2016 Outlaws Blister Giants to Win 21+ Division Crown in Red River (LA)

Red River (LA) Adult Baseball League, 21+ Division

Elysian Outlaws 11, Twin City Giants 1

‘Outlaws Franchise Nabs Sixth Series Trophy’

Contributed by David Pratt, President, Red River Adult Baseball League

The Elysian Outlaws began the season with two losses and a tie but then reeled off wins in 11 of their remaining 12 games, including 10 in a row, to secure their sixth 21+ RRABL Series title in franchise history. The Outlaws outlasted the Keithville Kingsmen, 3-1, in the semifinal before erupting on offense for an 11-1 victory in the final over the Twin City Giants, the regular season champs. The Giants knocked off the Barksdale Bombers 12-0 to arrive at the title game. The Bombers had defeated the Red River A’s, 5-0, in the quarterfinal.

In the final, the Outlaws jumped out to a 6-0 lead, scoring all six runs in the third inning on six singles and a walk. David Pratt drove in the first run of the game with a base hit to center field that scored JayDon Day. Justin Jenkins and Timmy Chorr each drove in two runs with singles in the rally. Elysian tacked on single runs in the fifth, eighth, and ninth innings sandwiched around two runs in the seventh inning to seal the victory. Pitcher Sean Struwe hurled a gem, going all nine innings for the complete game. He allowed one unearned run on three hits, a walk, and five strikeouts. Struwe retired 16 straight to end the game.

Pitching was the story for the Outlaws, who rode three hurlers to the championship. Struwe, JayDon Day and Brandon Goswick together amassed a 9-1 mark with a stingy 0.41 ERA over the course of the season. Named League MVP for the second year in a row, Struwe, a southpaw, did not allow a single earned run in 44 innings of work. Opposing teams managed only three unearned runs on 21 hits and 10 walks. Struwe struck out 44 hitters while going 6-0 in seven starts with three complete games. He finished with a 0.00 ERA and a whip of 0.70. Goswick, a reliever, also did not allow an earned run in 2016, sporting a 0.00 ERA over 12.2 innings pitched to go with 10 strikeouts, six hits and a single walk. He surrendered only two unearned runs and notched a whip of 0.55. A right-handed starter, Day tossed 30 innings on the season, going 2-0 with a save and two complete games, with 29 strikeouts. He gave up only four earned runs and finished with an ERA of 1.20 and a whip of 0.77. The trio logged all but nine of the Outlaws innings pitched in 2016.