June 17, 2005

ML Playoff Game 10

Moppert    8

Hagen    6

This game was definitely deserving of the title "championship game".  After a tough defeat Wednesday night Hagen bounced back with a big win Thursday to earn a shot at the title.  The game started with a bang when Kevin Melone launched a towering 2 out HR in the top of the 1st inning.  Moppert struck right back with a couple of runs on hits by Brian Bosco, Adam Junkin and Kyle Longacre.  Hagen then tied the game in the 2nd inning on hits by Matt Leonard, Will Currier and Kyle Maylish.  The scored stayed that way until the bottom of the 3rd inning when Moppert struck for 3 runs on a walk, a bunt and hits by Kyle Longacre and Brian Vendetta. That seemingly comfortable lead was quickly erased.  In the forth inning, following a single by Matt Leonard and a walk to Scott Patton, Hunter Tierney hit a dramatic 3 run homer to left tying the game a 5-5.  This see saw battle continued as Moppert plated 1 run in their half of the 4th inning on singles by Conner McCarren and Adam Junkin.  As you may have guessed by now Hagen came right back in the 5th inning and tied the score with a run on a couple of doubles by Kevin Melone and Chris Maharaj.  With the score 6-6 Moppert struck for 2 decisive runs in the bottom of the 5th inning.  The key hit was a leadoff triple by Chris Kambic.  Chris then scored on a bunt single by Omar Rendall.  Moppert then held Hagen to no runs in the 6th inning to win the championship.

While this game may have seemed like a slugfest, it was not.  There was solid pitching with Chris Maharaj and Kevin Melone going 3 each for Hagen and Adam Junkin going the whole way for Moppert.

There were several exceptional defensive plays.  For Hagen Scott Patton made a nice catch in right field.  For Moppert Jack Donoghue made a perfect throw from right field to Kyle Longacre at 3rd base who put the tag on the runner coming 2^nd base to cut short a Hagen rally in the 3rd inning.  Ian McLarney started a spectacular 4-6-3 double play in the 3rd inning and Taylor Longacre made a nice 6-3 putout on a slow grounder up the middle to end the game.