The Águilas Cibaeñas (Dominican Republic) got a brilliant start from RHP Bryan Evans, and a two-run home run by Junior Lake, and defeated the Alazanes de Granma (Cuba) 7-1 in a well-played Caribbean Series game at Estadio de los Charros de Jalisco in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The Águilas got on the board in the bottom of the first when LF Junior Lake drew a walk, stole second, and scored on a double by 1B Edwin Espinal. That was all the scoring for the first four innings. The Águilas got a double play in the top of the fourth, and the bottom of the fourth ended with a good play by SS Yordan Manduley. The Alazanes pulled starter Vladimir Baños after three innings, even though he was doing OK. He allowed four hits, walked two, struck out four, and got the loss.

The Águilas got the winning run on the two-run home run by Lake in the bottom of the fifth. The Alazanes got their only run of the game on a home run by CF Roel Santos in the top of the sixth.

Read more: Caribbean Series: Águilas Cibaeñas 7, Alazanes de Granma 1

The Criollas de Caguas (Puerto Rico) defeated the Caribes de Anzoátegui (Venezuela) 12-7 with an offensive explosion in a Caribbean Series game at Estadio de los Charros de Jalisco in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The barrage began in the top of the first inning, with DH Johnny Monell hitting an RBI single, followed by a three-run  home run by 3B David Vidal. CF Rusney Castillo added a two-run home run in the second inning, Monell hit an RBI double, and Vidal hit an RBI single. SS Jesmuel Valentin hit an sacrifice fly in the third, and the Criollas led 9-0 after 2 1/2 innings. However, the Caribes ended the shutout in the bottom of the third with RBI singles by RF Rene Reyes and 1B Balbino Fuenmayor. They added another run in the fourth on an RBI single by CF Rafael Ortega, and this chased Criollas starter David Richardson.

Caribes starter Carlos Teller was replaced by Yelper Castillo in the second inning, and he was effective at preventing further damage. He went 3 1/3 innings, allowed five hits, and the only run he allowed was Valentin's sacrifice fly. Meanwhile, Richardson's replacement, Fernando Cruz, pitched 2 2/3 hitless innings. Nelvin Fuentes pitched the seventh inning for the Criollas, allowed one hit. Yender Caramo relieved Castillo, allowed one hit in two innings. The score was 9-3 after seven innings.

Read more: Caribbean Series: Criollas de Caguas 12, Caribes de Anzoátegui 7

The Águilas Cibaeñas (Dominican Republic) led the whole way in a 6-3 win over the Criollas de Caguas (Puerto Rico) in a Caribbean Series game at Estadio de los Charros de Jalisco in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The scoring started in the first inning with a two-RBI single by1B Edwin Espinal. It was set up by a double steal. In the second inning, SS Abiatal Avelino hit an RBI single, CF-RF Juan Carlos Pérez hit a sacrifice fly, and LF Junior Lake hit an RBI single. Criollas starter Giovanni Soto was relieved after failing to record an out in the second inning, and the Águilas led 5-0. Pérez' sacrifice fly became the winning run.

Read more: Caribbean Series: Águilas Cibaeñas 6, Criollas de Caguas 3

News from Saint Xavier University: One of the most exciting World Series in recent memory came to a close Wednesday night with the Houston Astros claiming their first championship in franchise history, and for the first time a Saint Xavier alumnus was right in the middle of the celebration.

Astros reliever Luke Gregerson (2003-06) became the first Cougar to be on a World Series-winning team after the game seven victory, the highlight of his nine seasons in the Major Leagues. The 2014 SXU Hall of Fame inductee made two appearances in the World Series, first in a thrilling Game 5 in which Gregerson inherited two runners but struck out Los Angeles' Chris Taylor to end the threat. Houston would go on to come back later that night to win in extra innings, taking a 3-2 lead in the series. Gregerson also came on in the 8th inning of Game 6 to pitch two-thirds of an inning, recording one strikeout.

Read more: Saint Xavier alum Luke Gregerson a World Series winner

The Leones de Yucatán (Mérida) (45-60, first place in South Division) defeated the Bravos de León (63-42) 5-1 at Estadio Domingo Santana in León on August 17. The win gives the Leones a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven first round playoff series.

Four Leones pitchers, RHP Jose Samayoa, RHP Jesus Barraza, RHP Pedro Rodriguez, and RHP Ronald Belisario, held the Bravos to three hits. The starter, Samayoa, didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning. That was a double by SS Niko Vasquez, who scored the Bravos’ only run of the game on a single by 3B Miguel Torrero. The Bravos didn’t get another hit until the bottom of the ninth, a double by CF Junior Lake. Lake was stranded on third base when the game ended.

Read more: Leones de Yucatán 5, Bravos de León 1

The Tigres de Quintana Roo (Cancun) (42-54) defeated the Bravos de León (40-56) 7-4 at Estadio Domingo Santana in León on July 30.

The Bravos took a 2-0 lead with an RBI single by 1B Dan Johnson (Coon Rapids, MN) and a sacrifice fly by 2B Carlos Valencia in the bottom of the first inning. They loaded the bases with nobody out in the third inning with singles by Johnson and Valencia, and a bunt single by RF Leandro Castro. However, the next batter, SS Niko Vasquez, hit into a double play. Johnson scored, and the Bravos didn’t score again until the bottom of the ninth.

The Tigres got to starter RHP Mitch Lively in the top of the fourth. Lively hit 3B Brian Hernandez. One of Hernandez’ hands was injured. He couldn’t stay in the game, so he was replaced by 2B Abel Martinez. Martinez was forced out at second on a ground ball by 2B-3B Osniel Madera. The next batter, DH C.J. Retherford, hit a fly ball to right field. Castro made a good effort to get to the ball, but didn’t hold onto it long enough. (A review confirmed this.) Madera went to third on the play, then scored on a single by LF Ramon R. Ramirez. The next batter, C Francisco Cordoba, hit a fly ball to left field. Again, LF Gilberto Mejia made a great effort to get a glove on the ball, but he couldn’t hold on, and Retherford scored.

Read more: Tigres de Quintana Roo 7, Bravos de León 4

Marcos Dominguez is entering his second season as Head Coach of the Talladega College Tornados in Alabama. In his first season, the Tornados had a record of 36-24, and made an Opening Round appearance. Dominguez was voted Small School Coach of the Year by Black College Nines.

Dominguez attended the Ferreira Baseball Academy in Santiago, Dominican Republic. He played at Ranger College in Texas, and was recruited by Will Ramos to play at Talladega. After graduation, Dominguez stayed on at Talladega as an Assistant Coach, then took the Head Coaching job when Ramos was hired by the University of the Virgin Islands.

Bob Broughton, courtesyrunner.com: Talladega's baseball program started in 2009, right? You started having winning records in 2011. What do you think the reasons are for the program's success?

Marcos Dominguez: The program’s success came from the hard work of the baseball players. They always want to be successful.

BB: You pitched for the Tornados for two seasons, had eight wins and 85 strikeouts. What was the highlight of your playing career?

MD: My first win against U. of Mobile. Why? Before that, I had five no-decisions.

BB: Even in 2014, when you arrived at Talladega, they had a large number of Latino players. What makes Talladega attractive to them, yourself included?

MD: The head coach was a Latino and we are a family here at Talladega. The reason is the Latinos talk to each other. That was how I got here. I have a friend that was playing here and he talked to me about it. If the head coach is a Latino, all the Latino players are going to feel more comfortable.

Read more: Interview with Talladega Coach Marcos Dominguez

The Rieleros (Railroaders) de Aguascalientes (52-38) defeated the Bravos de León (34-50) 8-7 at Estadio Domingo Santana in León on July 16.

It took over four hours to play this game. Neither of the starting pitchers got through the third inning. The Rieleros used eight pitchers, and the Bravos used seven, despite the fact that both bullpens were depleted by the double-header the previous day.

This game was close all the way. The winning run came on an RBI single by 1B Jesus Castillo in the top of the sixth inning, and it put the Rieleros ahead 8-6. The Bravos stranded a baserunner on third in the bottom of the seventh. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, 2B Gilberto Mejia hit a ball down the right-field line to the fence that was just foul. A couple of pitches later, he hit a ball down the left-field line that was almost to the fence, and just fair, but it was caught by LF Amilcar Gomez for the second out. However, the next batter, CF Junior Lake, was hit by a pitch, and he went to second on defensive indifference. Lake then scored on a single by 1B Dan Johnson, and it was a one-run ball game. However, DH Carlos Valencia, after a long turn at bat, flied out, ending the game.

The Bravos got off to a good start. They ended the top of the first with a double play. LF Eduardo Arredondo led off the bottom of the first with a single. Mejia followed with a double, and Arredondo scored on a ground out by Lake. Johnson then hit a sacrifice fly to score Mejia.

Read more: Rieleros de Aguascalientes 8, Bravos de León 7

Players from NAIA schools taken in the 2017 Major League Baseball draft:

More to come...

The Piratas de Campeche (24-32) swept a double-header against the the Bravos de León (19-37), 8-1 and 4-2, at Estadio Domingo Santana in León on June 4.

First game: RHP Rolando Valdez went the seven-inning distance for the Piratas, allowed eight hits, walked one, struck out four.

The Piratas got all the runs they needed in the top of the first inning. They loaded the bases on Bravos starter RHP Alfonso Sanchez with a walk, a base hit by DH Frank Diaz, and another walk. Sanchez then hit SS Paul Leon with a pitch to open the scoring. The next batter, LF Maxwell Leon, bunted for an RBI and the winning run. 1B Fernando Flores hit a double to score two runs, and RF Roberto Valencia hit a double to score another run.

Sanchez didn’t allow another hit until the fifth inning, when Diaz led off with a double. 3B C.J. Retherford followed with a home run. Sanchez walked the next batter, and was relieved by RHP Fredy Quintero, who gave up a single, then a double-play ball. Leon completed the scoring with home run in the seventh that went a long way over the left field fence.

Read more: Piratas de Campeche 8, Bravos de León 1; Piratas de Campeche 4, Bravos de León 2