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ECSA finishes league play on high note

ECSA finishes league play on high note
by Nick Bowen - Photos by Eric Gregory Exciting play decided league divisional champions across the ECSA on the final day of league play this past Sunday. Great fan turn out made the play even more exciting. The sun came out and it was a great day to settle the division titles for three of the four open divisions! The A team Wolfpack, played scrappy games against both the Shock, and the RFR Firemen, coming out on top both times, with a final score of 10-6 against the Shock, and 13-9 vs. the RFR Firemen, finishing league play with a 9&1 overall record. In the B division the RFR Firemen with their early season win against the Wolfpack held on to finish the season at 11&6 with a one game lead over the Shock at 10&7, and qualify for the World Series in August with all the other division winners from the ECSA. Wade T. of the Shock had a particularly great day to end the season with a 6 for 7 day at the plate and a spectacular double play started with a great outfield catch, and finishing by doubling the runner off first base. The B division, like all the open divisions, played close all year, and winning the division came down to the final day of play. Great job RFR Firemen, congratulations and have fun in the World Series! In the C division the grudge match to decide the division was between the Sting and the Brewers. In a close battle, the Brewers came out on top lead by great pitching from Keo, and the big bat of Antony L. who batted 1.000 against the Sting to lift the offense and the Brewers to a 14-12 win. The Sting played hard and were lead by Mat L. who had two home runs on the day and drove in eight runs to lead the team to two wins out of three. The Brewers at 13&3 overall though, capture the C division for the second consecutive year in a very competitive and fun division! Great job Brewers! In the D division, the Rockets came into play with a one game lead over the Maulers, and the game started with tensions high. Defense was tough early with no score after one inning, but the Maulers broke through with a single run in the bottom of the second to take the early lead. The Rockets came storming backing the top of the third scoring eight runs and the taking momentum back. With a comfortable 9 run lead going into the bottom of the fifth, the Rockets seemed sure to run out the clock and the season, but the Maulers had other plans. With the wind kicking up, pitching became ever more difficult, and a few timely hits and a few walks later the Maulers had pulled within five runs, as Scotty came to bat. The Maulers and most of the fans were surprised when with the bases loaded the Rockets decided to walk Scotty and bring the Maulers within four. After a pitching change, and a couple of hits, the score was tied, and John B. Grandpa came up to bat with the game on the line. He stood in and with his experience watched some close pitches sail in, but garnered the walk to win the game with a Walk-Off-Walk that gave the Maulers the win and the D division league crown for the second straight year. The first time thats ever been done in the D division here in Seattle! Congratulations Maulers! With League play finished for the season, the ECSA has one more play day yet to come. With two At-Large bids to the World Series still in the balance, the league will have a tournament style playoff June 17 and 18 to decide who goes and who stays home. With four C teams and five D teams still in the hunt for the final two spots the action should be exciting. So come out and see the final day of play, or just join us for the After Play Party hosted this Saturday the 17th by the Cuff!