August 22, 2009

Championship preview

Northern California, Texas East feature potent lineups

By Chris DeBeck

Special Correspondent

Two teams will attempt to make history when they meet for the Senior League World Series Baseball championship Saturday afternoon.

Northern California, the U.S. West champion from Niles-Centerville L.L. of Freemont, Calif., and Texas East and U.S. Southwest champion West University L.L. of Houston will square off in the title game, set for a 3 p.m. start and televised nationally on ESPNU television.

Northern California reached the championship game by defeating Aruba 7-6 in Friday’s first semifinal, while Texas East topped the Philippines 6-1 in the second semifinal.

Friday’s nail-biter was nothing new for the Northern California team, which won two pool play games in extra innings and has won only one of its five games in the World Series by more than three runs. Northern California improved to 13-0 in potential elimination games with Friday’s win.

Leading Northern California at the plate are Matt Knight (.500 average, 2 RBIs, 8 runs scored), Jack Veronin (.429 average, 2 RBIs), Marc Wik (.409 average, 7 RBIs), Cody Lebon (.333 average, 2 RBIs) and Casey Jennings (.318 average, 5 RBIs). Wik has also been versatile in the field, playing five different positions (including pitcher) while making one error in 24 chances.

Veronin has also played a big role on the mound for Northern California, fashioning a 2-0 record and allowing just six runs (five earned) in 13 innings of work, striking out 10 batters along the way. Billy Nevin (2-0, 0.91 ERA) and Justin Dhanda (1-0, 0.00 ERA) have also recorded victories for the Northern California champions.

Texas East’s Michael Resnick has already left his mark on the record book in leading his team to the title game.

He hit his fourth home run, a grand slam, in the first inning of Friday’s semifinal win, setting a stadium Senior League World Series record for homers – four. He also now holds the record for total bases (22) and is on track to leave Bangor with the stadium series record in slugging percentage (currently 1.833) and runs batted in (he has nine through five games, one away from tying the record).

He also has a .583 batting average and has scored 10 runs in addition to winning both games he’s started on the mound, striking out 12 in 11 innings and allowing just two earned runs (1.27 ERA).

Also providing offensive support for Texas East are Travis Gauntt (.412 average, 2 RBIs, 5 runs scored), Luke Cone (.375 average), Harrison James (.333 average), Cole Lankford (.312 average, 3 RBIs) and John Williamson (.294 average, 3 RBIs, 5 runs).

Williamson (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 11 strikeouts in 8-2/3 innings) has also provided solid pitching for Texas East on the mound.