SPAIN – Unbeaten Sant Boi will meet a surprising Halcones de Vigo squad this weekend in the Spanish Baseball League Matchup of the Week.

Sant Boi, ranked No. 19 in the BaseballdeWorld 2009 Preseason European Top 20, survived an upset bid by the Astros this past week to claim two wins and improve to 4-0 on the young season. The newest member in Spain’s top league, Halcones has won three of their first four outings after splitting a pair of games against Pamplona last weekend.

SPANISH LEAGUE

A balanced attack featuring a high-octane lineup and strong pitching has been the foundation for the early season success of Sant Boi. Jose L. Riera (.538), Rafael Rivas (.500), and Jose E. Cruz (.455) are the top hitters for a squad that has outscored opponents 41-3.

Sant Boi starting pitchers, Cruz and Oscar Alvarez, have both been dominant with 2-0 records and perfect 0.00 ERA’s.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE
3/28: MARLINS PUERTO CRUZ – PAMPLONA (DH)
3/28: FC BARCELONA – EL LLANO (DH)
3/28: ASTROS – VILADECANS
3/28: HALCONES DE VIGO – SANT BOI
3/29: BÉISBOL NAVARRA – SAN INAZIO BILBAO (DH)
3/29: ASTROS – VILADECANS
3/29: HALCONES DE VIGO – SANT BOI

Halcones followed their season-opening sweep against the Astros with an impessive showing against Pamplona last week. After getting blanked by French national team pitcher Patrice Briones in a 2-0 loss in the opening game, the promoted team raced out to a 11-0 lead in the second contest and then withstood a late rally to triumph in a wild 14-13 slugfest.

The league’s third-ranked offensive group is led by Carlos M. Sampayo (.500) and Marco Marques (.421). On the hill, Ronny Malave (1-1) anchors the pitching corps and his 18 strikeouts trails only FC Barcelona ace Homer Baez (25).

2009 STAT LEADERS:

BATTING AVERAGE
.600 – Javier Peyrote, El Llano
.538 – Jose L. Riera, Sant Boi
.500 – Rafael Rivas, Sant Boi
.500 – Daniel Sanchez, Marlins
.500 – Miguel Catalan, Viladecans
.500 – Alexis Fumero, Pamplona
.500 – Carlos M. Sampayo, Halcones
.455 – Jose E. Cruz, Sant Boi
.438 – Marcos Trillo, El llano
.421 – Marco Marques, Halcones
(Minimum of 10 at bats)

WINS
2 – Pedro Belmonte, FC Barcelona
2 – Oscar Alvarez, Sant Boi
2 – Jose E. Cruz, Sant Boi
2 – Homer Baez, FC Barcelona
2 – Ivan Granados, Marlins PC
2 – Leslie Nacar, Marlins

ERA
0.00 – Pedro Belmonte, FC Barcelona
0.00 – Oscar Alvarez, Sant Boi
0.00 – Jose E. Cruz, Sant Boi
0.00 – Patrice Briones, Pamplona
0.00 – Fidel Mane, San Inazio
0.43 – Homer Baez, FC Barcelona
0.56 – Ivan Granados, Marlins PC
0.90 – Juan De Leon, El Llano
0.95 – Delio M. Martinez, Viladecans

Tags: Spain