2017 Citadel FCU-West Chester Tops Blarney Stone for Brandywine Valley Title

Brandywine Valley (PA) MSBL 28+

Citadel FCU-West Chester 7, Blarney Stone 6

Submitted by Ron Cogdill, Citadel FCU-West Chester manager

Our team went 10-2 in the regular season and 2-0 in the Playoffs. During the year our offense was paced by shortstop Drew Casey along with Dan Mendoza and Gregg Melott.

Our Pitching was solid also using a four man rotation of Drew Casey, Gregg Melott, Rick Fisher and Colbey Ryan.

In game one of our playoffs starting pitcher Gregg Melott suffered a back injury, forcing him out of that game after just three batters. Rick Fisher pitched four plus inning of great baseball to get it through five. Drew Casey threw the final two innings to secure a spot in the finals.

After a 3-hour break for the other semi-final game we came out flat in the first inning of the finals, where Drew Casey gave up three first inning runs. Casey settled down after that and got us through five innings. Melott came back in to finish the last two innings pitching very well.

The championship was won in the bottom of the seventh when Chris Hannan led off with a walk, Ron Cogdill followed with a successful sacrifice bunt, moving Hannan to second base. After another out, Dan Mendoza singled to left field driving in the championship winning run and the celebration was on!!!