2002 American Division Champions!

Dodos smoke the Quakes in Championship Game at JetHawk

Catcher, Bennie Lemos & 3B, Eric Ross both hit home runs to lead the Dodos past the Quakes and to their first American Division Championship.

In a game that saw excellent pitching by both teams, it stayed scoreless until the bottom of the fifth. The Dodos scored twice after loading the bases on back to back singles by Lemos and 1B, Mark Cisco. Ross was then hit by a pitch which loaded the bases. Lemos and Cisco both scored on fielder’s choice plays when the Quakes went for double plays. Quakes starter, Ray Soto held the Dodos to only three base runners in the previous four innings. Soto allowed only one hit until the fifth and was showing his tough mental game coming back with a three pitch inning in the sixth.

The Quakes shook things up with a three runs in the top of the eighth inning. 3B, Mike Bench’s lead off with a single and SS, Louis Sanchez backed it up with a double, moving Bench to third. DH, Trevor Leppard singled home Bench and Sanchez and then also scored on the base knock by 1B, Greg Santos.

Dodos starting pitcher, Derek Albeck was equal to the task allowing only four hits until the eight inning when he was relieved by the Dodo's closer, Austin Bryant. Albeck did his job keeping the Quakes bats silent until his team gave him some needed run support in the form of Home Runs by both Lemos and Ross.