Climaxing a sensational summer season, the 10A all-stars of the Swansea Independent Baseball League put the finishing touches on a five-game sweep with two convincing triumphs this past weekend to claim the championship of the 2013 John B. Steele Memorial Tournament in Dartmouth.
         Once again demonstrating a powerful hitting attack coupled with sturdy pitching performances, the SIBL stars defeated Wareham, 6-1, in Sunday’s championship contest to clinch their fourth tournament title this summer and to close with an eye-popping 20-2 record. Swansea had advanced to the championship round Sunday after blitzing Greater New Bedford, 12-1, in Saturday’s winners’ bracket final of the 14-team, double-elimination event.
         The SIBL roster in Dartmouth featured Colby Campos, Devyn Vezina, Brandon Medeiros, Nolan Potter, Devin Machado, Connor Carey, Josh Ferreira, Alec Janicki, Evan Thro, Luke Escobar, Brandyn Durand, Jared Rapoza, Manager Blake Campos and coaches Ernie Rapoza, Jason Machado, Mike Durand and Pete Ferreira.
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         In Sunday’s final outing, the SIBL squad bolted to a 5-0 lead over Wareham after two innings and relied on the strong right arm of Potter the rest of the way. In a complete-game effort, Potter yielded just two hits and struck out 12 batters.
         Machado got Swansea off to a quick start with a two-run home run in the opening chapter and finished with two hits. Medeiros, Campos, Vezina and Durand also had key hits for the victors.
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         Swansea had moved into the title round after spotting Greater New Bedford a run in the top of the first inning and roaring back to post a 12-1 victory. Vezina paced the winners’ assault with a monstrous two-run home run in the third inning, while Campos (2 RBI) and Machado (3 RBI) both collected three hits and Durand belted two hits. Pitchers Ferreira and Campos combined for six strikeouts.
         In an awards ceremony at the conclusion of Sunday’s contest, Potter was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and Campos received its Hitting Award. Potter, Campos, Medeiros and Vezina were all named to the tourney’s All-Star team.
         Prior to securing the tourney crown in Dartmouth, Swansea had won local tournaments this summer in Mashpee and Attleboro and also placed first in the North Region Tournament of the Mustang League of PONY Baseball held in Swansea. The SIBL stars’ only losses occurred during the Mustang League East Zone Tournament in Chesterfield, Virg., where they finished second.
