It was a chilly December afternoon at Birmingham High School for this years' Triple-A Division Fall Championship. Both teams in this title matchup come in with league-leading 7-2 records, and the Wolves are riding a 6-game win streak as they shoot for their first AAA title. It's the best of the best in the AAA division going head to head; go lets get right to it!

 

The game was scoreless as the River Cats came to bat in the top of the 4th inning. Garrett Saunders leads things off with a single. Billy McGrath follows with an RBI double. Rob Barrena responded a single; putting 2 on for Nick Margis. He singles home a run. Steve McGrath follows with a walk. Two batters later, Mike Douglas singles home a pair. The Cats get 4 runs in the inning to take the 4-0 lead through 3 1/2 innings of play.

 

The River Cats come to bat in the top of the 5th inning; still up 4-0. Erik Flores draws a 1-out walk; sending up Garrett Saunders who singles. The next batter is Billy Mc Grath who got hits in his last 2 at bats. He continues his hot streak with a 2-run double in the gap. The Cats settle for the pair of runs in the inning and now lead 6-0 through 4 1/2 inning.

 

But the Wolves find some signs of life in the bottom of the 5th. Blake Brunsmann draws a 2-out walk and he's followed by Sean Gates who singles him home. The Wolves settle for one run in the inning to trail 6-1 after 5 complete innings of play.

 

The score would remain 6-1 River Cats as the Wolves come up to bat in the bottom of the 8th inning. Sean Gates gets a leadoff single for the Wolves; followed by Matt Graham who also singles. Claude Dodson singles to load the bases for Brett Draimin. He singles to score a pair. The Wolves get two runs in the inning to pull within 3 of the Cats; down 6-3 after 8 innings of play.

 

However, both teams would go down in order in the 9th and final inning; giving the River Cats their first Triple-A Division championship. Congratulations to both teams for fighting neck and neck throughout the season to get to this championship Sunday. And caps off to the River Cats for holding it together in the contest to claim their first fall title!

 

River Cats   0   0   0   4   2   0   0   0   0    6   10   0

     Wolves   0   0   0   0   1   0   0   2   0    3    9    1

(WP) Mick Margis (Cats) 9 IP; Allowed 3 runs on 9 hits; with 6 BB's and 15 K's

(LP) Sean Gates (Wolves) 8 IP; Allowed 6 runs on 9 hits; with 4 BB's & 3 K's

 

Mick Margis (Cats) Complete game; Allowed only 3 runs while striking out 15! 

 

Billy McGrath 4 for 4; 2 singles, 2 doubles, 3 RBI's, 1 run