2014 Braves Win Nail Biter in West Metro Atlanta 45+ Division
West Metro Atlanta MSBL 45+ Midweek Division
Braves 12, Seawolves 11
Contributed by Dale Malik, Braves managerThe 2014 Braves returned to the championship game for the third time in the last four years and finished the season in what was to be the most intense and competitive game since their entry into the league.
Starting pitcher Rick Kosek kept the Braves ahead into the seventh inning with the score 5-3 and the home team ready to tack on more in their at bat. The Seawolves battled back and pulled ahead 6-5 that inning only to see the Braves push three more runs across the plate by the bottom of the eighth and go up 8-6 going into the ninth. In the top of the ninth with two on, two out and 0-2 on the batter, the Seawolves scored five runs aided by a hit batsman and some carefully placed hits. Now down 11-8, and three and a half hours of intense baseball behind them, the Braves mounted an attack of their own. Rick Kosek came in to pinch hit and started the rally with a walk, which
was followed by a couple of hits and now the Braves were down by two, with two men on and nobody out. A hit batsman loaded the bases for clean-up hitter Tate Pugh who hit a sacrifice fly to score one run, and then an errant throw to get the runner moving to third allowed the tying run to score. Two more batters reached base via a walk and a hit to load the bases with Sandy Leff coming up to bat. Sandy took the second pitch and drilled a line drive into the left center field darkness to end the game and secure an exciting comeback win.