Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Victory wins first CABL crown
Team erases three-run deficit to stun Masons after trailing series 3-0
CALN » Large deficits had failed to stop Victory Brewing so far in the Coatesville Adult Baseball League playoffs, so being down three to Ramcon Masons must have given them a feeling of “We got ’em right where we want ’em.”
Sure enough, Victory scored five runs in the top of the fifth inning Wednesday night, then held on to edge the Masons, 6-5, in the fifth and deciding game of the CABL championship series.
Victory notched its third straight one-run win to cap an amazing turnaround. Under different sponsorship, the team lost all 26 games, but now now they are the kings of the Coatesville league, after a few nights ago sitting three outs from elimination in Game 3 against the regular season champions.
“That’s how we’ve been pretty much all playoffs,” said winning pitcher Brian Pennock. “We’ve been down, but we’ve come back for the victory.”
Victory was down 3-1 when
it erupted in fifth, batting around to score five times.
Matt Engesser got things started by working a walk. Greg Bender followed with a base hit to left field. Chase Roman then followed with a dribbler down the thirdbase line. He beat Luckner’s throw, and when the ball got by first baseman Kevin Ralph, two runs scored to tie the score at 3-3.
Adam Kraemer delivered a single to drive in Roman with the go-ahead run.
“We just always believed,” said Kraemer. “I’ve played with most of the guys since high school. We have faith in one another and we just know no matter what the odds are we can come back and take that victory for Victory.
“I was just looking for what I’ve been looking for all playoffs. I’ve been hitting the hard, just right at someone, so it was great to hit the ball and it get through. They’ve been throwing me middle in trying to get me to pull the ball. I tried to stay focused and hit the ball.”
Victory added on when Rob Coyne stroked a single to left. Jorge Rodriguez provided the fifth hit of the inning, singling to left center to complete the scoring and give Pennock a 6-3 advantage.
“It’s pefect for us to win that way since it’s what we’ve been doing all season,” said Pennock.
Given the tenor of last couple of games, nobody would count the Masons out. Sure enough, they plated a pair of runs in their half of the fifth. Jake Rosenberg doubled to deep left field to being home Rich Letts. JT Thompson then drove in his second run of the game with a base hit.
Their last shot to defend their championship came in the seventh as Letts led off with a solid single. Ben Wolfe hit a deep drive that went off the glove of centerfielder Roman, but the relay got Wolfe at second for the first out of the inning and put Letts on third. Rosenberg hit a shallow fly to center that forced Letts to hold up at third. Thompson then flew out to Tre Herman in left to end the game and begin the celebrations.
“You have to give them a lot of credit,” said Masons manager Mike Ramsden. “Being down, 2-0, we’re up four runs in the seventh inning in Game 3 and couldn’t put them away. They deserve it. Both teams played awesome, but they never gave up.”
Masons started quick against Pennock, getting RBIs from George, Wolfe and Thompson.
But, the evening belonged to Victory, proving that persaverance can pay off in the ultimate prize.
“It’s massive,” said “To where we were when we were the Mariners, its huge going from playing with people who could barely play baseball to winning the championship. Feels wonderful.”