Orton, Carrier, and the Havasu Heat NBC World Series Champions

WICHITA. KS - UNC Greensboro’s Ricky Orton and Tim Carrier, both California natives, helped the Havasu (AZ) Heat to a 14-2 win over the Hays (KS) Larks yesterday to win the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, KS. The Heat routed the Larks at the Lawrence-Dumont Stadium not only winning the championship title, but doing so in fashion – undefeated.

In their seven wins at the NBC tournament, the Heat outscored the opposition by a combined 71-20 score and led the tournament in pitching (1.73 ERA), batting average (.345), and homeruns (11).

The Heat blanked the Pratt (KS) Driller, 9-0, in their first game of the NBC series. Carrier went 2-4 with two singles and one stolen base while Orton scored one after a walk in the bottom of the first.

In Game 48, Havasu eliminated the Cp Giradeau Capahas of Missouri winning 15-4 in five innings. Carrier went 3-4 with three singles and Orton was 0-2 with a walk at the top of the first.

Game 62 of the series found the Heat once again in the winner’s circle as they defeated the Hays (KS) Larks, 11-7, in 12 innings. Carrier went 1-5 with a single to right center. At the designated hitter slot, Orton’s two-run shot over the right field fence gave him his first homerun of the series and first of the season.

On Thursday, August 9 the Heat took on the El Dorado (KS) Broncos. The Broncos went scoreless in nine innings as Havasu won 9-0. Carrier led the Heat, going 3-6 with two singles and hitting his first double of the series. Orton went 1-1 with a single to left center.

Havasu’s win against the Broncos set them up for Game 77 against the Derby (KS) Twins. The round-six game pitted the final two undefeated teams against one another for a trip to the quarterfinals. After three scoreless innings, the Heat took the lead and held on as they defeated the Twins 6-4 in nine innings, sending them to the NBC World Series Sweet Six. Again in usual starting positions, second baseman Carrier went 0-6 and designated hitter Orton was 1-3.

The Havasu Heat faced the Saint Barbara Foresters on Friday, August 10 in the quarterfinals. It was close throughout the game, but the Heat was able to maintain their undefeated series record as they topped the Foresters 7-6. Orton’s bat came alive as he led the Heat at the plate, going 3-4 with three doubles. Carrier was 1-5 with a two-run single to centerfield in the bottom of the sixth.

In the championship game, the Heat again faced the Hays (KS) Larks. The Heat dominated the board scoring in all but two innings to roll past the Larks, 14-2, and into their first NBC World Series Championship title. Carrier continued his strong showing at the plate as he was 2-4.

Prior to the NBC World Series, Matt Gibbs, also of California had seen time on the mound for the Havasu Heat. In his 30.1 innings pitched for the Heat, Gibbs held a 4-0 record retiring 24 batters and walking just seven.

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