BACK TO BACK CHAMPS
Eddie Baray earns back-to-back MVP honors as Cyclones defeat Expos 8-0

Jul 21, 2025 - Prior to the beginning of yesterday's championship game, Eddie Baray announced "I'm pitching to contact boys, so be ready". Eddie could not have been more accurate and truthful with that statement. Eddie pitched 8 innings and struck out only 1 batter and that strikeout came in his last inning of work. The rest of his outing, Eddie pitched in and around the strike zone enough to induce contact produce outs.  Eddie was able to keep the Expos' big hitters at bay for most of the game and the rest of the lineup mostly off the bases. The Expos best chance at getting back in the game came in the 5th inning when the Expos loaded the bases courtesy of two hits and a walk.  But with two outs already in the books, the Expos drove a liner to left field and Eddie was out of trouble.

On offense, the Cyclones took advantage of Expos misplays and made them dearly. In the 1st, Guy Koenig reached on a hard hit grounder to third base that wasn't handled cleanly.  He promptly stole second base and moved to third on a strike three wild pitch that saw Camilo Galvez reach first as well. Craig Baser followed with a Sac-Fly to get the Cyclones on the board. Eddie Baray joined in with a hit of his own and Juan Guedez, courtesy running for Eddie, stole second to put 2 runners in scoring position. Up next, Josh Granados reached on an error, but that error produced two runs.

In the bottom of the 2nd, Dre Vappie led the inning of with a single to right. Justin Putnal followed with a grounder to third, but the ball was thrown in to the outfield and runners were now on first and third. Taylor Scaggs joined in on the action as hit laced an RBI single to center making the score 4-0. Chad Tineo grounded into a fielder's choice moving Justin to third. Chad stole second on the next pitch putting himself into scoring position. Next batter, Juan Guedez, grounds to third but the third baseman tripped and was unable to come up with the play with Justin scoring on the play and Chad moving to third. With runners on first and third again, Guy hit a sharp grounder to the pitcher driving in the third run of the inning to make the score 6-0.

The Cyclones would score 2 more runs, 1 each in the 4th and 5th innings to end the scoring at 8. Taylor Scaggs pitched a 1-2-3 9th inning to secure the Championship for the Cyclones. It's the Cyclones 6th championship in the Houston Hardball League, including two while in the North Houston Wood Bat League, a division of the HHL. It's the third championship in the last 6 seasons and first back-to-back championship for the Cyclones.

Houston Cyclones - Houston Hardball League Spring 2025 35+ Division Champions
Standing (Left-Right): Craig Baser, Guy Koenig, Tom West, Priamo Reyes, Justin Putnal, Josh Granados, Ray Mariano, Taylor Scaggs, Camilo Galvez, Mgr. Dean Cosme
Kneeling (Left-Right): Ernesto Ojeda, Andre Vappie, Juan Zuniga, BJ Galvan, Eddie Baray, Chad Tineo, Jairo Reyes, Juan Guedez

Eddie Baray hurls a changeup Championship Game vs Expos July 20, 2025