The Dominicanos softball team of St. Thomas came to St. Croix over the weekend and took home the championship trophy after beating Puerto Rico 15-11 at the Estate Profit Ball Park in front of a raucous pro-Dominicanos crowd.
Sandino Brito, who would hold the Puerto Ricans hitless over the first two innings, while his team had no problem scoring early against the opposition pitching, was named MVP of the tournament.
The Dominicanos erupted for seven-first inning runs and looked primed to run away with the trophy. They scored seven runs in the first inning on an RBI double by Carlos Perez, a grand slam home run by Y. Natgra and a two-run single by Victor Alexis.
The Dominicanos was back on the attack in the bottom of the second, scoring three more runs to extend their lead to 10-0. Frankie Mercado hit a solo home run, and Carlos Adolfo added a two-run shot.
Puerto Rico finally got on the board in the top of the third, plating four runs to then trail 10-4. They scored four runs on an RBI single by Jose Nolasco and a three-run blast off the bat of Joel Caballos.
The Pueto Ricans were back on the attack in the top of the fourth inning, plating three more runs on a two-run single by Nolasco and an RBI ground out by Minio Ruiz to now trail 10-7 after four completed innings as the Dominicanos again failed to score.
A solo home run by Caballos in the top of the fifth and an RBI double by Rosario Lopez brought the Puerto Rican squad to within one at 10-9. The Dominicanos would then put the game out of reach in the bottom of the inning, however, scoring five runs to take an insurmountable 15-9 lead.
Puerto Rico added two more runs in the top of the sixth, but neither team would score after that and the St. Thomas squad took the championship trophy by a final score of 15-11.

Brito got the win on the hill for the Dominicanos, while Ivascar Hernandez got the loss for Puerto Rico. Top batters for the winners were Natgra (2 for 4 with a home run and four RBIs), Mercardo (2 for 2 with a home run and two RBIs), and Victor Alexis (3 for 3 with an RBI). For Puerto Rico, Caballo was 2 for 4 with two home runs and four RBIs, Dariel Nina was 4 for 5, and Nolasco was 2 for 3 with three RBIs.