Welcome to the home of the hottest baseball team around.....
The Broward Blaze 14 & Under Travel Baseball Team

THE BROWARD BLAZE RODE STRONG PITCHING AND A SIX RUN 1ST INNING ENROUTE TO A 12 - 0 VICTORY OVER THE BROWARD PANTHERS. THIS IS THE 1ST OF 2 SEEDING GAMES FOR THE BLAZE AS THEY COMPETE IN THE USSSA FLORIDA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS. ZACH KLEIMAN AND RICHARD CHERNOFF COMBINED FOR THE 4 INNING SHUTOUT IN WHICH THEY SURRENDERED ONLY 4 HITS.

AFTER THE VICTORY, THE BLAZE PLAYERS, THEIR FAMILIES AND THE COACHING STAFF GOT TOGETHER TO SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BLAZE 3RD BASEMAN ADAM MUND, WHO CELEBRATED HIS 14TH YESTERDAY AND TO COACH MARTIN FOX WHO'S BIRTHDAY IS UPCOMING. THANKS TO THE NEWELLS, EVERYONE SHARED IN GREAT CUPCAKES....

THE BLAZE WILL PLAY THE WEST PINES COBRAS ON SATURDAY MORNING AT 8:30 AT PEMBROKE SHORES FIELD 7.

SATURDAY HAS BEEN DECLARED "WEAR ONLY RIGHT SHOES DAY". SO, FOR THOSE OF YOU COMING TO ROOT ON THE BLAZE, WEAR ONLY RIGHT SHOES (AND NO THEY DON'T HAVE TO MATCH) ON BOTH FEET. COME ON OUT, HAVE SOME FUN AND CHEER THE BLAZE TO VICTORY! 

SINGLE ELIMINATION GAMES BEGIN AT 2:00PM ON SATURDAY.....GO BLAZE!

TONIGHT, THE BLAZE WRAPPED UP IT'S FINAL FUNDRAISING RAFFLE AT OUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT...BEEF O'BRADYS IN COOPER CITY. BEEF O'BRADYS HAS HOSTED OUR TEAM A NUMBER OF TIMES FOR FUND RAISING EVENTS AND TONIGHT, WE WERE GREETED BY SMILES AT THE DOOR AND A WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE. WE THANK THE MANAGEMENT AND STAFF OF BEEF O'BRADYS FOR THEIR TREMENDOUS SUPPORT!

OUR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS OVER THE YEARS HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THIS TALENTED GROUP OF YOUNG MEN TO TRAVEL TO TOURNAMENTS IN NEW YORK, SOUTH CAROLINA, ALL OVER FLORIDA AND OF COURSE, TO TENNESSEE NEXT MONTH. WE HAVE RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES, RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OF OUR PLAYERS AND FROM THOSE THAT JUST WANTED TO HELP OUT A GOOD CAUSE. SUPPORTING THE BROWARD BLAZE IS NOT A GOOD CAUSE, IT HAS BEEN A GREAT CAUSE AND WE THANK ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE ASSISTED IN MAKING LASTING MEMORIES FOR OUR TEAM MEMBERS. GRACIOUS SUPPORT HAS MADE THE HARD TASK OF FUNDRAISING JUST A LITTLE BIT EASIER. SAYING THANK YOU WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE WITHOUT THANKING JOE WALLACE AND THE SEMINOLE HARD ROCK CASINO AND HOTEL FOR THE GREAT GIFT BASKETS THAT WE HAVE RAFFLED AWAY.

AT OUR FUNDRAISING EVENT TONIGHT, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE PLAYERS, COACHES AND PARENTS OF THE WESTON HAWKS 10 YEAR OLD TEAM. WE HAVE A SPECIAL BOND TO THIS TEAM AS SHANE FOX, BROTHER OF BLAZE PLAYER SKYLER FOX AND SON OF COACH MARTIN FOX, PLAYS FOR THIS TEAM. WHILE WE ARE IN FORT MYERS AT THE USA BASEBALL TOURNAMENT, THEY WILL BE IN DISNEY PLAYING IN THEIR 1ST OUT OF TOWN TOURNAMENT. THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN TRAVEL BASEBALL FOR A WHILE REMEMBER OUR FIRST OUT OF TOWN TRIP AND WE EXPECT THAT THIS WILL BE A MEMORABLE ONE FOR THIS GROUP OF TALENTED BALLPLAYERS. WE WISH THEM GOOD LUCK AT THIS TOURNAMENT AS WELL IN THE FUTURE WHEN THEY WILL ASSUME THE TEAM NAME - BROWARD BLAZE - AND CARRY ON THE GREAT TRADITION OF OUR TEAM WHEN HEAD COACH SCOTT KLEIMAN FOUNDED THIS ORGANIZATION. YOU CAN FOLLOW THEIR PROGRESS AT www.eteamz.com/blaze.

THE BLAZE WISH GOOD LUCK TO THE WESTON HAWKS BLACK 10 YEAR OLD TEAM AS THEY MADE THE LEAGUE PLAYOFFS BY VIRTUE OF FINISHING 3RD IN THE DIVISION 10B. LONGTIME BLAZE BATBOY SHANE FOX HAD A GREAT SEASON FOR THE HAWKS IN HIS FIRST FULL SEASON OF TRAVEL BALL. SHANE IS THE BROTHER OF LONGTIME BLAZE PLAYER SKYLER FOX AND SON OF BLAZE COACH MARTIN FOX. GO HAWKS...BRING HOME THE CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!

BY VIRTUE OF SPLITTING AN END OF THE SEASON DOUBLEHEADER WITHT EH SOUTH FLORIDA BULLDOGS, THE BROWARD BLAZE CLINCHED SECOND PLACE IN DIVISION 14A. AFTER STARTING THE SEASON 0 - 2, THE BLAZE WENT 10 - 3 - 1 IN THE FINAL 14 GAMES.

IN GAME 1, THE BLAZE DEFEATED THE BULLDOGS 12 - 1 AS ZACH KLEIMAN AND RICHARD CHERNOFF COMBINED FOR THE VICTORY. KLEIMAN (0R, 3H, 5K, 2BB) WENT THE 1ST 4 INNINGS AND CHERNOFF (2IP, 1R, 2H, 1K) SECURED THE VICTORY IN RELIEF. ON OFFENSE, SKYLER FOX AND JASON WILPON ( 2 RBI, 1 RUN) EACH HAD TWO HITS. ADAM MUND ADDED A HIT AND 3 RBI'S. RICH ENGLAR REACHED BASE ON EACH OF HIS AT BATS AND SCORED 3 RUNS. IN ADDITION TO A WELL EXECUTED SACRIFICE BUNT WHICH MOVED RUNNERS INTO SCORING POSITION IN THE 2ND INNING, ZACH FRIEDLAND, PLAYED ANOTHER STRONG GAME AT CATCHER. FRIEDLAND, KLEIMAN, DOM MARENGO, ROBERT COLLIN AND HARRISON FRANETIC EACH ADDED A HIT. 

IN THE 2ND GAME, THE BLAZE YIELDED 3 RUNS IN THE 1ST INNING AND COULD NEVER RECOVER. FALLING TO THE BULLDOGS 7 - 2. LIKE IN THE 1ST GAME, THE BLAZE RECEIVED GOOD PIRCHING EFFORTS FROM PITCHING FROM CHRIS NEWELL, ADAM MUND AND SKYLER FOX. HOWEVER, THE DEFENSE WAS NOT AS STRONG AS USUAL AND THE OFFENSE NEVER REALLY GOT GOING. THE BLAZE RUNS WERE SCORED BY GEORGE GUGINO AND SKYLER FOX. HARRISON FRANETIC, CHRIS NEWELL, ZACH FRIEDLAND AND JARED HEIDT HAD HITS FOR THE BLAZE.   

THE BLAZE JUMPED TO A 3 - 0 LEAD IN THE 1ST 3 INNINGS AND NEVER LOOKED BACK IN DEFEATING THE PLANTATION STARS 4 - 2. THIS IMPORTANT VICTORY GIVES THE BLAZE THE HEAD-TO-HEAD TIE BREAKER AGAINST THE STARS FOR PLAYOFF SEEDING PURPOSES. ZACH KLEIMAN PITCHED A COMPLETE GAME AND DID NOT GIVE UP A HIT UNTIL THE 4TH INNING. HE STRUCK OF 9 STARS HITTERS. JASON WILPON, ROBERT COLLIN AND GEORGE GUGINO ALL HAD RBI'S, WITH ADAM MUND SCORING THE WINNING RUN AFTER GETTING ON WITH A SINGLE TO LEFT.

IN A GAME WHERE IT LOOKED AS THOUGH A 3 RUN INNING BY THE LUMBERKINGS WOULD BE ENOUGH TO WIN, THE LUMBERKINGS PUT A VERY HARD THROWING RELIEF PITCHER ON THE MOUND FOR THE 6TH AND 7TH INNINGS. THE BLAZE HUNG TOUGH TO SCORE 1 RUN IN THE 6TH AND RALLY FOR 2 RUNS IN THE 7TH TO SALVAGE A TIE. IN THE 6TH, GEORGE GUGINO DOUBLED, MOVED TO 3RD ON A PASS BALL AND SCORED WHEN THE PITCHER ATTEMPTED TO PICK OFF CHRIS NEWELL AND OVERTHREW THE 1ST BASEMAN. WITH THE SCORE 5 - 3 IN THE 7TH INNING, DOM MARENGO LED OFF THE INNING WITH A WALK. ADAM MUND TRIPLED TO THE LEFT FIELD CORNER SCORING MARENGO. MUND THEN SCORED ON A SACRIFICE FLY. BLAZE PITCHER ROBERT "RC" COLLIN WENT THE DISTANCE, GIVING UP 4 EARNED RUNS AND STRUCK OUT 4 LUMBERKING HITTERS. ON OFFENSE, RICHARD CHERNOFF ADDED 2 DOUBLES AND JASON WILPON, RICH ENGLAR AND COLLIN EACH ADDED A HIT.

AFTER GIVING UP 2 1ST INNING RUNS, RICHARD CHERNOFF (6 2/3 IP, 5ER, 10H, 3K, 1BB) SETTLED IN FOR THE NEXT 4 INNINGS AND GAVE THE BLAZE OFFENSE A CHANCE TO WORK. IN THE 6TH AND FINAL INNING, CHERNOFF GAVE WAY TO RELIEF PITCHER CHRIS NEWELL AFTER GIVING UP 3 RUNS. WITH ONE PITCH, THE BENGAL HITTER FLIED OUT TO CENTER FIELD AND NEWELL EARNED THE SAVE. OFFENSIVELY, NEWELL (RBI), DOM MARENGO (RBI) AND ADAM MUND EACH HAD 2 HITS, SKYLAR FOX SCORED 2 RUNS AND ZACH FRIELAND ADDED A HIT AND AN RBI. HOWEVER, THE BIG PUNCH WAS PROVIDED BY HARRY FRANETIC WHO TRIPLED WITH THE BASES LOADED IN THE 4TH INNING, WHERE THE BLAZE SCORED 5 RUNS.

AS THEY WERE TOLD BY COACH KLEIMAN BEFORE THE DOUBLEHEADER, THIS COULD BE A DAY WHERE THE BLAZE COULD SOLIDIFY THEIR PLAYOFF POSITION....THE TEAM DIDN'T DISAPPOINT. 

IN GAME 1, BLAZE PITCHER ZACH KLEIMAN PROVIDED A COMMANDING PERFORMANCE GOING THE DISTANCE...STRIKING OUT 7. THIS GAME LOOKED LIKE A TRUE PITCHERS DUEL UNTIL THE BLAZE 6TH, WHEN THEY SENT 12 HITTERS TO THE PLATE AND SCORED 7 RUNS.  KLEIMAN DID IT WITH THE BAT AS WELL ADDING 2 HITS, A WALK AND A RUN SCORED. RICHARD CHERNOFF DROVE IN 2 OF THE 7 RUNS. DOM MARENGO ADDED 2 HITS OF HIS OWN.

IN GAME 2, THE BLAZE SENT DOM MARENGO TO THE HILL. AFTER STRONG 1ST INNING, THE SNAPPERS BROKE THROUGH FOR 2 RUNS IN THE 2ND......THAT PROVED TO BE ALL THE RUNS THAT THE SNAPPERS WOULD GET FROM THE BLAZE'S STINGY DEFENSE AND PITCHING. CHRIS NEWELL THREW 3 STRONG INNINGS IN MIDDLE RELIEF AND SKYLER FOX CAM ON IN THE 6TH INNING TO CLOSE OUT THE GAME. ONCE AGAIN, THE BLAZE DISPLAYED THEIR PITCHING DEPTH. THE OFFENSE WAS LED BY HARRISON FRANETIC AND RICHARD CHERNOFF WITH 3 RBI'S EACH. IN ADDITION, ROBERT COLLIN AND FRANETIC EACH SCORED 3 RUNS AND JASON WILPON SCORED 2. IN ADDITION TO WILPON, CHERNOFF, COLLIN AND FRANETIC, CHRIS NEWELL, ZACH KLEIMAN AND ADAM MUND EACH ADDED HITS OF THEIR OWN.

THE BLAZE RECEIVED EXCELLENT PITCHING FROM RICHARD CHERNOFF AND ROBERT (RC) COLLIN ENROUTE TO THIS IMPORTANT DIVISIONAL VICTORY. CHERNOFF HAD GREAT CONTROL DURING HIS 6 PLUS INNINGS ON THE MOUND IN WHICH HE YIELDED 2 RUNS (6IP, 5H, 1BB), OF WHICH ONLY ONE WAS EARNED. AFTER A LEADOFF SINGLE IN THE SIXTH, CHERNOFF GAVE WAY TO COLLIN, WHO GAVE UP ONE HIT IN TWO SCORELESS INNINGS TO EARN THE SAVE. THE BLAZE KNOTTED THE GAME AT 1 IN THE TOP OF THE 3RD INNING AFTER BLAZE CATCHER ZACH FRIELAND WAS HIT BY A PITCH, PINCH RUNNER JARED HEIDT SCORED FROM FIRST ON A LONG DOUBLE BY ADAM MUND. THE BLAZE SUBSEQUENTLY ADDED A RUN IN THE 4TH AND PUT THE GAME AWAY IN THE 6TH AND 7TH WHERE THEY PLATED 4 MORE RUNS. IN THE 6TH, COLLIN AND JASON WILPON SCORED ON HITS BY GEORGE GUGINO AND SKYLAR FOX. IN THE 7TH INNING, HARRISON FRANETIC DOUBLED HOME MUND AND COLLIN.

THE BLAZE WERE ONCE AGAIN SEEDED 9TH AFTER THE PRELIMINARY ROUND GAMES AT THE TRIPLE CROWN. THOSE WHO FOLLOW THE BLAZE REALIZE THAT THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY BAD FOR THE BLAZE AS THEY HAVE COME FROM THAT SPOT BEFORE TO PREVIOUSLY TAKE 2ND AT THE TRIPLE CROWN IN PLANTATION.

IN THE PRELIMINARY GAMES, THE BLAZE LOST TO THE SOUTH FLORIDA RAZORBACKS 10 -9. AFTER SPOTTING THE RAZORBACKS 7 (MOSTLY UNEARNED) RUNS IN THE 1ST INNING, THE BLAZE CLAWED THEIR WAY BACK BY PUTTING UP 7 OF THEIR OWN IN THE 5TH INNING. HOWEVER, IN THE END, THE RALLY FELL SHORT.

IN THE 2ND GAME, THE BLAZE FELL BEHIND TO THE MUSKEGO WARRIORS 3 - 0 IN THE FIRST INNING. 3 BLAZE RUNS IN THE 6TH INNING WAS NOT ENOUGH TO OVERCOME A 4 RUN DEFICIT AND THE BLAZE LOST 5 - 3.

IN THE 1ST ELIMINATION GAME, THE BLAZE MET AN OLD RIVAL, THE BROWARD PANTHERS. ROBERT (RC) COLLIN PITCHED 4 STRONG INNINGS, GIVING UP ONLY 1 RUN. HE RECEIVED MORE THEN AMPLE SUPPORT AS THE BLAZE RACKED UP 16 RUNS IN THE SHORTENED GAME.

THE NUMBER 1 SEEDED PARKLAND POKERS WERE UP NEXT. ZACH KLEIMAN GAVE THEIR STRONG HITTING LINE-UP ALL THEY COULD HANDLE. IN THE 4TH INNING, THE POKERS PLATED THREE RUNS, 2 OF WHICH WERE UNEARNED, ENROUTE TO A 4 - 3 VICTORY OVER THE BLAZE.

THE TRIPLE CROWN SPRING CHASE FOR THE CHAMPIONS WILL BE PLAYED THIS WEEKEND (APRIL 13 - 15) IN PEMBROKE PINES. THE BROWARD BLAZE ENTER PLAY WITH THEIR TICKET ALREADY PUNCHED FOR  ST. AUGUSTINE  BY VIRTUE OF THEIR 2ND PLACE FINISH IN THE PLANTATION TRIPLE CROWN TOURNAMENT. POOL PLAY FOR THE BLAZE IS SECHEDULED AS FOLLOWS:

BLAZE VS. SOUTH FLORIDA RAZORBACKS - FRIDAY, 4/13 AT 6PM - FLAMINGO 1
BLAZE VS. MUSKEGO WARRIORS - SATURDAY, 4/14 AT 11:15AM AT PPO 5

THE FIRST PLAYOFF GAME WILL OCCUR ON SATURDAY EVENING

THE BLAZE AND THE RAZORBACKS HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF PLAYING QUALITY GAMES. MUSKEGO (http://www.muskegowarriors.org/u14page.shtml) COMES TO TOWN AS AN UNKNOWN TO TRAVEL BASEBALL ENTHUSIASTS IN SOUTH FLORIDA, HOWEVER, THEY COME FROM A WELL ORGANIZED PROGRAM AND SHOULD ENJOY PLAYING IN SUCH A STRONG FIELD.

 

FORMER FLORIDA MARLINS MANAGER AND 2006 NATIONAL LEAGUE MANAGER OF THE YEAR JOE GIRARDI AND HIS FAMILY JOINED BLAZE PLAYERS AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR A NIGHT OF FOOD AND AUTOGRAPHS AT BEEF O'BRADYS IN COOPER CITY. COACH GIRARDI WAS KIND ENOUGH TO SIGN AUTOGRAPHS AND TAKE PICTURES WITH PATRONS IN EXCHANGE FOR A DONATION TO THE BLAZE. THERE WAS EVEN TIME FOR THE COACH TO FIELD A FEW QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE SOME TIPS TO THE PLAYERS. THANKS COACH GIRARDI FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY TO HELP THE BLAZE'S FUND RAISING EFFORTS!!!!!

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DESPITE GOING 0-2 IN POOL PLAY AND BEING SEEDED 9TH FOR THE ELIMINATION ROUND, THE BROWARD BLAZE REELED OFF 3 CONSECUTIVE WINS BEFORE FALLING TO THE 2006 FLORIDA STATE CHAMPIONS MANASOTA METEORS IN THE FINALS OF THE TRIPLE CROWN TOURNAMENT IN PLANTATION. THEY ARE A VERY DISCIPLINED AND WELL COACHED TEAM AND IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME THEY STILL HAD A LOT OF GAS IN THE TANK. TO GET TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, THE BLAZE HAD TO DEFEAT 3 VERY TOUGH TEAMS IN THE HOMESTEAD STORM, THE SOUTH FLORIDA SNAPPERS AND THE SOUTH FLORIDA RAZORBACKS. DURING THESE ELIMINATION GAMES, THERE WERE TIMES THAT THE BLAZE WERE DOWN ON THE SCOREBOARD..... BUT THEY WERE NEVER DOWN IN HEART....THE BLAZE WOULD NOT BE DENIED!

SUCCESS IN THIS TOURNAMENT WAS A TEAM EFFORT. THE BLAZE DEFENSE AND PITCHING WAS EXCELLENT. 

IN TAKING 2ND PLACE, THE BLAZE EARNED AN EARLY BIRTH TO THE TRIPLE CROWN WORLD SERIES OR ONE OF THEIR NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS.  

WAY TO GO BLAZE!!!!!!

THE BROWARD BLAZE TRAVEL BASEBALL TEAM WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME THE FOLLOWING NEW PLAYERS AND THEIR FAMILIES:
ROBERT (RC), GEORGE, JARED, ZACH, DOM AND CHRIS.
GOOD LUCK GUYS....WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A GREAT SPRING SEASON!!!!!

THE SPRING TRAVEL SEASON FOR FLORIDA PREMIER SPORTS WILL BEGIN FOR THE BROWARD BLAZE ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH. THE BLAZE WILL HOST THE BROWARD PANTHERS AT BRIAN PICCOLO PARK IN COOPER CITY AT 1:00PM. ALL OF THE CURRENTLY SCHEDULED BLAZE GAMES CAN BE FOUND UNDER THE SCHEDULE SECTION OF THE WEBSITE. ADDITIONAL GAMES ARE BEING SCHEDULED AND WILL BE POSTED ONCE CONFIRMED.

WITH 2006 ON THE WAY OUT AND 2007 ON THE WAY IN, THE COACHES, PLAYERS AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT PROUDLY MAKE UP THE BROWARD BLAZE WISH OUR SUPPORTERS, SPONSORS, FANS AND EVERYONE FROM THE TRAVEL BASEBALL COMMUNITY A HAPPY AND HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON AND A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR.

WHO'S ON FIRE????
BLAZE!!!!!!!!

My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging -Hank Aaron

MONITOR THE WEATHER!