Cardinals take championship Down Under

Cardinals take championship Down Under

Appeal Staff Report

The Nevada Capitols played relatively mistake-free baseball during its seven-game, 12-day trip to Australia and took home the Redlands Friendship Series championship trophy with a 12-0 victory over West Brisbane Sunday at Olympic Stadium.

The Capitols - who went 6-1 on the trip - committed only three errors in the seven games, played in Sydney, Gold Coast and Brisbane.

The North South/West Institute of Sports supplied the Capitols with their competition.

The academy boasts outstanding baseball players who are there for the season on baseball scholarships offered through the baseball federation of Australia. They are from all parts of Australia. Their games are played in Sydney at the Olympic Stadium.

The Capitols had several highlights in their near-fortnight tour:

• Game 1: Rob Valerius pitched four strong innings, striking out five. Matt Rutledge went 3-for-4 and Paul Cagle was 2-for-3. Nevada won the game, 6-1, against a very strong NSWIS team.

• Game 2: NSWIS took a 7-0 victory, but David Leid doubled in the 5th to break up the no-hitter for Nevada's only hit in the game.

• Game 3: In the first tournament game in the Redlands Friendship Series, Valerius had his second strong outing, going four innings in Nevada's first win in the tournament.

Nevada's offense was paced by Ray Barrett (2-for-3), Joe Skates (2-for-2), Matt Aboumrad (2-for-3) and Cagle (2-for 2). Cagle led a 12-hit attack for Nevada.

• Game 4: Steve Sawyers pitched 4 2/3 innings of no-hit ball before giving way to Aboumrad and Tyler Smith in Nevada's 2-0 over Metropolitan Region. Barrett was 2-for-2, Skates was 1-for-3, Kyle Stone was 1-for-3 and Rutledge was 1-for-3.

• Game 5: The Capitols took a 7-0 win over West Brisbane Region behind some strong pitching from Smith, who struck out six and walked four over five innings.

Leid had a home run and Valerius was 2-for-2.

• Game 6: Nevada took a 12-2 win over Metropolitan Region in the semifinal game.

Aboumrad led the way from the mound, pitching a complete game.

The Capitols got help offensively from Stone, who finished 3- for-3 and Valerius, who went 2-for-3.

Early in the game Bret Valley threw out a runner from left field to home plate to stop a potential rally.

• Game 7: Rutledge pitched a no hitter for the Capitols' 12-0 win over West Brisbane in the championship game.

The game was shortened due to the 10-run rule after five innings.

Three Capitols led the way offensively, including Valerius (2-for-3) Cagle (2-for-3) and Sawyers (2-for-3).

The Capitols had a 14-hour place ride back to Carson.