Aces fly high, win ULB Championship
September 4, 2006 - United League Baseball (ULB)
Laredo Broncos News Release
Edinburg, TX - The Alexandria Aces won the first-ever United League Baseball championship with an 8-2 win over the regular-season champion Edinburg Coyotes Sunday before a crowd of 4,008 at Edinburg Baseball Stadium. The Aces won the best-of-five series 3-1 to claim Alexandria's first title since a Texas-Louisiana League crown in 1998.
As in Game 3, the Aces jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, this time on a two-run first-inning single from MVP Josh Tranum. The first baseman finished the day 5-for-5 and was 10-for-14 (.714) in the ULB Championship Series.
The Coyotes narrowly beat the Laredo Broncos in the first round and advanced on a tough Game 3 win vs. Laredo. Aces beat San Angelo Colts in the first round. The Aces pitching was instrumental in the wins for the Aces in both series.
Rookie righthander Adam Frey (2-0) made the lead stand up until the Aces broke it open with a three-run fifth inning. The bottom of the Aces lineup - Trey Beamon, Adam Bonner, and Ryan Smith - all had consecutive RBI singles against losing pitcher Ryan Harris (0-2) and reliever Aaron Guerra to make it 5-0.
Edinburg got a two-run homer from Abigail Sandoval in the seventh inning, and Frey left the game after 6.2 strong innings. Closer Justin Dowdy got the final seven outs to earn his fifth save of the postseason - all five Alexandria wins.
The Aces put the game away with three runs in the eighth inning on a Tranum double (he finished with three RBI) and a two-run homer from Selwyn Langaigne, who led the ULB postseason with 11 RBI. Langaigne also caught the final out, a foul fly ball in the left-field corner by Jose Olmeda, igniting a dogpile on the infield.
Josh Tranum was the playoffs MVP batting .625. He went 5-5 in Game 4 with 3 RBI and 1 run scored.
Ryan Harris got the loss for Edinburg, He previously lost to Laredo in Game 1 in Laredo.
Former Laredo manager Mike Smith, who was fired mid way through season in Laredo, was pitching coach for Aces.
Dan Shwam, manager of the Laredo Broncos, was one of the key persons who put together the Aces roster in the off season and was to manage the Aces before the season started but health issues prevented him from managing. Ironcially, he then came to Laredo mid season to replace Mike Smith who was fired from Laredo. Mike Smith then ended up with the Aces.
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United League Baseball Stories from September 4, 2006
- Aces fly high, win ULB Championship - Laredo Broncos
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