June 18, 2011
ML Playoff Game 10 - Championship Game

Baker Printing     5
Moppert Brothers     3
 

The MLL 60th Anniversary Major League season came to a dramatic end on Saturday, June 18th. Baker Printing and Moppert Brothers had battled for 1st place all season long while separating themselves from the rest of the league. It was no surprise that the two teams squared off in the championship game on Saturday. It was the 6th game between the two rivals this year with 3 of the last 4 games decided by 1 run in the final inning. This final one would prove to be no different.

Michael Chang led the game off for Moppert with undefeated pitcher Kyle Virbitsky on the mound looking for his 9th win of the season. Chang had been the toughest player to get out for Kyle all season and proved it once again by rocketing the 5th pitch of the game over the center field fence! Kyle Virbitsky responded with a lead-off double but ended up getting doubled up at 2nd base after a great catch and throw from 1B Sam Freedman on a hard hit line drive by Alex Burman. In the third, Freedman worked a 6 pitch walk. Shea Morgan then singled to secure his second hit of the game and advanced Sam to third and himself to second on an overthrow. After a strikeout, Aaron Brown drills one right up the middle to score two and put Moppert up 3 – 0. In the bottom half of the inning, Baker tries to answer but is put to rest in four batters when Moppert ace Ryan Colella pitches another scoreless inning.

In the bottom of the 5th, Baker finally got something going against Colella. Vincent Pace drew a walk and reached 2nd on a passed ball. Alex Burman singled to left field to put Baker on the board. Baker would score no more runs but would run Colella out of pitches thanks to a 7 pitch at bat by JT Osher.

The game moved to the 6th inning with Moppert clinging to a 3-1 lead. JT Osher on in relief of Virbitsky, worked his way out of a based loaded jam to keep the score at 3-1. In the bottom of the 6th inning, 11 year old phenom Caleb Mahalik led off the inning by driving the 4th pitch approx. 240 ft to right center field to make the score 3-2. One out later, Casey Calloway picked up his 2nd single of the day and was followed by a walk to Chase Davis. With 2 outs and the game on the line, Kyle Virbitsky stepped up to the plate. On the 4th pitch, Kyle blasted a moon shot to the scoreboard in center field for a 3 run walk off home run! What a dramatic way to finish another great season of MLL major league baseball. Baker Printing finished the season with an impressive 15-4 record on its way to back to back championships. Moppert battled the whole way and had a great season as well.

 

Pitch Counts
Baker:
 Virbitsky 87, 6k's, 1BB
 Osher - 29, 0 runs

Moppert:
 Colella 85, 7k's, 1BB, 1 run
 Morgan 23, 2k's

Umpires: Fanelli, Mehalick, Kotcamp