Texas Winter League here to stay, Brownsville Toros take title in two games
Published on February 18, 2007 under United League Baseball (ULB) News Release
HARLINGEN, Texas -- The Texas Winter League is here to stay, despite the bad weather the new organization faced here these past few weeks.
That's the word from the sponsoring United League Baseball officials, who spent the weekend in Harlingen watching the league playoffs and making plans for the summer ULB.
The Brownsville Toros defeated the Harlingen WhiteWings 3-2 in the first playoff game on Friday, then nipped the WhiteWings again, 5-4 in 10 innings on Saturday to cop the title. The Toros were 17-3 in the abbreviated Winter League regular season, while the WhiteWings were second at 10-10.
Also in the league were the Edinburg Coyotes and the Laredo Broncos, with all games played at Harlingen Field.
"It can only get better," said Craig Brasfield, president and chief operating officer of the Winter League and ULB. "We did not do nearly as well as we hoped financially, due to the terrible weather, but the purpose of the league was accomplished.
A total of 16 players were signed by the ULB for its regular summer league play, with more expected to be drafted as summer nears.
Ricky VanAsselberg, who managed the Toros and also is manager of the ULB 2006 champion Alexandria Aces, said the quality of play in the two playoff games "was as good as I have seen in summer ball. I could not ask for better baseball."
VanAsselberg said not only did the players learn much from the managers in the Winter League, the managers also learned from each other.
Eddie Dennis, manager of the WhiteWings in the Winter League and the ULB, said the quality of players coming into playing winter ball can only get better. Dennis said he signed four players for summer ball and expects to have others return for spring tryouts.
Vince Moore, manager of the Edinburg Coyotes in both winter and summer play, said the Winter League actually is better than having spring tryouts because the managers have longer to observe the players.
"When you have only three days to observe 50-to-70 players you likely miss someone who is really good, but doesn't do that well over the short period," Moore said. "With the Winter League you have a month to watch them and a player who started off slowly is apt to find his game and be a star."
Papo Davila, manager of the Laredo Broncos, called the Winter League a great chance for the young players to expose themselves to organized baseball. "For some, it's a dream come true and they also are learning how to conduct themselves as professionals."
United League Baseball Stories from February 18, 2007
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