarily as an outfielder and catcher, including stops in the Tampa Bay, Cincinnati, and Baltimore organizations, before closing out his playing career at home in the Corpus Christi area with the Coastal Bend Aviators in the Central League in 2004.


Corpus Christi BeachDawgs 2
McKinney Blue Thunder 3
Win: David Kennedy (1-0). Loss: Toro Trevino (0-2).

Former NFL wide receiver Jake Reed (Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints) served as first-base coach for McKinney in the second game.


At Texas City, Texas:

Bay Area Toros 6
Texarkana Gunslingers 3

Win: Alex Fernandez (1-0). Loss: Ryan Zimmerman (0-1).

Schedule for Thursday, May 29:

Texarkana Gunslingers at Bay Area Toros, 6:35pm
Corpus Christi BeachDawgs at McKinney Blue Thunder, 7:00pm

CBL GAME SHORT: Toros Lose to BeachDawgs

By Olivia Dodson
Copyright 2008 Texsport Publications

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS (May 26, 2008) The Bay Area Toros dropped their second game of the season to the Corpus Christi BeachDawgs 5-1 in Corpus Christi. The Toros fall to 2-2 for the season as the BeachDawgs raise their record to 2-2.

The Toros head home for a three game series against the Texarkana Gunslingers on Tuesday through Thursday, while the BeachDawhs travel to McKinney to face the Blue Thunder in a three game series being on Tuesday.

Toros Defeat BeachDawgs in Season Opener 9-5

Bay Area Toros opening day pitcher Keegan Laycock went 4 1/3 innings in the Toros win. (Photo by Darla Tamulitis-La Vita Loco Photography Copyright 2008)

By Robert H. Kelly
Copyright 2008 TexSport Publications

TEXAS CITY, TEXAS (May 24, 2008) The weather was not as hot as their bats as 1124 die hard baseball fans saw The Bay Area Toros defeat the Corpus Christi BeachDawgs 9-5 to begin the 2008 Continental Baseball League season on Friday night.

The was the first opening day for the Toros at Robinson Field in Texas City. Last year, the Toros played their opening day game and most of the season at Clear Creek High School baseball field before moving to Texas City.

Keegan Laycock, who was the opening day starting pitcher for the Toros, went 4 1/3 innings, giving up two hits and two runs (one earned) with nine strikeouts. He was replaced by middle reliever Matthew Paradoski.

Paradoski pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing one earned run and two strikeouts to get his first win of the season.

The improved pitching performance was largely due to the addition of Jim Mallory as pitching coach. Mallory was brought in to oversee the pitching staff and put some consistency to the staff that as sorely lacking last season.

Mallory was quote after the game: “I was pleased with the pitching performance tonight. It was solid and supported by our bats. Overall, a great game.”

At the plate, the Toros erupted with a flurry in the third inning, scoring four runs. Catcher Kyle Wells lead the way with the first home run of the season, bringing home two runs. One additional run in the inning took the score to 4-1.

The BeachDawgs came back with a one run homer by right fielder Josh Morgan. They also scored twice more, in the seventh and eighth innings to cut into the Toros lead. Solo runs in both the fifth and sixth innings, combined with two runs in the seventh inning kept the leased for to Toros to assure the opening day win.

The Toros will be back on the field on Saturday to clsoe out the two game homestand against the BeachDawgs, with the first pitch at 6:35pm.