2007 Season In Review:

NABA Boricua Caribbean Classic Champions (3-0 / 2-0)
2nd Consecutive Lou Gehrig Spring Championship (17-3 / 4-0)
NABA Atlantic City Memorial Tournament - Lost Semi-Finals (2-1 / 0-1)
NABA Hall of Fame Tournament - Missed Playoffs (2-1)
NABA Blue & Gray Champions (3-0 / 2-0)
NABA World Championship Series #1 Seed / Runner Ups (5-0 / 2-1)
Lou Gehrig Fall League #2 Seed - Lost Semi Finals (7-3 / 0-1)

2007 Record:  49-11 (0.817 Winning %)
4th Consecutive League Championship
2 NABA Tournament Titles
Runner Up in World Championship Series Tournament
NABA's #1 Nationally Ranked 18 and Over Team

Streaks Broken This Year:

4 Straight League Championships (2005 Fall, 2006 Spring, 2006 Fall, 2007 Spring)
14 Straight Lou Gehrig League Playoff Wins Snapped in Fall Playoffs

Career Totals:

203 Career Regular Season League Wins - 0.700 Winning %
36 Career Playoff Wins - 0.655 Winning %
239 Career Combined League Wins - 0.693 Winning %
7 MSM / MABL Championships
2 NABA Tournament Titles

2007 Season Summary:

The NY/NJ White Sox had their best season in their 11 year existence. 

The Season Started with the Sox Winning the NABA Boricua Caribbean Classic Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  The Sox swept through the Round Robin Portion of the tournament going 3-0, and defeated the Bronx Royals in the Championship Game to capture their first NABA Tournament Title.  Championship Game MVP went to Richie Aleman.

In May came the NABA Atlantic City Memorial Day Tournament.  After losing the opening game 9-7 to the NJ Clippers, the Sox bounced back and won their next 2 game and entered the playoffs as the #4 seed.  That's as far as the Sox would go as they were defeated by the Irvington Cardinals 11-7.

Then came the NABA's Hall of Fame Tournament on July 4th weekend.  With the NABA short on teams, the Sox (David Jiminian, Adam Light, Danny Mercado, Sal Nicosia, and Randy Shupe) were given 5 pool players to fill the division.  The Sox played well, and finished with a 2-1 record, but with the tiebreaker rules, missed the playoffs by 1 run.

In August, the Sox won their 7th MSM/MABL Title in the Lou Gehrig League.  The Sox finished the regular season with a 17-3 record (1 loss by forfeit), and swept thru the best of 3 Semi-Finals against the RIdgefield Park Orioles.  In the Finals, the Sox defeated the Saddle River Yankees 2 games to none for the Championship.  The season ended with the Sox 21-3 in league play.

The Sox then Headed to Prince William for the NABA's Blue and Gray Tournament (Washington DC).  Only 9 regular players for the Sox could make the Tournament - Lou Amador, Antuan Barnett, Lou Dodge, David Jiminian, Adam Light, Danny Mercado, Ryan Postal, Randy Shupe, and Sharif Upchurch joined manager Sal Nicosia for the weekend tournament.  Anthony Simone came down to pitch a huge game for the Sox as well.  The Sox once again swept the Round Robin portion of the tournament going 3-0.  As the #1 seed, the Sox faced the #4 Middlesex Pirates, who gave us a scare.  Middlesex jumped out to an early 6-0 lead, but the Sox would not back down.  A monstrous 4th inning saw the Sox score 10 runs en route to a 16-10 win.  In the Finals, the Sox faced the #2 NYC Metros.  David Jiminian took the mound for the Championship game and would not disappoint.  The Sox defeated the Metros 7-5 to win their 2nd NABA Title of the Year.  David Jiminian was named Championship Game MVP for his complete game effort and picking up a huge 3 RBI Triple that gave the Sox the lead.  Adam Light was named the Championship Game Gold Glove Winner for his great effort behind the plate and throwing out 2 out of 3 runners trying to steal against him.

The biggest tournament of the year then came in October as the Sox headed to the NABA's World Series Championship in Phoenix, Arizona.  The Sox swept thru the 5 game Round Robin and won the Tournaments top seed.  Randy Shupe was an iron man for the Sox as he started and won game 1, came in relief and won game 2, and then started and won game 5.  The Sox entered the playoffs loaded on pitching, but even as the #1 seed, had the hardest road to the Championship.  The Denver Red Sox were the 1st Round Opponent for the Sox and jumped out to early 4-0 and 5-2 lead.  But the resilient Sox once again battled back and took a 6-5 lead in the 8th inning.  The Red Sox tied the game in the top of the 9th before some great heads up play won it for the Sox in the 9th.  Danny Mercado walked to lead off the 9th inning.  Joe Alvarez pinch ran for Mercado with Kyle Goldwater sent up to the plate to bunt.  Goldwater laid down a perfect bunt and outstanding base running saw Joe Alvarez go 1st to 3rd.  An infield single by Sharif Upchurch then won the game for the Sox.  Lost in all the excitement was Tobin Whitman's outstanding performance.  Colin Feneis stared the game, but struggled with his control.  With the Sox down 5-2 in the 5th, Tobin then came into the game.  Whitman was outstanding pitching 4 innings, striking out 6, and only allowing a broken bat RBI Single in the 9th.  The Semi-Finals saw the Sox face the San Diego Stars, who outscored their opponents 56 to 11 in the first 6 games.  That did not faze Kyle Goldwater, who simply dominated the Stars.  Goldwater pitched a complete game allowing only 1 unearned run, and struck out 8 in the Sox 9-1 victory.  The Championship Game pitted the Sox against the Bruins Baseball Club from Los Angeles, California.  The Bruins were a team loaded with minor league talent and outscored their opponents 49 to 10 in their 6 games.  David Jiminian got the call for the Sox and was outstanding once again for the Sox.  The Championship Game proved to be one of the best games the Sox have ever been involved in.  The Sox scored first in the bottom of the first inning taking a 1-0 lead.  The Bruins tied the game in the 5th and took a 2-1 lead in the 6th.  The Sox tied the game at 2 in the 7th inning.  The Bruins came right back and took the lead 3-2 in the 8th inning.  The Sox had their biggest opportunity in the 8th inning.  Alvarez was on first base and Goldwater laid down a bunt.  The throw to 2nd was off line, but the umpire punched Alvarez out anyway (admitting his mistake in the next inning).  A single then put runners on 1st and 3rd, but a double play grounder ended the inning.  The Sox went down 1-2-3 in the 9th inning ending the game.

The Sox finally came home to finish off the Lou Gehrig Fall Season.  The Sox finished with a 7-3 record and the #2 seed.  They hosted the Staten Island Barristers in the Semi-Final Round, which was a single elimination game.  Even though the Sox were missing more than 1/2 of their squad, the held a 4-3 lead in the 8th inning.  But a number of miscues by the Sox defense allowed the Barristers to take a 5-4 lead.  The Sox had their chances, but the Barristers held off any chance of a comeback. 

2007 Season Comes to and End:

The Sox saw their 2007 season come to a surprising end at the hands of the Staten Island Barristers.  The Sox protested the Semi-Final Game due to the fact the Barristers used illegal players.  Even though the Sox had proof of the illegal players, the league denied their protest.  The Sox were forced to play the game without Aleman, Alvarez, Feneis, Gottlob, Leyner, Reissner, Simone, and Surman.  Even without those players, the Sox held their own and a lead into the 8th inning, but the usually strong defense could not handle the missing players.  The Barristers put 2 on the board in the 9th, and the Sox could not come back.  Kyle Goldwater made the start and pitched 8 great innings, allowing 5 runs, 2 earned, walked none, and struck out 9.  Jiminian came on to pitch the 9th inning and held the Barristers at bay.

The Barristers went on to defeat the Ridgefield Park Orioles 2 games to none to win the first League Championship.   

Congratulations to the Mercado Family!

Congratulations on the birth of their 1st baby boy on Monday December 3rd at 8am.  Brice Alexander Vasser Mercado was born 7.1lbs and 22 inches long...

NY/NJ White Sox Fall 1 Run Short of NABA's World Series Title in Phoenix, Arizona

The NY/NJ White Sox traveled out West to take on some of the United States best teams, and walked away with a 2nd place finish...  The Sox faced teams such as:  Boston Rockies, Colorado Reds, Phoenix Falcons, Newport Storm (Team Victory Athletics), Southern California Express, Los Angeles Bruins Baseball Club, Denver Red Sox, Meriden Connecticut, Paterson Phillies, Rochester Renegades, and the San Diego Stars.

In the Round Robin Contest, the Sox finished with a record of 5-0, defeating the Colorado Reds 13-9, the Phoenix Falcons 14-4, the defending Champion Newport Storm (Team Victory A's) 12-10, The Boston Rockies, 6-1, and the Souther California Express 9-1... 

With the Number 1 Seed, the Sox hosted the Denver Red Sox in an Outstanding baseball Game.  The Sox found themselves down 4-0 entering the 2nd inning.  Single runs in the 2nd and 3rd cut the lead to 4-2.  Down 5-2 in the 6th, the Sox started their comeback.  Upchurch singled in Gottlob to cut the lead to 5-3.  In the 7th, Light tied the game with a 2 run single, and Upchurch gave the Sox a 6-5 lead.  The Red Sox would not back down, scoring a run in the 8th, they tied the game.  With the game tied in the bottom of the 9th, Danny Mercado started the inning off with a walk.  Joe Alvarez ran for Mercado, and Kyle Goldwater went up to pinch hit for Light.  Goldwater laid down a perfect bunt, sending Alvarez to 2nd base.  A heads up Alvarez saw nobody covering 3rd, and he took advantage of it.  With a runner at 3rd and 1 out, the Red Sox walked Gottlob intentionally to face Sharif Upchurch.  Upchurch grounded 1 up the middle scoring Alvarez with the winning run.  Colin Feneis started for the Sox but struggled.  Game MVP Tobin Whitman took over pitching 4 solid innings for the win.

The Semi-Finals pitted the Sox against the San Diego Stars.  In Round Robin Competition, the Stars gave up only 10 runs, while scoring 47.  Kyle Goldwater took the mound for the Sox and completely shut down the San Diego, pitching a complete game, allowing only an unearned run, leading the Sox to a 9-1 victory.

The Championship game put the 2 best teams together.  The NY/NJ White Sox hosted LA's Bruins Baseball Club.  The Sox scored the games 1st run in the bottom of the first on an RBI Groundout by Jiminian.  The Bruins tied the game on an error in the 5th inning, and took a 2-1 lead in the 7th.  The Sox tied the game in the 7th on an Upchurch/Barnett double steal.  With the Game tied in the 8th, the Bruins would send up the bottom of the order.  With 1 out, a single, walk, and HBP, loaded the bases with 1 out.  A Sac Fly gave the Bruins a 3-2 lead that they would not let up.  The Sox had their biggest chance of the game in the 7th inning when they had runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 out, but Ryan Postal's opposite field line drive was caught ending the inning.  David Jiminian got the call for the Sox and was outstanding on the mound.  Jiminian pitched 8 innings, allowing 8 hits, 2 earned runs, walked 2, and struck out 3.

The Sox congratulate the LA Bruins Baseball Club on the Championship and thank the NABA for an outstanding tournament.

NY/NJ WHITE SOX SWEEP WASHINGTON DC!!!

The NY/NJ White Sox went down to the NABA Blue & Grey Championship with 9 players and a manager and walked away with the Championship!

Congratulations to:  Manager Sal Nicosia, Championship Game MVP Winner David Jiminian, Championship Game Gold Glove Winner Adam Light, Lou Amador, Sharif Upchurch, Antaun Barnett, Ryan Postal, Danny Mercado, Lou Dodge, Randy Shupe, and Anthony Simone.

See More Tournament Information and Stats by clicking the Tournament Tab on the Home Page.  Go to 2007 Tournaments, and NABA Blue & Grey Tournament...

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The NY/NJ White Sox win their 7th League Title, 6th Lou Gehrig League Title, after winning their 14th consecutive playoff game!

More to Come

Click on Team Pictures on the home page to view Pictures of the Championship Game...

Click on Championships on the home page to view the write-up of the Sox 2007 Lou Gehrig Playoff Run

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The NY/NJ White Sox moved to within a Game of their 7th League Championship.  In Game 1, Randy Shupe out dueled Mike Carey of the Saddle River Yankees as the Sox took Game 1 by the score of 7-5.  Shupe started out slow, giving up 5 runs in the first 4 innings, but held the Yanks to 1 hit in the final 4 innings.  Down 5-1 the Sox started their comeback.  Sharif Upchurch belted a 2 run shot cutting the lead to 5-3 in the 4th.  Randy Shupe's RBI Triple cut the score to 5-4 in the 5th.  David Jiminian's 2nd RBI Single tied the game at 5 in the 6th.  And in the 8th, Jimmy Killian hit a 2 RBI Double off the center field gate giving the Sox a 7-5 lead and victory in game 1. 

The Sox extended their Playoff Game Winning Streak to 13.  With 3 straight Championships in their pocket (2005 Fall, 2006 Spring, and 2006 Fall), the Sox look for their 14th straight playoff win and 4th straight Championship on Saturday!

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The NY/NJ White Sox Advance to the 2007 Lou Gehrig Championships after a sweep of the Ridgefield Park Orioles in the Semi-Finals.  In Game 1, David Jiminian dominated the O's allowing only 1 hit over 7 innings of work.  Sharif Upchurch, Jimmy Killian, and David Jiminian drove in 2 runs a piece.

Game 2 saw the Sox dominate the Orioles by the score of 14-3.  Randy Shupe allowed 1 earned run over 7 innings of work to pick up the win.  Sharif Upchurch led the offence hitting a home run and driving in 4 runs.  David Jiminian collected 5 hits and drove in 2 runs.  Randy Shupe picked up 4 hits and Anthony Simone picked up 3 hits.  Jimmy Killian, Jason Leyner, and Sal Nicosia also picked up 2 hits a piece.  Jason Leyner, Randy Shupe, and Anthony Simone drove in 2 runs a piece, while Jimmy Killian and Sal Nicosia drove in 1 each.

 The Sox will continue their title defense vs. the Saddle River Yankees, who defeated the Englewood Marauders 2 games to 1.  The Yankees advance to the Lou Gehrig Championship Series for the 6th consecutive year.  The Sox defeated the Yankees to capture their first Lou Gehrig Championship in 2003, then in a rematch defeated the Yankees for the 2005 title.  The Yankees hope that the 3rd time is a charm.   

The Sox extended their Playoff Winning Streak to 12 after the Semi-Finals sweep of the Ridgefield Park Orioles.  The Sox will take the field in Game 1 of the Finals on Sunday Night, August 12th in hopes to extend their Playoff Winning streak to 13.

Sox Explode on Dodgers 16-3
Upchurch 2 Home Runs, Jiminian Complete Game Victory

Sox Salvage Day and Split DH
Lose Game 1 by Forfeit and Win Game 2, 13-3.

After a Forfeit in Game 1 cost the Sox their 2nd loss of the Season, The NY/NJ White Sox defeated the Parsippany Brewers by the score of 13-3 in Game 2 of the Double Header.  Dave Wasserman made the start and pitched a complete game (6IP, 9H, 2ER, 1BB, 7K). The offense started early as Nicosia lined a single in the 2nd giving the Sox a 1-0 lead. In the 3rd, Killian lined an RBI Double, Light Sac Fly, Mercado RBI Single, and RBI BB by Rise gave the Sox a 6-0 lead. A Wasserman RBI Groundout put the Sox up 7-0 in the 4th. After the Brewers scored a run, the Sox scored 2 on an Upchurch RBI Single, and Mercado RBI Walk. The Brewers would not back down putting 2 on the board in the 6th cutting the Sox lead to 9-3. But the Sox would put it away in the 6th with a 2 Run Home Run by Upchurch, and 2 RBI Single by Mercado.

Next Up for the Sox: The Sox visit the Pompton Dodgers on Sunday July 15th, 10:00am at Joe Grill Field in Pompton Lakes...

NY/NJ White Sox Players
Headed to Cooperstown

Manager Sal Nicosia, David Jiminian, Adam Light, Danny Mercado, and Randy Shupe led a team to Cooperstown to fill an open slot.  The Sox opened the tournament with a bang, as they defeated the Keegan Growlers by the Score of 4-2.  Danny Mercado pitched a Complete Game Masterpiece allowing only 6 hits, 0ER, 3BB, and struck out 11.  David Jiminian went 3 for 4 in the game with 2 Doubles, a Home Run, and 3RBI. 

Game 2 saw the Sox fall to the Prince William Yankees by the score of 10-7.  Victor Catano drove down from the City to make the start for the Sox.  The Sox struck first scoring 3 runs in the 3rd, but thats when Catano fell apart.  The Yanks would score 3 in the 4th and 2 in 5th and 6th innings giving the Yanks a 7-3 lead.  David Jiminian then came in but did not have his best control.  Jiminian allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, in 2 innings of work (2IP, 3H, 2ER, 1BB, 3K).  After the Sox scored 4 in the 8th and were ready to send the top of the lineup to the plate in the 9th, the Sox got burned by the 2 hour 40 minute Stadium curfew.  Lou Dodge was the hitting star going 2 for 5 with 2 Home Runs and 3RBI.  David Jiminian went 2 for 4 and Danny Mercado went 2 for 5 pacing the Sox attack. 

Game 3 saw Randy Shupe take the hill vs. The Main Pub A's.  Shupe dominated the A's pitching 7 innings, allowing only 3 hits, 1 ER, 1BB, and struck out 4.  After throwing only 66 pitches, Shupe was removed from the game with the Sox up 8-1 in hopes of pitching again in the playoffs.  The Sox gave away 2 unearned runs to the Main Pub A's in the 9th that would prove to be costly.  Lou Dodge pitched great allowing only 2 hits in 2 innings of work, 0 ER, 1BB, and 0 K.  Manny Estevez went 2 for 3 driving in 2 runs, Danny Mercado went 3 for 4 driving in 2 runs, and MJ Duggan went 3 for 5 driving in a run in the game.

Unfortunately for the Sox, 3 teams finished with a 2-1 record and only 2 of them could make the playoffs.  Due to Tie Breaker Rules, the Keegan Growlers (who the Sox defeated in Game 1) advanced and the Staten Island Bombers advanced.  The Sox and the Bombers each gave up 15 runs in the tournament, but the Bombers outscored the Sox by a run propelling them to the playoffs.   

NY/NJ WHITE SOX
2007 BORICUA CARRIBEAN CLASSIC
CHAMPIONS!

NY/NJ White Sox Crowned Champs of 2007 NABA Boricua Caribbean Classic.

The Sox entered the 2007 Boricua Caribbean Classic in Puerto Rico after being called out by the defending champions. The tournament was broken down to 2 divisions of 4 with 1 division playing aluminum bats and the other wood bats. The White Sox would play in the wood division and would not lose a game.

In game 1 Randy Shupe took the mound against Pistol Petes. Shupe was on point pitching a complete game allowing only 6 hits, walked 1, struck out 6, and gave up no earned runs in a 12-1 win. Amable Martinez led the Sox offense going 3 for 4 with 2 Singles, a Home Run, 2 Runs Scored, and 2RBI. Joey "Baggs" Capogna also chipped in going 2 for 4 with a Single, Triple, 2 runs scored, and 3 RBI.

Game 2 saw the Sox take on the defending champion NY All Stars. Eddie Santiago took the mound for the Sox and was dominant. Santiago pitched a complete game, allowing no earned runs, on 7 hits, walked 3, and stuck out 3. The Sox came out swinging and took a 7-0 lead after 4 innings of play. In the 6th, the Sox defense would let the All Stars back in the game. With 2 outs, back to back errors opened the door for the Stars and they would take advantage of it by pushing 5 runs across the plate. But Santiago would stop the bleeding and cruise from there as the Sox won 7-5...

Game 3 saw a match up of 2 undefeated teams playing for a bye into the championship game. The Sox sent out Sean O'Brien to the hill to battle the Bronx Royals. O'Brien was dominant until his own mistake cost him. The Sox led 2-0 entering the 5th inning when the Royals were giving a chance and took advantage of it. With 2 outs and runners on 1st and 2nd Samelin chopped a single over the pitchers head. The runner over ran 3rd and was picked off, but O'Brien's throw hit the runner and allowed him to score. The Royals would add 3 more in the inning giving them a 4-2 lead over the Sox. The Sox would not back down. In the 6th Leyner's RBI Single cut the lead to 4-3. In the 7th the Sox would put the game away on 2RBI doubles by Joe Capogna and Antuan Barnett. The Sox led 7-4 and that was the final. O'Brien didn't figure in the decision, but pitched 5 innings, allowing 5 hits, 4 walks, 6 strike outs, and no earned runs. Anthony Simone picked up the victory for the Sox pitching 3 shut out innings without allowing a hit, walking 2, and striking out 4.

The Championship Game was a rematch vs. the Bronx Royals. David Jiminian of the Sox made sure that the results stayed the same. The Sox offense jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first on an RBI Double by Antuan Barnett, RBI Double by Rich Aleman, and RBI Single by Hector Espinal. Joe Capogna would extend the lead to 4-0 in the 5th with an RBI Single. The Royals would cut into the lead in the 5th when Rootenberg reached on an error and scored on a passed ball making it a 4-1 game. Then with 2 out in the 6th, a dropped fly ball gave Rodrigez a chance who hit an inside the park home run cutting the lead to 4-3. Rich Aleman would then take the game into his hands. In the 6th Aleman launched a long Home Run giving the Sox a 5-3 lead, then Singled in another run in the 8th giving the Sox a 6-3 victory. Jiminian pitched 9 innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 walks, 11 strikeouts, and no earned runs in the contest... Rich Aleman was named the Championship Game MVP going 3 for 4 with a Single, Double, Home Run, 2 Runs Scored, and 3RBI.

If you are interested in joining the Sox in the 2007 NABA Puerto Rico Tournament, or the 2007 Lou Gehrig Season, please contact Sal Nicosia ASAP @ 973-417-9914.

NY/NJ White Sox Congratulate
2006 Spring and Fall Award Winners!

2006 Spring Award Winners:

Most Valuable Player - David Jiminian
Championship MVP - Jimmy Killian
Manager of the Year - Sal Nicosia

2006 Fall Award Winners:

Most Valuable Player - Gary Gottlob
Cy-Young Award - Anthony Simone
Championship MVP - Jason Leyner
Manager of the Year - Sal Nicosia

2006 Hall of Fame Induction:

David Jiminian

David Jiminian Elected to the Hall of Fame!