2019 PCBL AA-Division Fall Championship
November 17, 2019 @ El Cariso Park
Smokies (8-1) -vs- Crooks (9-0)
The final game of the 2019 season pitted 2 rivals against each other - the 2-seeded Smokies against the top-seeded Crooks. With some of the best arms in the league, this one would surely be a pitcher's duel. Right?
AA Cy Young winner Jack Hartman took the hill for the Crooks and worked a scoreless first. Lefty Matt Parent took the hill for the Smokies, but immediately was met with trouble. AA MVP Nick Tatone led off with a single, and after Chris Silberman walked and Jackson Moseley singled to load the bags, Josh White tripled them all home. Zeke Guzman grounded out to bring home White, and just like that, the Crooks led 4-0.
The Smokies got on the board in the top of the 2nd. With one out, Lucas Adams reached on an error, and moved to third when Ian Parent reached on another error. Joey Gerber hit a sac fly to score Adams, and the Smokies trailed 4-1.
After a quiet bottom of the 2nd, the Smokies were at it again in the 3rd. With 2 outs, Gib Salazar and Zach Sloane reached on back-to-back singles, and Summer 2019 AAA MVP Stephan Ohayon doubled home the pair, cutting the lead to 4-3.
But the Crooks offense was quick to answer. In the bottom of the 3rd, Chris Silberman reached on an error, and after Jackson Moseley walked, scored on a Josh White single, making it a 5-3 game.
In the bottom of the 4th, Adam Jelloian walked and moved into scoring position when Nate Pavell was hit by a pitch. Jelloian would eventually score, extending the lead to 6-3.
The Smokies responded in the top of the 5th. Mike Zumwalt singled, and after a Gib Salazar single, scored on the back-half of a Zach Sloane fielder's choice/error, cutting the score to 6-4.
In the bottom of the 5th, the Crooks' Brandon Hays singled, and a few batters later, scored on a Jackson Moseley rbi-single, extending the lead to 7-4.
The see-saw battle continued into the 6th. With 2 outs in the top of the frame, the Smokies' Ian Parent, Joey Gerber and Mike Schofield hit back-to-back-to-back singles, cutting the lead to 7-5.
Both teams knew that one big momentum swing could turn this game, and it was about to happen for the Crooks. Leading off the bottom of the 6th, Zeke Guzman singled, and Ryan Leddy walked. With one out, Adam Jelloian walked to load the bases. Ian Parent was still going strong though, and struck out the next batter. With 2 outs, an error by the catcher on an Adrian Ramos tapper cost the Smokies 2 runs. Jack Hartman (known more for his arm more than his bat) singled home another, and back-to-back walks by Brandon Hays and Jacob White spelled the end of the line for Parent. Gib Salazar relieved and got the final out, but not before another runs scored, giving the Crooks a 11-5 lead after 6.
Hartman worked a quiet 7th, and after everyone stretched and sang along to "Take Me Out To The Ballgame", the Crooks bats were back at it. With Lucas Adams now on the hill, trying to keep the Smokies in the game, Jackson Moseley reached on a one-out error. Josh White walked, and Zeke Guzman singled home 1. Ryan Leddy and Matt Cratch each had rbi-singles, and Adam Jelloian walked. Now with 2 outs, Adrian Ramos came through with the final dagger - a 2-run single to extend the lead to 16-5.
The Crooks went to closer Brandon Hays, who shut down the Smokies over the final 2 frames, cementing the victory and sending the Crooks into celebration mode.
Congratulations to the Smokies, who had a solid season. But this game, and this season, belonged to the Crooks - your undefeated Fall 2019 AA Champions!
Congratulations to the Fall 2019 AA-Division Champion Crooks!
Smokies 0 1 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 5 13 4
Crooks 4 0 1 1 1 4 5 0 x 16 14 3
Pitching Stats:
WP Jack Hartman (Crooks) 7IP, 5R (2ER), 11H, 6K (Championship Game MVP)
LP Ian Parent (Smokies) 5.2IP, 11R (6ER), 9H, 5K, 8BB, HBP
Brandon Hayes (Crooks) 2IP, 0R, H, K, BB
Gib Salazar (Smokies) .1 IP, 0R
Lucas Adams (Smokies) 2IP, 5R (2ER), 4H, K, 4BB
Batting Stats:
Crooks
Josh White - 2-3, 3B, 2R, 4RBI, BB
Jackson Moseley - 2-3, 2R, RBI, BB
Zeke Guzman - 2-4, 2R, RBI
Jack Hartman - 2-4, RBI (Championship Game MVP)
Smokies
Gib Salazar - 3-4, R
Joey Gerber - 4-4, RBI, SACF
Ian Parent - 2-3, R, BB