Vineland 50/70 wins regional title
- The Vineland 50/70 team clinched a regional title with a 19-9 victory
Vineland baseball has a regional champion.
The 50/70 Little League team is heading to California on Friday, after beating a Penfield, N.Y. squad, 19-9 to win the Intermediate East Regional Tournament on Wednesday.
“The kids played great,” coach Miguel Vazquez said following the team’s victory. “Their bats came alive in this tournament. There was some great defense and great pitching, and we were able to pull it out.”
The North/South Vineland squad has a handful of kids that have played together since they were eight years old. Vazquez was the coach of the Vineland North team, and decided that merging with the Vineland South team would benefit both sides and their goals to reach the national level.
The combination worked out well as the team benefited with a big bat from each side.
Michael Santiago, who plays third base, right field and catcher, belted three homers and drove in six runs, going 4 for 4 in the finale. The slugger was a part of Vazquez’ North team.
The other power hitter in the title game was Jonathan Arce, who was brought on from the South team. He delivered a 4-for-5 day with three home runs and seven RBIs.
“It feels amazing,” Santiago said of the win. “It’s like a dream come true.”
“It’s unbelievable. Just an unreal feeling,” Arce added.
With the two groups coming together so recently, Vazquez was confident that the team could show the area its talent, but a regional championship was not on the list of expectations when the team had its first practice.
That just makes the victory all the sweeter.
“We’re just excited beyond our dreams,” he said. “Some of these kids haven’t even won a district banner yet. Bringing them together, I knew we could make some noise but never imagined we’d go this far. Fortunately, we were able to.”
The groups seems to have already formed a special bond from its time together over the summer.
“It’s a good brotherhood,” Santiago said. “I feel honored to play with these guys. They’re great teammates.”
Adding to the emotions for Vazquez was having his son, Xavier, there with him. Xavier Vazquez earned the victory from the mound and went 2 for 2 with a homer and two RBIs.
“It’s awesome and it’s just surreal. I’m very proud of the work he’s put in and his leadership,” the coach explained. “It’s something we’ve been dreaming of for years.”
With district, sectional, state and regional titles under its belt, the team will hop on a plane and head to the 50/70 Intermediate World Series in Livermore, California, with a first-round matchup at 3 p.m. on Sunday.
The Vineland squad will have to take down the Southeast Regional Championship team from Parkland Little League in Florida to move on to the next round, where likes of 50/70 teams from all over the globe are in pursuit of the title of “World Champion.”
Trevor Newcomb; (856) 563-5257; tnewcomb@gannettnj.com
Team Roster
Chase Petty - 4
Jonathan Arce - 12
Xavier Vazquez - 21
Mark Hoffman - 5
Michael Santiago - 27
Mekhi Sanchez - 25
Jeriel Cerda - 34
Caden Quiles - 8
Ray Rogers - 42
Carlos Serrano - 20
Scott Craig - 10
Andrew Simone - 22
Manager - Miguel Vazquez
Coach - Ron D'Agostino
Coach - Joe Simone