AAA Division Championship
Phillies 5 Dodgers 3
The Phillies relied on pitching and defense to claim the AAA championship, besting the scrappy Dodgers in a battle of the regular season's top two teams. Philly hurlers Ryan Reilly and Jordan Goodfriend combined for four shutout innings to open the game and took the lead with hits by Ross Ney and Jack Larsen. The Dodgers mounted a comeback in the fifth, backed by key hits from Eric Hays, Charlie Koch and Sebastian Varela. The Comeback Kids threatened again in the sixth, but Philly closer Justin Bocks closed the door. With one out and runners at second and third, Bocks notched a strikeout before inducing a line drive to second baseman Jack Wickline for the win.
Dodgers 7 Indians 6
The Dodgers earned the right to play for the championship on the strength of great all-around play by Carl Piercy and Sam Saracevic. First baseman Saracevic was two-for-two with a two-run double, and saved a run in the field by short-hopping line drive. Teammate Piercy took care of the late-inning heroics, saving a run in the sixth with a heads-up backup play and then lining a single in the bottom of the inning for the walk-off victory.
Cardinals 9 Giants 6
Nicholas Geannacopulos' two run triple propelled the Redbirds to the playoff victory, ending the Giants' successful playoff run. The Cards were led by the stalwart pitching of Max Stryker, Will Wright, Jack Miles and Luke Miles. Jackson Carter triggered a 4-run fourth with a lead-off double for the winners.
Dodgers 4 Cubs 3
The Dodgers earned the right to play for the championship with a come from behind victory over the Cubs. Down by two in the last of the sixth, the Dodgers strung together hits by Carl Piercy, Grant Malmquist, Ian Archer, Eddy Burns, Erik Hays and Sam Saracevic to complete the late-game heroics.
Dodgers 9 Giants 8
The Dodgers began their march to the penultimate game with a thrilling, extra-inning win in the game of the season. The winners were led by the pitching and hitting of Eddy Burns, who limited the Giants to one run over two innings, and knocked in three runs himself. Charlie Koch chipped in with a perfect day at the plate and a run scored.
Cardinals 10 Athletics 3
The Cardinals blew open a close game with five runs in the fifth on the strength of Daniel Tarkoff's two-out, two-run double to right field. Ben Bequette, Connor Schultz and Jack Berrian drove in Redbird runs, and Luke Miles and Max Stryker each pitched shutout innings. The Athletics were led by the big bat of Nick Bamont, who scored two runs, and Jack Lattin, who pitched two solid innings in relief.
Phillies 11 Redsox 1
Jordan Goodfriend and Justic Bocks each rapped out two hits for the Phils, and Ryan Everly's perfect bunt single scored a run for the winners. On defense, second baseman, Jack Wickline, backed up four shutout innings by pitchers Ryan Reilly and Jack Larsen. The Redsox were led at the plate by Cole Brightbill and Sam Hagel, while Roxy Cummings pitched well in relief. The game ended a spirited playoff run by the Redsox, who upset both the Athletics and the Indians.
Phillies 9 Dodgers 2
In a preview of the championship game, the Phillies jumped on the sturdy shoulders of Jack Larsen, who blasted two home runs and drove in five. Joshua Sanders also had two hits for the victors, who broke the game open with a five run fifth. For the Dodgers, Ben Stoddard and Grant Malmquist both went two-for-two with run-scoring doubles. Malmquist also starred in the field with a sparkling snare of a line drive that snuffed out a Philly rally.
Phillies 5 Dodgers 3
The Phillies relied on pitching and defense to claim the AAA championship, besting the scrappy Dodgers in a battle of the regular season's top two teams. Philly hurlers Ryan Reilly and Jordan Goodfriend combined for four shutout innings to open the game and took the lead with hits by Ross Ney and Jack Larsen. The Dodgers mounted a comeback in the fifth, backed by key hits from Eric Hays, Charlie Koch and Sebastian Varela. The Comeback Kids threatened again in the sixth, but Philly closer Justin Bocks closed the door. With one out and runners at second and third, Bocks notched a strikeout before inducing a line drive to second baseman Jack Wickline for the win.
Dodgers 7 Indians 6
The Dodgers earned the right to play for the championship on the strength of great all-around play by Carl Piercy and Sam Saracevic. First baseman Saracevic was two-for-two with a two-run double, and saved a run in the field by short-hopping line drive. Teammate Piercy took care of the late-inning heroics, saving a run in the sixth with a heads-up backup play and then lining a single in the bottom of the inning for the walk-off victory.
Cardinals 9 Giants 6
Nicholas Geannacopulos' two run triple propelled the Redbirds to the playoff victory, ending the Giants' successful playoff run. The Cards were led by the stalwart pitching of Max Stryker, Will Wright, Jack Miles and Luke Miles. Jackson Carter triggered a 4-run fourth with a lead-off double for the winners.
Dodgers 4 Cubs 3
The Dodgers earned the right to play for the championship with a come from behind victory over the Cubs. Down by two in the last of the sixth, the Dodgers strung together hits by Carl Piercy, Grant Malmquist, Ian Archer, Eddy Burns, Erik Hays and Sam Saracevic to complete the late-game heroics.
Dodgers 9 Giants 8
The Dodgers began their march to the penultimate game with a thrilling, extra-inning win in the game of the season. The winners were led by the pitching and hitting of Eddy Burns, who limited the Giants to one run over two innings, and knocked in three runs himself. Charlie Koch chipped in with a perfect day at the plate and a run scored.
Cardinals 10 Athletics 3
The Cardinals blew open a close game with five runs in the fifth on the strength of Daniel Tarkoff's two-out, two-run double to right field. Ben Bequette, Connor Schultz and Jack Berrian drove in Redbird runs, and Luke Miles and Max Stryker each pitched shutout innings. The Athletics were led by the big bat of Nick Bamont, who scored two runs, and Jack Lattin, who pitched two solid innings in relief.
Phillies 11 Redsox 1
Jordan Goodfriend and Justic Bocks each rapped out two hits for the Phils, and Ryan Everly's perfect bunt single scored a run for the winners. On defense, second baseman, Jack Wickline, backed up four shutout innings by pitchers Ryan Reilly and Jack Larsen. The Redsox were led at the plate by Cole Brightbill and Sam Hagel, while Roxy Cummings pitched well in relief. The game ended a spirited playoff run by the Redsox, who upset both the Athletics and the Indians.
Phillies 9 Dodgers 2
In a preview of the championship game, the Phillies jumped on the sturdy shoulders of Jack Larsen, who blasted two home runs and drove in five. Joshua Sanders also had two hits for the victors, who broke the game open with a five run fifth. For the Dodgers, Ben Stoddard and Grant Malmquist both went two-for-two with run-scoring doubles. Malmquist also starred in the field with a sparkling snare of a line drive that snuffed out a Philly rally.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA