MIAMI, FL -

Being a first year league, the organization was built from a simple idea into reality, and though we are ending the inaugural season prematurely, we now see the commitment and organization needed by our staff in order to be successful long term. We acknowledge that start-up growing pains are real and sometimes overwhelming, but that has only strengthened our resolve. We will be recapitalizing the Company to better accommodate the financial requirements to operate the league more effectively in the future.

We thank our management company, the Global Scouting Bureau, for its organization, work ethic, and overall professionalism and look forward to restructuring our agreement with them for the future endeavors of the FWBL organization.

Some of the positives we displayed included a brand of baseball not seen in many years. Specifically, we had affiliated and independent players playing together with affiliated managers leading the way. The baseball scouting community took notice as well, and this was evidenced with viewership of our online broadcasting of games as well as the number of manager reports being reviewed.

In the coming weeks, we are ensuring that we do not leave anyone unaddressed, as all obligations of the Company have been or will be met, including those to our employees, players, season ticket holders and our corporate sponsors.

We are deeply saddened that we are unable to complete the inaugural season and regret the inconvenience we may have caused.

On behalf of the Florida Winter Baseball League,

Mickey Filippucci
President and CEO

Miami has played well at home this season, posting a 7-3 record at University Park.  They hosted the Surge last week – coming away with two wins in three games.  Diamantes third-baseman Brian Mathews had an outstanding series against Space Coast, finishing 5-for-9 with two home runs, a double, and five runs batted in.

Anthony Bello (1-1, 3.79 ERA), a graduate of South Miami High School – and former Houston Astros farmhand – will make the start for the Diamantes Tuesday night.  Bello picked up his first win of the season against Space Coast last week.  The left-hander allowed only two earned runs and five hits in seven strong innings.

First pitch Tuesday night is set for 7:05 p.m. at University Park on the campus of Florida International University.  Tickets start as low as $5.00.

MIAMI, FL - For the second straight night, the Miami Diamantes rallied from a 2-0 deficit  – defeating the Space Coast Surge 5-2 at University Park.  With the win, the Diamantes took two-of-three from the Surge, and are now tied with Lake County for first place in the Florida Winter Baseball League.

It was a chilly night in Miami, with temperatures falling to the high 60’s – and it took the Diamantes bats a few innings to warm up.  They woke up in the fourth – trailing 2-0 – as  Tyler Johnson and Joash Brodin hit back-to-back home runs to tie the game at two.

Miami used a much different strategy in the sixth inning to take the lead, showing excellent patience at the plate against Surge starter Kevin Cooper.  With the score still tied 2-2, Miami loaded the bases on walks by David Espinosa and Joash Brodin, with Johnson being hit by pitch in between.  With the bases full of Diamantes and no outs, Alberto Espinosa drew another walk to give Miami their first lead of the night.  Brian Mathews followed by smacking a line drive into left field off of Space Coast reliever Mike Koons – scoring Johnson and Brodin.  Cooper was charged with his third loss of the year.

Mathews had an outstanding series for Miami, finishing 5-for-9 with two home runs, a double, and five runs batted in.

Marcus Salmon pitched six strong innings for the Diamantes, as he picked up his second win of the year.  The Sunset High School and Miami Dade Community College product allowed only two earned runs on six hits – while striking out six.  Luke Demko followed to pitch two scoreless innings, before Armando Carrasco pitched a perfect ninth for his second consecutive save.

In other Florida Winter Baseball League action, the Lake County Black Bears and the Seminole County Naturals split a double-header.  Miami’s win along with a loss by Lake County pulled both teams to an even 8-4 record.  Miami will travel to Lake County for a three game set beginning tomorrow night, with the winner of the series taking the outright lead in the Florida Winter Baseball League standings.

Miami will return home Tuesday night to begin a six game home-stand against the Surge and then Seminole County.  First pitch Tuesday will be 7:05 p.m. from University Park on the campus of Florida International University.

With two outs and the game tied 2-2, Tyler Johnson hit a single that dropped right in-between Surge left-fielder Steven Wright and shortstop Jimmy Mojica – scoring Justin Pickett from second base. Gabriel Casanova scored on a double-steal later in the inning to give the Diamantes their fourth and final run of the night.

The Surge jumped out to an early lead once again Wednesday on the second pitch of the night as Stantrel Smith hit a solo home run off of Miami starter Anthony Bello. Bello would only allow one other run through seven innings of work, as he picked up his first win in a Diamantes uniform. The former Houston Astros farmhand allowed only five hits on the night, striking out four and walking three.

Miami trailed 2-0 heading into the fourth inning when Brian Mathews smacked a two-out two-run home run off of Space Coast starter Jake Leonhardt. The late comeback by Miami spoiled what was otherwise a strong start for Leonhardt, who ended up allowing four earned runs on seven hits – while striking out seven.

The home run by Mathews was his second of the series, as he also had a solo shot last night in the second inning. The former Los Angeles Angels minor leaguer has gotten off to a strong start for the Diamantes, improving his batting average to .360 after a perfect 2-for-2 night at the plate on Wednesday.

The Diamantes pitching staff was dominant in the latter innings of the game, combining to retire he last 11 Surge hitters – 5 via strikeout. Elvis Hernandez pitched a perfect eighth inning, before Armando Carrasco pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to notch his first save of the season. Miami’s bullpen is a perfect 4-for-4 in save opportunities this season.

The Diamantes and Surge will play a third and deciding game of the series tonight at University Park. The Diamantes will send local hurler Marcus Salmon (1-0, 2.45 ERA) to mound for his third start this season against Space Coast’s Kevin Cooper (0-2, 4.22 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

Space Coast entered Tuesday’s game with only three home runs on the year, but recorded four long balls on the night – including back-to-back round-trippers in a six run sixth inning. The Surge were led at the plate by Jimmy Mojica (Kansas City, Missouri), who finished 4-for-5 on the night with two home runs and RBI’s. The 26-year-old spent this past season playing for the Seattle Mariners Double-A affiliate – the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx of the Southern League.

On the mound, the Surge were led by Baron Short (College Park, GA) who kept the Diamantes hitters off balance all night, allowing only two earned runs and five hits in eight strong innings. The right-hander, who used to play in the Los Angeles Angels minor league system, recorded eight strikeouts against the Diamantes who entered Tuesday’s game leading the FWBL with a .277 batting average.

Both of the Diamantes lone runs of the night came on solo home runs – by Brian Mathews (Covington, GA) in the second inning, and Alberto Espinosa (Miami, FL) in the seventh. Espinosa, who came into the game with the best batting average in the league at .378 – extended his team-best hitting streak to 10 games. David Espinosa, who also had hit safely in all nine of Miami’s contests coming into tonight, was unable to do the same as he finished the night 0-for-3.

Omar Javier (Santo Domino, Dominican Republic) was charged with his first loss of the season for the Diamantes. The right-hander allowed four earned runs on nine hits in five innings – striking out a season high six batters.

The two teams will return for game two of a three game series tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. from University Park. The Diamantes will send left-hander Anthony Bello (0-1, 4.50) to the mound for his third start of the season.

Space Coast entered Tuesday’s game with only three home runs on the year, but recorded four long balls on the night – including back-to-back round-trippers in a six run sixth inning by Gerard Harand and Victor Ferrante. The Surge were led at the plate by Jimmy Mojica who finished 4-for-5 on the night with two home runs and three RBI’s.

On the mound, the Surge were led by Baron Short, allowing only two earned runs and five hits in eight strong innings. The right-hander recorded nine strikeouts against the Diamantes who entered Tuesday’s game leading the FWBL with a .277 batting average.

Both of the Diamantes lone runs of the night came on solo home runs – by Brian Mathews, in the second inning, and Alberto Espinosa in the seventh. Espinosa, who came into the game with the best batting average in the league at .378 – extended his team-best hitting streak to 10 games.
Omar Javier was charged with his first loss of the season for the Diamantes. The right-hander allowed four earned runs on nine hits in five innings – striking out a season high six batters.

The two teams will return for game two of a three game series tonight night at 7:05 p.m. with Jake Leonhardt (0-1, 7.56) starting for the Surge and Antony Bello (0-1, 4.50) for the Diamantes.

Lee Huggins had three hits including a home run and drove home the game-winning Run in the eighth; Trent Lockwood also homered and David Marks had three RBI’s for Lake County and now lead the league in this department with 17 Runs Batted in.

Roberto Sabates and David Espinosa had three RBI each for the Diamantes, Brian Mathews, Albert Espinosa and Sabates had three hits for Miami in this game dominated by hitters.

The Diamantes begin a three-game series against Space Coast surge on Tuesday

Diamantes were trailing 7-0 until the seventh inning when a nine runs outburst was enough for Miami to win for second day in a row. Now both teams have identical record (6-2) with one game to play today to finish the week with a solitaire leader in the Florida Winter Baseball League.

The starter for Lake County, Carter Clements had allowed only one hit until the seventh when David Espinosa singled and Tyler Johnson drew a walk, that was enough for the right-handed and the manager George Foster brought Ronnie Morales who was punished with RBI’s singles by Albert Espinosa and Felix Martinez and sacrifice fly by Roberto Sabates. Against the new pitcher Corey Bass and with the bases loaded, Tyler Johnson singled two runs in to tie the game followed by Joash Brodin two RBI’s single to put ahead the Diamantes.

Elvis Hernandez made his debut with the Diamantes in relief, worked two scoreless innings striking out three to earn his first win of the season. Ulysses Roque got the save pitching the last two innings.

David Marks hit a grand slam in the third inning for the Black Bears off Jose Mateo, this was his third home run of the season, and he is also leading the League with 14 RBI’s.

LHP David Ander son (1-0) will start today for Lake County facing Diamante’s Vladimir Ubri (0-0) at 1:00pm at FIU University Park.

MIAMI, FL - Marcus Salmon worked six solid innings and a seven-run seventh inning outburst carried the Miami Diamantes to an 11-1 victory over Lake County Black Bears Friday night in the second of a four-game set at FIU University Park. The Diamantes improve to 5-2 to stay only one game behind the leaders Lake County.

Salmon allowed a run on five hits to earn his first win of the season, the right- handed walked two and fanned seven and was followed by Luke Demko who retired the side in order in the seventh and then allowed two hits on the eight. Armando Carrasco retired the side in the ninth. Broc Coffman (1-1) was the losing pitcher, allowing four runs and seven hits. In the seventh Kris Jiggits walked three, gave up a single and made a throwing error in the seven runs inning for the Diamantes.

Joash Brodin had tree RBI’s with a single, sacrifice fly and a bases-loaded walk, while David Espinosa scored three runs after being walked each time and stole two bases.

The series continue Saturday night with Diamantes right-handed Jose Mateo making the start against Black Bears right handed Carter Clements.