MORRISTOWN PATRIOTS
 2009 MSM/MABL RCAA WORLD CHAMPIONS

The Morristown Patriots defeated the North Jersey Dukes by the score of 8-6 Sunday afternoon at Edison Intermediate High School in Game 3 to win their 1st ever championship. The Patriots were led by championship series MVP Jimmy VanDerveer on the mound, who threw 7 innings to earn the win, and a total team effort on both sides of the ball. Chris Harlow and Mike Neilsen had 2 hits and 2 RBI each for the Patriots and Chris Maillet had 2 hits and scored 3 runs in the lead off spot. Maillet also made a spectacular catch in CF to save 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning, which proved to be the biggest defensive play of the year for the Patriots. Steve Strohm pitched the last two innings for the Patriots, striking out the side in the bottom of the 9th to win the championship.

The Patriots struck early, with 2 runs in the top of the 1st inning on a 2 run double by Mike Neilsen after Chris Maillet reached on an error and Artie Grutt walked.

In the top of the 4th inning, the Patriots scored another run to make the score 3-0. Jimmy VanDerveer got hit by a pitch, Dan Portnov laid down a perfect bunt for a base hit and Chris Maillet lined a single off the glove of the Dukes pitcher to load the bases. Art Grutt drew a bases loaded walk for the RBI.

In the top of the 5th inning, the Patriots struck again. Chris Harlow smashed a one out double, took third on a wild pitch and scored on Jimmy VanDerveer's sacrifice fly to make the score 4-0. In the 6th, a RBI double by Art Grutt scoring Chris Maillet gave the Patriots a 5-0 lead. The Dukes scored a run in the bottom of the 6th and the Patriots had a 5-1 lead after 6 and needed 9 more outs for the championship.

Things started to unravel for the Pats in the bottom of the 7th. After the Patriots got two quick outs, the Dukes scored 2 unearned runs and cut the lead to 5-3

In the top of the 8th, the Patriots rallied once again. Dan Portnov lead off the inning by reaching on an error. Chris Maillet walked and Artie Grutt moved the runners over with a ground out. George Tomasello drove home Dan Portnov with a sacrifice fly to RF to give the Patriots a 6-3 lead. The Dukes intentionally walked Mike Neilsen to pitch to Chris Harlow and on the first pitch Harlow crushed a ball into the left centerfield gap, scoring both Maillet and Neilsen, giving the Patriots a 8-3 lead.

Once again, the wheels started to fall off for the Patriots. Steve Strohm entered the game and gave up three unearned runs and the lead shrunk to 8-6. With runners on 2nd and 3rd and no one out, Chris Maillet made a spectacular diving catch over his shoulder for the 1st out of the inning. After another nice defensive play, this time by John Montone and Steve Strohm, the Dukes had 2nd and 3rd and two outs. Steve Strohm battled through a 12 pitch at bat and caught the Dukes batter looking for the final out of the inning. The score was 8-6 after 8 innings and the Patriots needed 3 more outs for the championship.

In the bottom of the 9th, Strohm struck out the side and a wild celebration ensued. The Patriots have beaten the best team that they could have for the championship in an epic 3 game series. While the Patriots were missing a few of their key players for this championship game, their depth and determination to be champions prevailed. With a 104 year old battery and two backup infielders, the Morristown Patriots have proven that when you play as a team and rely on the guy next to you, you will become champions.