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01/21/2006 Archived Entry: "Mex Pac League News : Guasave - Mazatlan an Unedited Final Series"
By Carlos Fragoso
Guasave -- Mazatlán an unedited final series -- Source LMP
When Guasave Cottoneers face Mazatlan Venados , their thoughts will be in that Janauary 24th game wher beating Culiacan Tomato Growers 2- 1 with Thor Skogan off Randy Cohen and closer Alan Hrabosky, then an unknown prospect, fanning pinch hitter Domingo Rivera and Roberto Ortiz to end the inning, thus making Guasave a champion for the first and only time in their 36 of existance in Mex Pac
In the other hand, Venados is an old timer player in final series, last year they entered the final series as the lucky loser, as they did this year again, and got crowned not only as the Mex Pac reigning champ, but also as the CS king
Both teams have faced 12 times during this almost ending season, splitting victories , however if Guasave have in Spike Lundberg a sure shot to win games, one has not to discard the presence of reliable RH Walter Silva who beated them twice, by scores 0f 2 -1 and 1 -0 in 10 innings
SERIES KEY FACTS
• Last 4 champion teams come from Sinaloa State, Culiacan ( 2002 ) , Cañeros ( 2003 ) , Culiacan ( 2004 ) and Mazatlan ( 2005 ) , so Sinaloa will bring another for 2006
• Last final series bewtwen two Sinaloan teams were in 2002, when Culiacan with Nicaraguan Vicente Padilla on the mound beat Mazatlan in 6 games
• In team confrontations, Mazatlan were 20 – 13 runs vs Guasave, in the other way around Guasave had 39 – 12 , so you might as well come up with your own conclusion
• Mazatlan starters , Walter Silva had a 2-1 – 2.66 ERA , 4 W and 13 KO while facing Guasave, Pablo Ortega and Francisco Campos were 0 – 1 each, and Pablo Ochoa 0 -2 , so Venados relief pitching got most of the wins with 4 ( Loya, Navarro , Bustillos and Baez ) so the advantage is for Guasave,
• As far as best batters is concern, Miguel Flores batted .341 , Ray Sadler .318 , Noe Muñoz the Cottoneers catcher batted .302 , as for home runs is concern, Adrian Gonzalez who is no longer with the team whacked 2, his brother Edgar one as well as Roberto Saucedo and Daniel Fornes.
For Guasave , Dave Doster and Kevin Barker smashed two, and Mario Valdez ,Mario Valenzuela, Osvaldo Morejon and Armando Rios whacked one apiece
• Venados manager, Juan Jose Pacho a 42 years old Yucatanian, is in his second final series in a row, after having a terrible summer with Cancun Lobstermen in Mexican League
• Guasave manager Enrique “ Che “ Reyes a 43 years old guy form Veracruz is in his first Mex Pac final series after starting with Mexicali this season and being fired because a 8 – 11 record, and replaced by Tim Johnson, if he wins will become a champion manager for both leages , since le leads Tigers to the 2005 Mexican League title
He is nicknamed “ Che “ because he is alike a famous Argentinian comediant
