2024 Championship Tournament

Rockies take advantage of miscues, win fourth title

The Rockies took advantage of a couple of errors and three misplayed balls in the outfield to score seven of their 10 runs to beat the Mets, 10-4, Sunday at Kafer Park and win their four consecutive ECABL 18+ championship.

HIGHLIGHTS

Key to the win: After the Mets took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third, the Rockies scored four in the bottom of the inning on a couple of singles, a misplayed fly ball, an error and a sacrifice fly.

Winning pitcher: Sean Garbarino

Losing pitcher: Alex Calabrese

Game MVPs: Sean Garbarino pitched a complete game, giving up five hits and three earned runs. He walked five and struck out eight. He also went 1-for-2 with three RBIs and a run scored. Bill Alden Manning went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Bill Little went 1-for-3 with two RBIs ad a run scored, hitting a two run homer in the fifth inning.   

Noble Effort: Connor Kasten went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. He and Alex Calabrese hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the third inning. Walker Hill went 2-for-2.

Miscellaneous Notes: The Rockies have now won the championship the past four years, starting in 2021.

Dixon leads Mets to win over Brewers; Mets advance to championship game

Malik Dixon's solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning gave the Mets the lead, and his game-saving catch in the top of the seventh sealed the win as the Mets advanced to the championship game with a 3-2 win over the Brewers Sunday at Kafer Park.

HIGHLIGHTS

Key to the win: Down 3-2 in the top of the seventh, William Flynn led off the inning with a double. Mets start Alex Calabrese got the next two batters before giving up a single to Teddy Cardenas, moving Flynn to third. Andrew D'Elia lined a pitch to shortstop, but Malik Dixon robbed him of a hit, stabbing the ball, fully extended, to end the game.

Winning pitcher: Alex Calabrese

Losing pitcher: William Flynn

Game MVPs: Malik Dixon went 1-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and an RBI. Connor Kasten went 2-for-3 with a triple and a run scored. Gabe Bohmuller went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Alex Calabrese pitched seven innings, gave up seven hits and two unearned runs. He walked three and strike out five.   

Noble Effort: William Flynn went 1-for-2. He also pitched six innings, gave up five hits and two earned runs. He walked one and struck out eight. Andrew Johnson went 2-for-3. Jayson Melendez went 1-for-2. Shane Hardison, Teddy Cardenas and Andrew D'Elia went 1-for-3.

Miscellaneous Notes: The Mets advance to play the Rockies in the championship game at 4 p.m. on Sept 8.

Brewers advance to second round of tournament behind Flynn's pitching

William Flynn threw five shutout innings and struck out 10, and Andrew D'Elia drove in three runs as the Brewers beat the Marlins, 8-1, Sunday at Kafer Park to advance to the second round of the 18+ championship tournament.

HIGHLIGHTS

Key to the win: Andrew D'Elia's RBI-single in the third inning gave the Brewers a 4-0 lead, and his two-run single in the fifth inning put the Brewers up 7-0.

Winning pitcher: William Flynn

Losing pitcher: Geoff McLawhorn

Game MVPs: William Flynn threw five shutout innings, giving up one hit and two walks. He struck out 10. Andrew D'Elia went 2-for-2 with three RBIs. Jayson Melendez went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Duane Johnson went 1-for-2 with a run scored.   

Noble Effort: Zach Julian went 1-for-2. Charles Macko, Nolan Shardlow, Mike Valentin and Geoff McLawhorn each went 1-for-3.  

Miscellaneous Notes: Geoff McLawnhorn pitched 2 21/3 innings and gave up no runs, but 10 walks led to four runs.

Next Up: The Brewers will face the Rockies at 4 p.m. Sunday in the second round of the tournament.

Braves advance in tournament with 5-2 win over Red Sox

Shawn Ryan's sacrifice bunt scored Pablo Hernandez from third and gave the Braves a 3-2, fifth-inning lead en route to a 5-2 win over the Red Sox Sunday at Kafer Park.

HIGHLIGHTS

Key to the win: Zane Smith held the Red Sox to three hits and two runs over seven innings to pick up the win.

Winning pitcher: Zane Smith

Losing pitcher: Josh Edwards

Game MVPs: Zane Smith pitched seven innings, giving up three hits, two earned runs and two walks. He struck out nine. Smith also went 2-for-3. Shawn Ryan went 2-for-2 with an RBI. Nathan Johnson went 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Michael Mauch went 1-for-1 with a run scored. Christian Hodge went 1-for-2 wit a run scored.   

Noble Effort: Kade Ciraulo, Jonathan Marsh and Walker Knight each went 1-for-3.  

Next Up: The Braves will play the Rockies at 4 p.m. Sunday in the second round of the championship tournament.