In a tense competitive final, the 12u Calexico Venom defeated the Baja Softball All-Stars by a score of 6 to 5 to take the trophy for the 2nd consecutive year.  Led by Coach David Jiminez, the Venom scratched and clawed their way back into the tournament after an earlier defeat the day before losing to the All-Stars in pool play 6 to 0. 

To get back, the Venom played the Lady Bulldogs from Calexico where YaYa Serrano hit a homerun and Karina Jimenez went  3 for 4 behind the great pitching of Yoshi Delacruz and Jasmine Guilin who shut down the Bulldogs putting the Venom in a position to challenge the All-Stars in the finals.

Under a cloudy grey winter sky, on a determined Sunday, the Venom were NOT to be denied.  

Venom Pitcher Melissa Rodriguez hammered in the strikes all day forcing the issue and backing it up with some big offense hitting a huge home run putting the All-Stars on their heels.  In addition, Venom hitters were aggressive with Danielle Jimenez going 3-3 with 3 doubles, Eva Cota and Gabrielle Jimenez  both going 2 for 3 giving the Venom 6 runs for the game.

All of this led to the bottom of the 6th inning as the All-Stars had the bases loaded, one hit away from victory.  With their top batter, Alexis Coral up at the plate, it was all a forgone conclusion.  One hit and they take the trophy. But the Venom pitcher Melissa Rodriquez battled and through a vicious strike that Alexis Coral hit as a pop fly to the Venom’s 2nd base player where it was easily caught and boom, another championship.

“The All-Stars were tough today but we played them for 6 innings and battled all the way”  said  Assistant Coach Gabe Jimenez from the Venom.  

“One inch away” said Head Coach Annie Cervantes from the All-Stars.  “I am stunned.  We had them where we wanted them.  Alexis Coral was up. She’s our best hitter.  I had all the confidence in the world she could do it.  But the pitcher threw a wobbler and it floated up just over the 2nd base line.  We are disapponted but very happy were were competitive.  It was a great tournament and we congratulate the victors!”

In the 10u division, the Baja All-Stars led by Head Coach Marina Duarte, went undefeated and took the trophy with stellar defense beating the valiant and disciplined Tijuana Otay Mesa Bolitas by a score of 5 to 3.    Led by Pitcher Aileen Gutierrez  who went the full 6 inings to take the trophy, the All-Stars were perfect throughout the tournament winning every game.  

Tijuana was aggressive all the way to the end, doing everything they could to beat the tenacious defense of the All-Stars even trying  to take home plate in the final inning when Andrea Flores from 3rd base fired a frozen rope to catcher Maria Fernanda Martinez who dropped down protected the plate and took on the body slam of the Tijuana base runner holding on the ball for the final out of the heated contest.

“It was an incredible game” said Head Coach Marina.  “We could not ask for a better opponent then Tijuana.  They were competitive all the way and gave us all we could handle.  I am extremely proud of the kids and how they withstood the pressure game of the team from TJ.  What a great day and what a great run!”

Congratulations to the DIVINAS

Winter 2009 League Champions:   Sep-Dec 2009

Final Results

1st Place: Divinas
2nd Place: Dynasty
3rd Place: Perlas
4th Place: Angeles

Congratulations to the DIVINAS

Winter 2009 League Champions
Sep-Dec 2009

Final Results

1st Place: Divinas
2nd Place: Dynasty
3rd Place: Perlas
4th Place: Angeles

EL SAUZAL UVITAS 10U WINS CITY OF TIJUANA CUP 2009

EL SAUZAL UVITAS 10U WINS CITY OF TIJUANA CUP 2009

THE LITTE ENGINE THAT COULD CONQUEERS THE TOP POWERS

On August 29, the new team from a little town just outside of Ensenada Mexico, conqueered the Baja Softball world beating the Tijuana Cobritas in the finals at the City of Tijuana Softball Cup Tournament.

Led by the outstanding play of MVP Pitcher Aileen Gutierrez and 2nd Pitcher Maria Fernanda Martinez Ybarrola, the Uvitas dominated the Cobritas in the final game 5 runs to 1.

“Aileen simply shut them down with her relentless pitching” said Head Coach Charles Tawil. “She was throwing massive heat and their hitters simply could not get the bat around fast enough to connect.

To start off the Offense, Maria Fernanda Martinez Ybarrola hit an out of the park home run which set the tone for a strong offensive day for the team from little El Sauzal.

To get to the finals, the team faced the Cobritas in the first round, a game that went to double overtime with 2 extra innings ending in a tie 5 runs to 5. “It was brutal” said Assistant Coach Randy Bowser, “The kids on both sides would not capitulate. It definitely set the tone for what would be a finals game later in the tournament”

In the other qualifing game, the Uvitas defeated the Tijuana Yankees 6 runs to 1.

For more information regarding the El Sauzal Uvitas, contact via email at info@bajasoftball.com

The game was played on June 21, 2009.
It was won by the Ensenada All-Stars 7 to the Mexicali Chicas 2.
Congratulations to all the winners

Videos by the Baja Wanderer
http://www.truetraveler.com

Produced by MexicoSoftball.com and BajaSoftball.com
Music: Talk of the Town by Brian Jay Cline

Thank You To:
Ensenada All-Stars, Calexico Dynasty, Mexicali Chicas, San Luis Rio Colorado Girls Softball, El Sauzal Uvitas, and Tijuana Marios

The Baja Beach Bash softball tournament held the 20th and 21st of June, 2009 was won by the Calexico Dynasty Team 12u. The Dynasty team is coached by David Jimenez, Gabriel Jimenez, Bobby Lucero and Griselda de la Cruz. Girls softball being played in the Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico area. Videos captured by the Baja Wanderer.

Video produced by http://www.truetraveler.com/

Our 12 game winter season starts up again as follows;

• Sat. Aug 15: Board of Directors Winter Elections, 10am
• Sat. Aug. 22: Tryouts for ages 6 – 12, players born from 1996-2002 are welcome
• Mon. Aug. 24: Coaches to Draft players. 7pm to 10pm
• Sat. Sep. 5: Opening Day and First Game of the season
• Sat. Nov. 21: Championship Tournament and Closing Ceremonies
• Sat-Sun Dec. 5: Baja Softball Winter Beach Bash Tournament for 12u and 10u

Going undefeated in 5 games, the Baja Girls Softball League All-Star Team called the Ensenada All-Stars went undefeated in this weeks Baja Beach Bash Tournament held in El Sauzal.

With fantastic teams Mexicali Chicas, Tijuana Marios, and San Luis Rio Colorado, the 10u All-Stars met every challenge along the way winning in convincing fashion in the final game 7-2 against a classy and very strong opponent; the Mexicali Chicas. Final Results

In the days past, local club teams from the area, Toxiko, Chispitas, and El Sauzal would play against the outside competition and would NEVER win it all. The talent was simply spread too thin among the 3 teams that would normally travel to play in outside tournaments and it was just never a true representation of the best of the City of Ensenada.

3 months ago, Charles Tawil, the Director of Baja Girls Softball League proposed a “What If we put our best foot forward and combined all the best players into one team.” whereby an “All-Star” team would be voted in from the best of the league to represent the area. He postulated that this new team would represent the best the Ensenada area had to offer and would be competitive and even give the area the best chance to win it all.

So the Board of Directors credit and the parents agreed with Director Tawil and the All-Stars were born; a champion waiting to happen.

“Against all odds and obstacles, the people took a chance on being great and put old selfish club centric egos aside for the benefit of winning it all. It worked” said Director Tawil. “The dominating wins this weekend showed clearly what can be accomplished when a winning system with devoted coaches, parents, and players all work together”

In this spirit, Director Tawil would like to acknowledge all the players, coaches and parents for their hard work and effort in bringing a title home.

“This was the ultimate team victory and so many people sacraficed and deserve credit for the victory” said Tawil. “Not one player, coach or parent stood out, it really was everyone who won this championship and that’s that true mark of a championship team”.

A Special Thank You Note of Appreciation from Director Charles Tawil

Congratulations to ALL the Coaches who contributed to a Championship Title
Christina Maytorena, Ivan Damaso, Eveyln Del Toro, Patty Campuzano, Mario Nuñes, Lupita Hurtado, Marie Lencioni, Oswaldo Radillo, Juan Manual Lopez, Luis Villavicencio, Marina Huerta, Annie Cervantes, Marta Cervantes, Lety Zamora and Board Members Betty Verduzco, Maria “Chuyita” Carrillo, and Roberto Martinez and parent helper Aida Quintana.

Congratulations to the CHAMPIONSHIP Players who worked hard and earned the title of Champion

1. Daena Fabela
2. Andrea Flores
3. Veronica Fonseca
4. Aileen Gutierrez
5. Fernanda Higuera
6. Lizbeth Hurtado
7. Maria Fernanda Martinez
8. Alejandra Mendoza
9. Vanessa Nuñes
10. Daniela Perez
11. Melissa Perralta
12. Reyna Radillo
13. Paola Prado
14. Arianna Rodriquez
15. Marlene Rampelotto
16. Valerie Zamora

The All-Star season was a great success ending with a Championship Title. It’s now over and will return again in December after the Winter League season. For the upcoming schedule for the Winter click here.

THE DISEASE OF ME = THE DEFEAT OF US

SIX DANGER SIGNALS OF THE DISEASE OF ME

1. CHRONIC FEELINGS OF UNDER APPRECIATION – FOCUS ON ONESELF.
2. PARANOIA OVER BEING CHEATED OUT OF ONE’S RIGHTFUL SHARE.
3. LEADERSHIP VACUUM RESULTING FROM FORMATION OF CLIQUES AND RIVALRIES.
4. FEELINGS OF FRUSTRATION EVEN WHEN THE TEAM PERFORMS SUCCESSFULLY.
5. PERSONAL EFFORT MUSTERED SOLELY TO OUTSHINE ONE’S TEAMMATE.
6. RESENTMENT OF THE COMPETENCE OF ANOTHER – REFUSE TO ADMIT HIS CONTRIBUTION.

“The most Difficult thing for individuals to do when they become part of a team is to sacrifice, it is much easier to be selfish.” Coach Pat Riley L.A. Lakers – N.Y. Knicks – Miami Heat

Dr. John Tutko, Sports Psychologist and San Jose State Professor states, “There isn’t any skills in life that you don’t learn on the athletic field.” Research indicates that a student involved in athletics has a greater chance for success during adulthood. Many character traits required to be successful participants are exactly those that will promote a successful life after high school.