Recap
Bethlehem, PA — The Avengers came into Championship Sunday as the #5 seed and would have to win 3 games to take home The Chip.
First up was another local Lehigh Valley team so there was also bragging rights up for grabs. The Avengers would would take The Easton Riverdawgs to the wood shed. They mercy ruled them tallying 11 hits in just 5 innings. Tanner Karwacki led the way with 3 hits on the day. Dom Ruggeri got the start on the mound and gave little for Riverdawgs to get excited about. Ruggeri went 5 innings allowing 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 walks, while striking out 5.
Next up was Chester County Revolution which came into the quarter final game as the #2 seed and earning the morning bye. Revolution quieted the Avengers bats only allowing 4 hits total. Avengers would have to switch it up and play some good old fashion small ball. Myles Casey led off the 2nd inning with a walk and put himself into scoring position by stealing 2nd base. After a fly out to center field, Danny Fries came up and knocked a single to left field scoring Casey. Brooks Weatherhold got the start for Avengers and pitched a gem through 6 innings. The only thing that took Brooks out of the game was pitch count. Weatherhold would exit only giving up 2 hits, 0 runs, and striking out 6. The difference in this 2-1 battle was a sacrifice bunt and another key RBI from Fries in the 4th inning. Casey led off with a single when Jake Santiago came up and got the sign to bunt. Jake missed on the first two attempts but in following small ball protocol, Santiago got the sign again with 2 strikes and laid it down perfectly moving Casey into scoring position. Enter Fries to come up big again and Avengers advance.
The Championship saw a rematch with 3Up3Down from Saturday. Avengers got a tuff game from them on Saturday but came out in this one looking to prove a point. Avengers knocked the ball around the yard in the tune of 11 hits and 13 runs. Their amazing defense was on display all weekend with only 3 errors in all five games throughout the weekend. Pitching also played a huge part towards the weekends success and continued here seeing Ruggeri and Fries combine to lock down 3Up3Down with 7 innings, with 5 hits, 3 runs, and 4 strikeouts.
What a great weekend overall watching this group grow up and play the game that was in front of them by executing each pitch and buying into doing their job!