The Miami Red Sox & South Florida Mets Take Home 2004 Miami Open Championship!

News Flash - Monday May 31, 2004:

Miami Open Final Update:  

Championships:

The 2004 Miami Open Championships at Flamingo Park, Miami Beach, started out with a bang and ended with an explosion.  In the morning game, the Miami Red Sox came from behind to score 3 runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat a tough Port St. Lucie Cubs team in the 28+ Championship game 6 - 5.  Led by Jeff Brady, who pitched a complete game, and Ivan Perez, the MVP of the game with a home run and a walkoff bases-loaded double, the Miami Red Sox won their first tournament title.

In the afternoon game, the 18+ Championship, the South Florida Mets continued their tournament winning streak knocking out the South Florida Sun Devils 15 - 0.  In a total team effort, the Mets scored often and early behind an offensive barrage that left little doubt as to the outcome of this game.  Attilio Ambrosio's South Florida Mets have now won a Fall Classic 18+ Championship, a Holiday Classic at Disney Championship and several regional tournaments, including the Miami Open.  Congratulations to the Mets  for their outstanding achievements!

Semi-finals:

18+ Division:  In the first semi-final game, the second-seeded Coral Gables Athletics wasted a 5 - 0 lead and got steam rolled by the South Florida Sun Devils.  The Sun Devils, a previous Florida Cup Champion, rallied for five runs in the top of the fifth, and then never looked back after taking the lead, winning 9 - 6.  In the second semi-final game, the South Florida Mets showed little mercy as they beat up on the Ft. Myers Hitmen 17 - 3.

28+ Division:  In the first semi-final game, the Port St. Lucie Cubs got off to an early 3 - 1 lead and then held on to beat a talented Miami Benihana team by a final score of 7 - 4.  In the second game, the Miami Red Sox avenged an earlier defeat and blasted the Palm Beach Angels 16 - 3.

2004 Miami Open Championship Games

18+ Age Division

28+ Age Division

Playoffs - Semifinals

18+ Age Division

28+ Age Division

Blue text indicates winner

Tournament Brackets

Tournament Standings

18+ Age Division

18+ American Division:

18+ National Division:

28+ Age Division

28+ American Division:

28+ National Division:

* Blue Text Indicates 1st Place Winner; * Red Text Indicates 2nd Place

Tournament Schedule

18+ Age Division

18+ American Division:

Coral Gables Athletics

Fort Myers Hitmen

Homestead All-Stars

18+ National Division:

South Florida Mets

South Florida Sun Devils

Broward Giants

28+ Age Division

28+ American Division:

Miami Red Sox

Broward Cyclones

Port St. Lucie Cubs

28+ National Division:

Miami Benihana Bonsai

Boca Marlins

Palm Beach Angels

Tournament Summary

The South Florida Baseball League is proud to announce the 7th Annual Miami Open Baseball Challenge.  Played in South Florida, this tournament is played every year on Memorial Day Weekend (May 29-31, 2004) and features some of the best tournament teams in the state..  Previous winners include the South Florida Sea Dogs, who have won an MSBL record of 5 consecutive Fall Classics and were featured in the most recent MSBL Hardball Magazine and the South Florida Mets, who have won several national tournaments, including the Fall Classic and Disney Classic.  This year will also feature some of the best tournament teams in South Florida, but will have a new twist.

For the first time, the Miami Open will be divided into 2 age brackets, 18+ and 28+.  This should increase the competition in the tournament and allow for closer baseball games.  The tournament field consists of  6 teams in each age division for a total of 12 teams.  The team fee is $750.  Awards:  The champion of each division will receive a Championship Trophy and a $750 cash prize!

Managers Meeting - 8pm Friday May 28 @ Monty's on the Beach - poolside.  Call 305.663.2521 to confirm!

Monty's: 300 Alton Road , Miami Beach, Florida 33139.  Link to Map

Tournament Format

The tournament is divided into two age divisions, each consisting of 6 teams.  The 6 teams are seeded by the tournament director and then divided into two brackets - American and National.  All teams are guaranteed a minimum of three games played in round robin format against teams within their respective division plus one cross-over game.  Two games are played on Saturday, May 29 with the third preliminary round game played on Sunday morning, May 30. 

Playoff Qualifiers:  Teams qualify for the playoffs based on the following point system:

Points:    1 Win = 2 points, 1 Tie = 1 point, 1 Loss = 0 points.  

The team with the greatest number of points wins its division. However, in case of a tie, use the tie-breaker rules detailed below.  The first and second place teams in each bracket after the 3-game elimination round will advance to the semifinals.   The first place team from the American League will play the second place team from the National League and vice-versa in the Semi-Finals (for both 18+ and 28+ divisions).

Tie Breaker Rules:  Tie breakers are applied in the following order:

1.  Head-to-head result

2.  Fewest Runs Allowed:  If no head-to-head result, the team with the fewest runs allowed will win the second tie breaker.

3.  Net Runs:  In case of another tie, an equation of net runs will be employed and the team with the greatest number of net runs wins the third tie breaker.  Net Runs = (Runs Scored - Runs Allowed).

4.  Coin Toss:  In case of a third tie, a best-of-three coin toss will determine the final tie breaker.

Tournament Rules

The Miami Open is played under the rules undertaken by the South Florida Baseball League.  A copy of the SFBL Official Rules and Regulations will be provided to each participating team.  To access the rules immediately, click on the underlined reference.  Some imperative rules are as follows:

1.  In each team's offensive line-up, a minimum 10 batters must be used.  You may add to this minimum at any time during the game but you may not shrink the line-up once expanded.

2.  Free defensive substitution.  As implied, no restrictions on defensive changes except for the pitcher re-entry rule.

3.  Pitcher Re-entry Rule:  In the case of a pitching change, once a pitcher is removed, he can only be re-entered as a pitcher after one complete inning  has been played.  This move can only be done once per game.

4.  No deliberate physical contact between base runners and defensive players, i.e. NO BARRELING INTO THE CATCHER, SECOND BASEMAN, etc.  Automatic ejection penalty.

5.  3 hour time limit = no inning shall start after 3 hours has elapsed.  Tie games permitted - see tie breaker rules.

6.  In case of rain, official game only after 5 full innings completed.  Games started but not registering 5 complete innings will be suspended and completed as soon as possible thereafter.  Offensive line-ups remain frozen and the suspended game must pick up where it left off.

7.  All team managers must call in game results - win or lose- to the SFBL office 305.663.2521 within 10 minutes of game completion or suspension.  All results will be posted to this website page live throughout the tournament.

Tournament Locations

The Miami Open will be played in eight different locations in South Florida as detailed below.  To view a map of the field of your choice, simply click on the underlined name.

Killian High, Kendall

Flamingo Park - Miami Beach

Coral Gables High, Coral Gables

Coral Park High, , Miami

South Broward High, Hollywood

Pompano Beach Stadium, Pompano Beach

Holiday Park, Fort Lauderdale

Stranahan High, Fort Lauderdale

Link to 2003 Miami Open

Link to Tournament Page

Base Hits as of 4/18/04