MCBL 2012 Post-Season Tournament!

Update Saturday, July 28th, 6:30 pm:

Words cannot adequately convey the energy, excitement and intensity of the competition on Friday night between this year’s two best MCBL teams.  Simply put, both teams showed tremendous character in a battle that lasted almost till midnight.  While the phrase “you had to be there” may seem overused, it was never more applicable than this evening. 

The Gaithersburg Giants Blue came into Friday night with one tournament loss and a tall order to win the 2012 championship...sweep a double header from the regular season champion Baltimore Chop.  And the Giants came to play…….as did the Chop.

In the first game, the Giant’s pitcher Robin Mowatt and the Chop’s pitcher Kyle Pullen locked into an early pitcher’s duel with both allowing only one hit and no runs thru the first four innings.  The Chop’s Josh Sachs singled home a run in the fifth and the Giant’s Danny Freshley plated one in the sixth with a stand up triple.  Danny was gunned down at the plate on a great throw by the Chop’s second baseman Anthony Ortiz on a ground ball in the infield.  The Giants first basemen Kurtis Voytell returned the favor in the seventh by gunning down a Chop runner at the plate. 

The Giants were clinging to a 2-1 lead entering the ninth when the pitching staff for the Chop flinched and then faltered.  All nine Giants players scored in the top of the ninth…….before a single out was recorded.   The Giants Justin Korenblatt had two hits in the inning and Tom Gilchrist hit a pinch hit double while teammate Jay Graham hit a bases loaded pinch hit triple.  Their 11 runs scored in the top of the ninth ensured a 13-1 victory and meant the showdown would continue.

In the second game the Giants jumped out to an early 2 – 0 lead in the top of the first thanks to Kurtis Voytell’s two run double.  Just when it looked like the Giants might have all the momentum and take complete control, the Chop’s pitcher Kyle Alexander then settled down and didn’t give up a run over the next 3 innings.  A nice sliding catch by the Chop’s centerfield Josh Sachs helped keep the Giants in check.

The Giant’s starting pitcher Kory Smigocki had great control and only gave up one walk and 4 singles over the first four innings.  However, the Chop manufactured 2 runs to tie the score 2 – 2 after four innings.

In the fifth, the Giants Jay Graham drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and the Giants defense seemed step it up a notch.  Their catcher Lane Farmer threw out a Chop runner attempting to steal second and their relief pitcher Josh Kohn made a nice play at first on a tough grounder to first baseman Kurtis Voytell. 

In the bottom of the seventh, the Chop’s Josh Sacks got the Chop’s second hit of the inning and plated a run with his single to tie the game 3 – 3.  The Giant’s centerfielder Tom Gilchrist made a tremendous catch to end the Chop’s rally.

At this point, both managers had their best power pitchers on the mound…..the Giant’s Kyle Hamby (25 strikouts in 19.1 regular season innings) and the Chop’s Ryan Taylor (50 strikeouts in 47 regular season innings).  Both were pitching on short rest.

In the bottom of the eighth, after Zach Stavish’s leadoff single, Kyle Hamby bore down and coaxed a groundout to second and recorded his first strikeout.  The Chop had a runner at second base with two out when Garrett Sites stroked a ground ball single back up the middle to plate the go-ahead run. 

The Giants sent the top of their batting order to the plate in the ninth and despite the late hour, the crowd was hanging on every pitch.  The Chop’s shortstop Michael Marsh made a nice barehanded grab on a high hopper to barely get the Giant’s Carter Bidwick in his bid for a leadoff hit.

With two outs, the Giants had the league’s season home run record holder Brandon Grove at the plate representing the tying run.  The Chop previously had taken the bat out of Brandon’s hands by walking him seven times on Friday night.  This time Brandon got the pitch he wanted but just barely missed his attempt to go yard with a mighty swing.  Ryan Taylor then threw a pitcher’s pitch at the knees compelling veteran umpire Roger Wolfe to call the third strike and final out to give the Chop the 2012 MCBL Tournament Championship winning 4 – 3.

Kurtis Voytell lead the charge for the Giants with a walk, single and double at the plate.  Nick Marinelli and Josh Sachs paced the Chop with each going two for four at the plate. 

After everyone exhaled and started breathing again, all agreed that congratulations go to both teams for having a great season, a great tournament and playing two great hard fought championship games.

In case you weren't there, tune in on Sunday at 7 pm to hear the internet rebroadcast of tonight’s action on HerbFM radio by clicking on www.herbfm.com.