Dodgers win Minor League
- Published: August 3, 2017
The Peach’s Dodgers captured the 2017 Minor League Post-Season Tournament Championship with a 15–11 victory over the Sam and Eddie’s Open Books Orioles in the season’s final game on Sunday, July 30. It was a back-and-forth affair as the two teams that finished the regular season in second and third played each other well in the post-season title game.
The Orioles grabbed the early lead in the first when Lucas Price’s base hit scored Kellen Scott and Frank Machi. The Dodgers wasted no time in responding with six runs in their half of the first, starting with Xavier Pauling’s RBI single to score Kian Rainey, followed by an RBI base-hit from Braylon Williamson to score Hudson Pauling. Joslyn Herring then smashed the first of her two home runs on the day, which also scored Xavier Pauling and Williamson. Otto Cipollini’s RBI double then plated Quinn Creighton to top off the big inning.
But the Orioles didn’t seem too bothered, adding a pair of runs in the top of both the second and third innings while holding the Dodgers scoreless in the bottom of the second. The Orioles’ Caroline Tucker got things going in the bottom of the second when her RBI single scored Kian Barker and she then scored on a Hope Danis sacrifice ground-out. The top of the third saw a lead-off home run by Kellen Scott followed later in the inning with some smart base running by Frank Machi, who tagged up and scored to tie the game at six after Orion Sage-Frabotta popped out.
The Dodgers roared back with another six-run inning in the bottom of the third. Quinn Creighton’s RBI single scored Xavier Pauling. Otto Cipollini then grounded into a fielder’s choice that sent Braylon Williamson across the plate followed by Ethan Hammonds’ RBI double to score Joslyn Herring. Kian Rainey and Hudson Pauling then added two-out singles to score Cipollini and Hammonds while Xavier Pauling’s RBI double sent Rainey across the plate to finish off the inning and put the Dodger’s up 12–6.
The Dodger defense managed to hold the Orioles scoreless in the top of the fourth then added three more insurance runs in the bottom of the inning. Two of those resulted from the second home run of the game by Joslyn Herring when she hit a hard line drive to left-center that also scored Braylon Williamson after his lead-off single. Quinn Creighton lined out to Orioles outfielder Neirin Barker, who made a made a great catch. Otto Cipollini then singled and later scored on an Ethan Hammonds RBI ground out to increase the Dodgers lead to 15–6.
The Orioles rallied in their final at bat with a triple from Kellen Scott, who then scored on a Frank Machi RBI double. A Lucas Price ground ball to right sent Machi on to third and he scored on Cal Freeman’s RBI double. Price and Freeman then scored on a two-RBI double by Sameer Sajabi who then crossed the plate on an Orion Sage-Frabotta sacrifice ground-out to bring the Orioles within four. But that was all they could manage as the Dodgers held on for the victory.
The Peach’s Dodgers ended the day with 20 hits, led by Joslyn Herring’s three-for-three day at the plate, including a pair of home runs that resulted in five RBIs. Meanwhile the Sam and Eddie’s Open Books Orioles finished with 18 hits, led by Lucas Price and Sameer Sajabi who each also went three-for-three on the day with a pair of RBIs, while both Kellen Scott and Frank Machi also went three-for-three with one RBI each.
Thanks to all players, parents, coaches, sponsors, umpires and other volunteers for another exciting season. Have a great school year and we hope to see you all on the ball field next year!
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