2014 White Sox Edge A’s in Seacoast (NH) Finals

Seacoast (NH) MSBL

White Sox 4, A’s 1

Submitted by Corey Pouliot, Seacoast White Sox

“The 2014 Seacoast MSBL White Sox enjoyed a magical road along the way to winning their first league championship,finishing the season 14-4-1. The Sox were able to go wire to wire, culminating in an exciting two games to one World Series win over their arch rival A’s, a rematch of the season before when the A’s won the championship two games to none.

2014 Seacoast MSBL Hall of Fame nominee Ron Mitchell, in his 19th and final MSBL season, put together a swan song for the ages, including a masterpiece pitching performance in the series clinching 4-1 win, his fifth straight complete game. Mitchell finished the season 9-1, completing 9 of his 10 starts, and walking eight total batters in 91 2/3 innings pitched. His only loss was a 1-0 defeat to bulldog Pete Jordan and the A’s on August 10th, when the A’s got an unearned run in the top of the first for their only score.

In Game one, the A’s jumped out to a 7-2 lead after five innings, with the Sox defense uncharacteristically making four errors in those first five innings. The defense settled down after that and the Sox were able to battle back to within a couple of scores, 9-7, leaving the tying run on in the bottom of the ninth. In Game two, the Sox offense exploded for 15 runs for a 15-8 win, led by Phil Mackey (3-3, 3 RBI), Jay Dyer (2-4, 2 RBI) and TJ Hernandez (2-3, 3 R, RBI) to tie the series at one game apiece. In the deciding Game three winner take all, the Sox jumped out early, played stellar defense and held on for a 4-1 win, with Aric Graham (3-3, 3RBI) and Ron Mitchell (9 IP, 1 ER, 8 K’s, 1 BB) leading the way for a 2-1 series win for the White Sox.

The Sox offense was relentless all season, led by Aric Graham’s team leading 15 RBI, .500 BA (26-52), .577 SLG and 1.162 OPS, lead off hitter Devon Ramsey (.482 BA, .483 OP 18 R, 8 SB and zero strike outs in 60 plate appearances), Mitchell (.425 BA, team leading 31 hits and 15 SB, 17 R), Corey Pouliot (.429, .493 OB, 1.049 OPS, 13 RBI, 21 R, team leading 35 Total Bases), Tony Hernandez (.431 BA, team leading 22 R, 10 SB, 14 RBI, .535 OB),Rich Tate, despite missing 6 games with a hand injury, hit .400 with 14 RBI’s,TJ Hernandez (.373, 16 R, 10 RBI) and Mike Howarth (.356, .419 OP),the Sox led the league in runs scored for the second straight season (160), as well as allowing the fewest (86).”