Even though it was only the first inning, Brian Pennarola's two-run homer at the Fairfield Hills complex on Monday night proved to be the decisive blow as the Orange Crush defeated Jurman-Metrics, 5-1, to capture the National League championship.
Even though it was only the first inning, Brian Pennarolaâs two-run homer at the Fairfield Hills complex on Monday night proved to be the decisive blow as the Orange Crush defeated Jurman-Metrics, 5-1, to capture the National League championship.
With one out, one run already in, and Kevin Jurasik sitting on base Pennarola roped a 2-1 pitch from Bill Spencer over the fence to give the Orange Crush a 3-0 lead and pitchers Ricky Andrews and Mark Dougherty enough of a cushion to hold off Jurman-Metrics for the next five innings.
Andrews and Dougherty combined on a masterful two-hitter while walking four batters and striking out 14.
The game was originally scheduled for Sunday at 3 pm on the second field at Fairfield Hills, but rain through most of the early part of Sunday forced the postponement of the game as officials worked hard to prepare the front field for the American League championship.
The following day, however, the National League championship went off under sunny skies.
In the top of the first, Andrews struck out Alex Dahlmeyer and Chris Elias before inducing Rob Simone to ground out to second base. In the bottom of the frame, the Orange Crush put their three runs on the board to take a 3-0 lead.
In the top of the second, Jurman-Metrics got one run back after Spencer singled, stole second and third, and scored on a single by Carlos Fuentes. Andrews settled down, though, and struck out the next three batters to end the threat.
The Orange Crush widened the lead a little in the bottom of the third. With one out, Dougherty doubled and Jurasek singled him in to give the Crush a 4-1 lead. Jurasek reached third on a stolen base and Pennarola lofted a fly ball to right field to score Jurasek and give the Crush a 5-1 lead.
Sean Garrity later singled in the inning, but there was no more scoring to be done.
With Andrews pitching the fourth inning and Dougherty pitching the fifth and sixth, the pair combined to strike out six of the next nine batters. Jurman-Metricsâ last threat was a one-out walk to Scott Perry in the top of the sixth, but Dougherty induced a grounder back to the mound for the second out and then whiffed the last batter to hand the Orange Crush the championship.
Spencer and Chris Reid both pitched well for Jurman-Metrics, scattering six hits along the way while combining for nine strikeouts.
Members of the Orange Crush also included Greg Kraushar, Anthony Klabonsky, John OâBrien, Zach Kapple, and Bill Manville. Members of Jurman-Metrics also included Ben Krinke, Brendan Hintzen, Tom Selleck, Chris Perry, Eric Jurman and Jeff Bonacorso.
Jurman-Metrics reached the finals with a 6-3 win over Berliner-Gelfani. In that game, Elias and Simone scored four of the six runs as Spencer had a key third-inning double to lead the offense. Chris Perry also doubled. Reid and Spencer combined on a three-hitter. Krinke, Fuentes and Dahlmeyer sparked the defense.
For Berliner-Gelfani, Jim Wilkinson and Daniel Murdoch had hits. Murdoch also pitched well, holding Jurman-Metrics hitless over the last three innings and striking out eight batters in the process. Dave Berliner and Jackson Blawie had fine defensive games.