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Bang Bang Finish
Tournament Update: Sunday, July 24th, 1:00 am
The 2011 MCBL Postseason Tournament concluded late Saturday evening and fittingly with two very well played ballgames.
In the semi-final opener, the Columbia Reds built a 1-0 lead and their pitching kept the Gaithersburg Giants at bay all evening registering 9 strikeouts in the first 18 batters they faced. However in the bottom of the sixth, the Giants exploded for 5 runs which provided more than enough for them to beat the Reds 5-1.
The spectators who were in attendance for the nightcap were treated to a great, well played championship game. The Giants had runners on base in every inning but the fifth while stroking 9 hits and scoring 4 runs through six innings. The Orioles responded to the pressure generating 8 hits and putting runners on base in every inning but the sixth to build a tenuous 5-4 lead going into the final inning.
In the 7th inning, the Giants had the tying run on third and the go ahead run on first with only one out. The Giants hit a hard grounder that was scooped up by the Orioles, flipped to second base for the second out and relayed to first in a bang bang play for the game ending third out.
Congratulations go out to all the playoff teams including the third place Columbia Reds, the second place Gaithersburg Giants and the 2011 Tournament Champion Maryland Orioles. The Orioles, managed by Steve Wolfe, were undefeated in this tournament winning all four games they played. One of the charter members of the MCBL, this championship for the Orioles comes on the heels of their runner-up finish in the 2010 Postseason Tournament and gives them 8 victories in 10 postseason playoff games.
A special thanks goes to Ron Mox of Joe Cannon Stadium for making the stadium available and to his outstanding grounds crew of Ryan Taylor and Josh Orr.
Thanks also go to Roger Wolfe our umpire coordinator who insured that every game this season was covered.
Finally thanks go to the hard working volunteer team administrators, managers and coaches who give an inordinate amount of time and talent to provide this league for players to practice/develop their baseball skills.
Here�€™s looking forward to a successful 2012 season!!
