Norwich wins Eastern League championship

[GrouchoNYY]

Final score 5-0
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Playing its final game as a Yankee affiliate, Norwich won the Eastern League Championship yesterday. The AA affiliate in 2003 will probably be the Trenton Thunder.
********
Gators snap up a championship

By Mike DiMauro - New London Day
Published on 09/15/2002


Norwich — Scattered showers of champagne mixed with roars of jubilation in the home clubhouse — all befitting such a historic night.

Indeed, the New York Yankees' final act here ended the way things usually do for them: with a championship.

The Norwich Navigators, whose seven-year affiliation with the Yankees will end in the coming days, celebrated their first Eastern League championship Saturday night at Dodd Stadium, gleefully piling on one another, following a 5-0 victory over the Harrisburg Senators.

A crowd of 3,009, filled with many of the diehards who made Dodd Stadium their summer home, saluted the Gators, who later drenched each other with various versions of the euphoric nectar into the night.

Norwich won the series three games to two, completing a 6-2 playoff record.

Erick Almonte's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third inning, Kevin Gibbs' RBI double in the seventh, John Rodriguez's two-run double in the eighth and David Parrish's ensuing sacrifice fly drove in the five most significant runs in franchise history. Starting pitcher Brian Rogers and reliever Julio DePaula combined to stymie Harrisburg on four hits.

The Navigators led the series two games to none heading back to Norwich early Thursday morning, but forced their fans to reach for the Pepto Bismol in games three and four when they were outscored, 18-2.

But they could reach for the champagne on Saturday.

‘Just go out and have fun'

“I won a lot of championships as a player,” said Norwich manager Luis Sojo, who won four World Series with the Yankees. “But my hands were like water all day. We had a little meeting before the game and I told the players whether we win, only God knows. Just go out and have fun.”

The Navigators, who will be open for business next spring with another major league affiliate, have been courted by the San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays in recent days.

Norwich management has been in contact with officials from both franchises and should know the new major league affiliate before the month ends.

In addition, Navigators' officials have inquired about the Red Sox, whose Double-A affiliation with Trenton has ended.

The Red Sox have been rumored to be moving to Portland, Maine for several weeks.

In the meantime, Norwich general manager Brian Mahoney and his front office staff can use a championship to continue marketing the team throughout eastern Connecticut.

The Gators drew 3,417 fans per game this summer, ninth in the 12-team Eastern League.

The Yankees' seven-year run here was highlighted by several high-profile rehabilitation assignments, including two this summer, pitchers Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens.

Pitchers Dwight Gooden and Hideki Irabu also filled the ballpark, along with outfielders Darryl Strawberry, Bernie Williams and Tim Raines.

This season marked the fourth time the Navigators made the Eastern League playoffs with Yankees' players. They lost in the Northern Division finals in 1997 to Portland, lost to Harrisburg in the 1999 Eastern League Championship Series and to New Britain in last season's Northern Division. Norwich won its first Northern Division regular season championship this summer.

A Yankees' Double-A affiliate hadn't won the Eastern League championship since 1991 when in Albany-Colonie, N.Y. The manager, Dan Radison, became the Navigators' manager in 2000._
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A Banner Day At Dodd
Gators finish off Senators for EL title

By Mike DiMauro
Published on 09/15/2002

Norwich — It wasn't completely official Saturday night until their manager answered the chant of “So-Ho, So-Ho” from his euphoric players. And so Luis Sojo emerged from the manager's office with a beaming smile, and didn't just get a champagne bath — but got the entire cooler dumped on him.

That was only a few minutes after Teuris Olivares, the giddy second baseman, took a victory lap around the bases, wrapped like a fajita with a banner that read, “2002 Eastern League champions.”

The 2002 Eastern League champions, indeed.

The Norwich Navigators.

Norwich 5, Harrisburg 0.

A crowd of 3,009, many of whom were hanging around an hour after the game ended, celebrated the championship along with their favorite team, which won the series three games to two.

Sojo, who won four championships wearing the Yankee Pinstripes, admitted to rarely being more nervous than he was all day Saturday. When series Most Valuable Player Erick Almonte squeezed the final out, Sojo remained in the dugout, while his players pig-piled around second base.

“I prayed a lot,” Sojo said. “I thought about my father (who died in 1999). He's been with me every step of the way in my baseball career. Before he died, he told me I was a baseball man and not to ever quit. I thought about him (earlier Saturday) and I said, ‘don't leave me alone today.' ”

Mr. Sojo would have been proud of his son, who came to Norwich in May with the Gators in first place — and led them all the way to the franchise's first championship.

He did so on the right arm of right-hander Brian Rogers, who pitched six masterful innings, leaving with a 1-0 lead. Julio DePaula, clearly the team's best all season, worked the last three.

Rogers, like Almonte, was sent to Norwich from Class AAA Columbus in the middle of the season. And like Almonte, he relished the opportunity to play on a championship team.

“What a great feeling,” Rogers said. Harrisburg's Jeremy Ware and Glenn Davis singled to begin the fifth, creating a little ballpark angst. Rogers' response? He struck out Josh McKinley, Scott Sandusky and Quincy Foster — all swinging — to earn an ovation from the crowd rarely, if ever, experienced for a Norwich pitcher. Rogers walked off the mound as he always does: pensively, head down.

“I still knew there was a lot of baseball left to play,” Rogers said. “I thought back to 1999 when Harrisburg beat us (in the last inning of the last game) and I knew anything could happen.”

Almonte, who homered off Harrisburg closer Bryan Hebson to win the first game of the series, hit a sacrifice fly in the third to give the Gators the only run they'd need. Kevin Reese singled, went to third and Kevin Gibbs' hit-and-run single, and scored on the fly ball.

Rogers and DePaula baffled the Senators until the seventh when Kevin Gibbs hit a huge, two-out double down the right field line to score Cleatus Davidson, who walked. Davidson was given his first start of the series in place of Aaron Rifkin, who made two errors in game three.

John Rodriguez hit a two-run double in the eighth off Hebson to all but ice it. Rodriguez went to third on the throw and scored on David Parrish's sacrifice fly, arriving at the plate at the same time as the ball. He collided with the catcher, Sandusky, stomped on home plate and delivered the championship-clinching fist pump, all to the delight of the fans.

DePaula allowed the first two runners to reach in the ninth, eliciting — briefly, anyway — memories of 1999 when the Senators rallied from a five-run deficit in the ninth.

No such luck this time.

News and notes

Several members of the Yankee Brass were in town, including Billy Connors, a good friend to the Navigators over the years. Connors is the Yankees' vice president of player personnel. ... The Gators had been 0-5 at Dodd Stadium vs. Harrisburg this season. ... Olivares went 4-for-4, and also had the clubhouse record for spraying the most champagne. ... Many of the players leave today for home, instructional ball or the Arizona Fall League._
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Title belongs to the Gators
Navs claim first-ever championship

By STEVE NALBANDIAN
Norwich Bulletin
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NORWICH -- It was a five-run lead in the ninth inning and the closer wasn't in the game.

The first two batters reached.

It was 1999 all over again.

But Julio DePaula didn't let history repeat itself as he struck out Valentino Pascucci on three pitches, got Jeremy Ware to pop out weakly to right and Glenn Davis to pop out to the shortstop in shallow left field to preserve the Navigators' 5-0 win in Game Five of the 2002 Eastern League Championship Series Saturday night.

When Almonte caught the final out in short left field, the celebration was on at shortstop.

It is Norwich's first league championship in its eight-year history.

"I won a lot of championships as a player, but (Saturday), my hands were like they had water on them," said Norwich manager Luis Sojo, who took over the team for Stump Merrill in late May. "I told the guys not to put pressure on themselves. If we were going to win the game, only God knows. But I wanted them to have fun. They didn't have fun the last two games. They had fun in this game.

"They don't understand how much I love these guys. I don't know if I will do this again. To manage my first year and win a championship, you don't see it too often."

Left fielder Johnny Rodriguez -- the only member of the 2002 Navigators that was on the team in 1999 when Harrisburg erased a four-run, ninth-inning deficit in Game Five to win that series -- delivered the final blow Saturday, a double in the eighth inning that scored Brian Myrow and Teuris Olivares for a 4-0 lead. Rodriguez later scored on a short fly out to right when he slid through Harrisburg catcher Scott Sandusky.

Rogers, who owns more wins (29) than any other pitcher in Navigators' history, was simply terrific. He had pitched just one inning since Sept. 2, but showed no rust.

In six innings, Rogers allowed three hits, struck out nine and walked one.

"I just knew that I had to keep the team in the game," Rogers said. "If I had it, I had it. If I didn't, I didn't. I was just going to have to battle.

"This is a great feeling. Being in (Class AAA) Columbus was a great experience, but it's a lot better to be part of a championship team."

The righthander allowed only an infield single through the first four innings, but gave up two loud singles to open the fifth inning. Rogers responded by striking out the next three batters -- Josh McKinley, Scott Sandusky and Quincy Foster -- to end the inning and preserve Norwich's 1-0 lead.

Erick Almonte, the playoffs' Most Valuable Player, drove in Norwich's first run on a third-inning sacrifice fly. Kevin Reese led off the inning with a walk and went to third on Kevin Gibbs' hit-and-run single to center. Almonte's fly ball to right center was deep enough to score Reese easily.

The Navigators took a 2-0 lead in the seventh when Cleatus Davidson, who made his first start of the ELCS, worked a one-out walk from Brian Hebson, then went to second on Reese's roller to second.

Gibbs followed with a Baltimore Chop double over the first base bag and into the right field corner for a 2-0 lead.

Rodriguez smacked a two-run double in the eighth and scored on a sacrifice fly by David Parrish.

DePaula, the winning pitcher in Game Two, pitched the last three innings to pick up the save.

Sojo spent the day thinking about his father, who passed away in 1999.

"Since he died, this was the day I thought about him the most," Sojo said. "I said to him, 'Don't leave me alone today.' He didn't. And we won."

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Rogers tosses Harrisburg a curve

By STEVE NALBANDIAN
Norwich Bulletin
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NORWICH -- Brian Rogers' curveball might have been better before, but it has never been better in a big spot.

Rogers, whose out-pitch is his nose-to-toes breaking ball, struck out nine Harrisburg batters -- including three straight in the fifth inning after the first two batters reached on ringing base hits -- in six innings to pitch the Navigators to an 5-0 win over the Senators in Game Five of the Eastern League Championship Series Saturday.

"In the past, I struggled with that pitch," Rogers said. "But this year, it was so much more consistent. I knew I was going to have to have good stuff to win."

Rogers, who has won more games (28) than any pitcher in Navigators history, was cruising through the Harrisburg lineup, allowing just a soft infield single in the first four innings.

In the fifth, Jeremy Ware lined a single to center and Glenn Davis followed with another line drive hit to right.

Julio DePaula, Norwich's Game One starter, began to loosen in the bullpen.

Rogers responded by striking out Josh McKinley, Scott Sandusky, and Quincy Foster, all on curveballs. He got Foster on three pitches and punctuated the strikeout by pumping his right fist as he hopped off the mound.

"There was a lot of doubt about him when he went on the disabled list (in mid-August)," Navigators manager Luis Sojo said. "We didn't know if he was going to pitch again. We thought it might be over for him this year. But that was a veteran pitcher right there. He stepped up when we needed him to."

Rogers worked around a one-out walk to Albenis Machado in the sixth by striking out Brett Roneberg for a third time with yet another curveball and getting slugger Valentino Pascucci to line out to center field.

DePaula relieved him to start the seventh.

Rogers' performance was what had eluded the Navigators in the previous two games. Andy Beal and Charlie Manning, who started Games 3 and 4, respectively, surrendered 13 runs (11 earned) on 12 hits in 6 1/3 innings.

"If I had it, I had it. If I didn't, I didn't," Rogers said. "I was just going to have to battle.

"I just knew that I had to keep the team in the game."

It was also very necessary, considering the way Harrisburg starter Claudio Vargas was pitching. Vargas, working on just three days' rest, allowed just one run on six hits in six innings.

"This is a great feeling," Rogers said. "Being in (Class AAA) Columbus was a great experience, but it's a lot better to be part of a championship team."

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Navigators Take The Fifth
Defeat Senators For Title
September 15, 2002
By TOM YANTZ, Courant Staff Writer
NORWICH -- Minutes after the final out Saturday night at Dodd Stadium, second baseman Teuris Olivares ran around the bases with the Eastern League championship banner raised above his head.
The Norwich Navigators were champions for the first time.
"It was a great victory lap," said Olivares, who was 4-for-4. "We came back and took it."
Norwich's 5-0 victory over the Harrisburg Senators in Game 5 of the best-of-five series came after losses at home in Games 3 and 4.
Brian Rogers, the Navigators' career leader in wins (28), notched his best Saturday night. He allowed three singles, struck out nine and walked one in six innings in his first playoff start. He had pitched one shutout inning in relief before Saturday night.
"The biggest game of my life. Nothing compares to it - from Little League to the pros," said Rogers, who split the season between Triple A Columbus and Norwich.
Manager Luis Sojo's message before the game was, "Stay aggressive, play your game, relax and have fun."
The Navigators embraced his philosophy.
The only disappointment was the size of the crowd - 3,009 - which saw the Navigators win their first Eastern League championship in their eight-year history.
The Navigators opened the scoring against Claudio Vargas in the third on a walk to Kevin Reese, Kevin Gibbs' bloop single and Erick Almonte's sacrifice fly.
The run appeared to be plenty for the Navigators. The Senators had one runner in the first four innings. Jeremy Ware reached on an infield single in the second.
Ware and Glenn Davis opened the fifth with singles. But Rogers struck out Josh McKinley, Scott Sandusky and Quincy Foster with his curve.
"I was nervous as heck," Rogers said. "And the funny thing was as the game kept going I got tighter. But my curve was my out pitch and I kept on chugging away. I wanted to give our team a chance."
Said Sojo: "Pitching had gotten us all the way to this last game. It was no surprise."
Julio DePaula worked the final three innings. The Senators finished with four hits.
Norwich took a 2-0 lead in the seventh against reliever Bryan Hebson on Gibbs' chopper over first base for an RBI double. The Navigators secured the title in the eighth on John Rodriguez's two-run double and David Parrish's sacrifice fly.
Almonte was named playoff MVP, batting, .387 with three homers and 10 RBI in eight games.
After Olivares had completed his victory trot, many of his teammates tossed their hats into the crowd.
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GAME DATE: 9/14/02
HARRISBURG 0 AT NORWICH 5 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

YTD YTD
HARRISBURG AB R H BI AVG NORWICH AB R H BI AVG
L.Figueroa SS 4 0 0 0 .178 K.Reese CF 3 1 0 0 .219
A.Machado 3B 2 0 0 0 .139 K.Gibbs RF 4 0 2 1 .323
B.Roneberg DH 4 0 1 0 .310 E.Almonte SS 3 0 1 1 .387
V.Pascucci RF 4 0 0 0 .290 B.Myrow 3B 4 1 1 0 .333
J.Ware LF 4 0 2 0 .279 M.Cervenak 1B 4 0 0 0 .219
G.Davis 1B 4 0 1 0 .231 T.Olivares 2B 4 1 4 0 .407
J.McKinley 2B 3 0 0 0 .139 J.Rodriguez LF 4 1 2 2 .280
S.Sandusky CAT 3 0 0 0 .222 D.Parrish CAT 3 0 0 1 .261
Q.Foster CF 3 0 0 0 .297 C.Davidson DH 3 1 0 0 .143
C.Vargas PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Rogers PIT 0 0 0 0 .000
B.Hebson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.De Paula PIT 0 0 0 0 .000
TOTALS 31 0 4 0 TOTALS 32 5 10 5

HARRISBURG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 0
NORWICH 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 3 X- 5
DP--HARRISBURG 0, NORWICH 0. LOB--HARRISBURG 6, NORWICH 7. 2B--
K.Gibbs (2), T.Olivares (1), J.Rodriguez (3). SB--K.Gibbs (2),
E.Almonte (2). SF--E.Almonte, D.Parrish.
YTD
IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
HARRISBURG
C.Vargas (L,0-1) 6.0 6 1 1 1 6 0 2.60
B.Hebson 2.0 4 4 4 1 3 0 5.40
NORWICH
B.Rogers (W,1-0) 6.0 3 0 0 1 9 0 0.00
J.De Paula (S,1) 3.0 1 0 0 1 3 0 1.89
SO--B.Roneberg 3, V.Pascucci 2, J.Ware, G.Davis 2, J.McKinley,
S.Sandusky, Q.Foster 2, K.Reese, E.Almonte 2, B.Myrow 2, M.Cervenak 2,
D.Parrish, C.Davidson. BB--A.Machado 2, K.Reese, C.Davidson.
T--2:32. A--3009

[Michaels07]

Originally posted by GrouchoNYY
Final score 5-0

Gives us a breakdown

[noodle]

Yes I know!! I am so happy!! Though I couldn't hear it, lets see if I remember right. The first run was by Kevin Gibbs, rbi to Erick Almonte. Then a lot of people scored, lol. Sorry, thats all I can remember right now.

[ctyanksfan1]

That's two minor league championships in three days. Very impressive.
I was at Friday's game and I must say I was not very impressed. It appeared as though Harrisburg was going to pick up where they left off (they had won 4 straight EL titles '96-'99)
I'm glad Norwich got it together and knocked the Senators off.

[YankeePride1967]

Way to go Luis and the Navs! I saw them play three times this year and they are a good team.

[Michaels07]

Originally posted by ctyanksfan1
That's two minor league championships in three days. Very impressive.
I was at Friday's game and I must say I was not very impressed. It appeared as though Harrisburg was going to pick up where they left off (they had won 4 straight EL titles '96-'99)
I'm glad Norwich got it together and knocked the Senators off.

A fitting wat to exit the State of CT, next stop Trenton N.J.

[Yankyfan]

Congrats way to go guys.

[Michaels07]

Originally posted by noodle
Yes I know!! I am so happy!! Though I couldn't hear it, lets see if I remember right. The first run was by Kevin Gibbs, rbi to Erick Almonte. Then a lot of people scored, lol. Sorry, thats all I can remember right now.

Tesuris Olivares got 4 hits, a 407 avg in the playoffs Rogers the win with a save to Juan De Paula

[BronxBaumer]

Originally posted by Michaels07


Tesuris Olivares got 4 hits, a 407 avg in the playoffs Rogers the win with a save to Juan De Paula

Wow...those are great averages

[wexy]

Congrats to Luis Sojo and the Navigators.
Two championships in two days is a feather in the Yankee Organizations cap.

[YankeePride1967]

I think it speaks well of our minor leagues that two of our minor league teams won titles. And congratulations to Luis Sojo as well. I guess after blowing a 2-0 lead in the series and going into game 5, the team was very tight and nervous and Luis gave a speech that included anyone saying what they felt and that helped loosen things up. This was according to a guest on the Michael Kay show Friday.

[PinstripeFanatic]

Congrats Navigators!!!!!!!!

[Yankeees]

very nice Norwich Navigators.

[JeanC]

I know its been awhile since Ive been here but Congratulations Yankees
for Winning your Division!

May we someday see the rebuilding of a Great Team with Most of You In it!!!!!!

Congratulations Norwich Navigators! Youve Been A Great Winning Team All Year Long!