Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
RINSE, REPEAT
Chris Gosik of Ryan’s Pub, gets congratulated by Bryan Mulhern after scoring during the Irish’s 7-2 victory over Timothy’s Crawdads in Game 3 of the West Chester Adult Baseball League championship series.
When Kevin McKernan became the Ryan’s Pub manager, he wanted to take the team to the level of success the Crawdads have had over the years. Wednesday night, he
took them one step closer to that level.
In the decisive Game 3 of the West Chester Adult Baseball League championship series, Ryan’s Pub defeated Timothy’s Crawdads, 7-2, at Hoopes Park to win the team’s fourth playoff
championship in just six years in the league.
While this was the first year in the team’s history that they didn’t win the regular season title, they proved they’re still consistently a top team in the league. It was their first back-to-back championships. “I’ve always wanted to do what the Crawdads did,” McKernan said. “They set the bar high, they set the example for me to follow, so I have to give them as much credit as I possibly can.”
Ryan’s shortstop Jimmy Brennan and catcher Bryan Mulhern were named co-offensive playoff Most Valuable Players. Scott Gorgen, who had the win in Game 1 of both playoff series, was named Most Valuable Pitcher of the playoffs. Ryan’s Pub starting pitcher Tom Gallagher throws during Wednesday Game 3. Ryan’s Pub rallies late for second straight WCABL title
“It’s an honor, but we have a great team,” Mulhern said. “Our lineup is unbelievable top to bottom, and Jimmy Brennan has been unbelievable setting the table for us. I really don’t think you could pick a true MVP of this series or playoffs because everyone contributed.”
Mulhern finished the playoffs 7-for-17 with five RBIs in five games. Brennan, who finished 8-for20 with three RBIs in five games in the postseason, said it was all about being relaxed.
“It was fun, I was just trying to enjoy myself, have a good time with the guys and get that win,” Brennan
said.
Gorgen finished the playoffs 2-0 with 16 strikeouts in 12 innings. McKernan said that his ability to win Game 1 twice really set the tone for each series.
In Wednesday’s game, the Crawdads hung around until the top of the sixth inning when the Irish began to pull away. With the game tied 2-2, Ryan’s Pub put together a big four-run rally to put them up 6-2. Second baseman Mark Rhine had an RBI triple and Brennan and Mulhern had back-to-back RBI doubles to give the Irish a commanding lead.
From then on, the Crawdads couldn’t get much going offensively. Right fielder Nick Miller led off the bottom of the sixth with a single past first baseman
Brett Hash, but Ryan’s Pub pitcher
Chris Ott recorded three straight outs and eventually finished the game with two key scoreless innings.
“There’s no sabermetrics involved here, it was clear that they were the better team and they played better,” Crawdads manager Bob Warren said. “There was not one situation where we either tied or went ahead where they did not answer in the next half of the inning.”
Despite the loss, pitcher/ first baseman Mike McCardell had a strong game. On the mound, he struck out the first five batters of the game and had a key RBI double to center in the bottom of
the fifth that tied the game at two.
Mulhern said that coming in second in the league
during the regular season was what motivated them to come out firing in the playoffs.
“We made it our goal to not only win, but dominate in the playoffs, and we did that,” he said. Ryan’s Pub team members pose with the trophy after sweeping Timothy’s Crawdads to win the West Chester Adult Baseball League title Sunday.