2024 LMBL Season Finals - You can't script this stuff!, News (London Mens Baseball League (over 30 league))

The first game of the day was the B Consolation final between the newly minted Dodgers (formerly the Red Sox) and last years B Consolation finalists – the Mets.  It was a back-and-forth affair from start to finish.  The Dodgers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after 2.5 innings, but the Mets didn’t despair.  They clawed back, putting up 3 of their own in the bottom on the 3^rd to knot it up.  In the bottom of the 4^th, the Mets pulled ahead after back-to-back doubles by league veterans Flaherty and Nuttall, scoring two runs.  But again, the Dodgers tied it up in the top of the 5^th with the help of a triple by Josh Loranger.  As you would expect in this game, another well timed double in the bottom of the inning - this time by Dave Thompson - gave the Mets the lead once again heading into the final frame.  The Dodgers weren’t about to go quietly – as Sean Sharp stroked a single with two outs in the inning to score Metron from second base and knot the game at 6 heading into the bottom of the 7^th.  Thoughts of back-to-back B Consolation Final losses had the Mets wondering if the beer would be the only thing colder than another playoff loss on this day.  But the boys dug deep, and after three singles to load the bases in the bottom of the frame, Jeff Green hit a shallow fly ball off veteran John Lierman that found the gap in right centre field – just beyond the diving reach of Sean Sharp – who ALMOST managed make an amazing catch.  But it wasn’t to be….  The Mets were able to shake off the demons and win the B Consolation Final in walk-off fashion to collect those new spiffy LMBL tshirts!  What a great start to the day!

The second game of the day was the B Final, with two teams facing off who were not expected to be there – the Cubs and the Orioles.  This too, was a back-and-forth game – with the Orioles holding a 5-2 lead after 4 innings. But three walks in the bottom of the 5^th lead to a two-run single by Tyler Childs that pulled the Cubs to within one, and then a fake steal of second lead to an errant throw by the Orioles catcher Maessen – allowing Sinclair to score the game tying run from third base – knotting the affair at 5 after 5 complete. After holding the Orioles off the board in the top of the 6^th, Joe Watson managed a well-timed 2-out single in the bottom of the frame to score Girden with the go-ahead marker in the 6^th – and the Cubs headed into the top of the 7^th with a 6-5 advantage.  There was no Cinderella story on this day for the Orioles – as the clock struck midnight and everything turned pumpkin orange.  Three infield popouts in the bottom of the final frame ended the day for the Orioles – and the Cubs walked away as B Division Champions for the first time since 2016. Congratulations!

And just when you think it couldn’t get ANY better – clear the diamond for the A Championship Final! 

It was another surprising final matchup – as the top 4 seeds had already been eliminated – leaving the 5^th place Jays to face off against the 6^th place Rays.  This game had the Rays, who lost last years A final in an epic 1-0 game, matching up against a rebuilt Blue Jays team who had one thing on their mind – an A Championship!  It was a tight affair from the first pitch – with the Jays breaking the stalemate in the bottom of the 4^th when Mercier cashed Ficht with a two-out single to left field.  It stayed that way heading to the 7^th.  The Jays went into the final frame clinging to a one-run lead.  In the 7^th, the Jays closer, Torey Egan walked the first batter of the inning – and it came back to haunt them. Chris Pollock hit a ball to second base that was bobbled and allowed Eric Hammer to score the game tying run from second base.  After another walk and hit batter, up to the plate stepped Anibal Zelaya – a former Blue Jay who left the squad after last season when his contract wasn’t renewed – and perhaps the Jays should have paid his option to extend that contract!  Zelaya promptly slapped a single down the right field line that scored two runs in the top of seven off his former manager – giving the Rays a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the 7^th!  You can’t make this shit up!  But as was the story on this day,  the Jays weren’t about to go quietly.  After a double and a hit by pitch, Jason Cheese stepped to the plate with two out and the game on the line – and he didn’t disappoint anyone but my wife (you aren’t the only one, my friend! But in this case she just wanted to go home…..).  Cheese lined a two-run single to centre – tying the game at 3 after 7 complete!  And it kept going from there.  After no runs in the 8^th, both teams managed to score two apiece in the 9^th  - even though the Jays had the bases loaded and nobody out!  Some crafty pitching by Ron LeClair stranded all three runners and kept the dream alive for the Rays to capture another A Championship Title – continuing the game deep into the night!  After no scoring in the 10^th, we headed to the 11^th in a game eerily familiar to the Rays – when only 12 months ago they lost the A final in 11 innings.  But this year was going to be different.  The Rays kept their nose to the grindstone and managed to put up 5 runs with two out in the top of the frame with some timely hitting. LeClair came in for his 3^rd and final inning on the mound – and managed to preserve the W for the Rays – closing out the bottom of the 11^th – giving up zero runs for a 10-5 final.  It capped off another amazing final day of competition on Playoff Sunday!

It was a spectacular, albeit LONG, day at the ball park – but the drama made it all worthwhile!  We can’t wait to see what is in store for 2025!

Thanks to all players, fans, and family for their support this year.  This league just keeps getting better!

See you all at the banquet……come buy your Executive a beer for helping put on a show like this!  ;-)