2017 Dominion Bulls Repeat in 32+ ‘A’ Division of DCMSBL
DCMSBL, 32+ ‘A’ Division
Dominion Bulls 12, LBC Dukes 2
‘Bulls Repeat Behind Total Team Effort
Submitted by ‘Zark’ Markowicz, Bulls manager
The Dominion Bulls captured their second consecutive Championship Title in the DCMSBL 32+ ‘A’ Bracket by sweeping the LBC Dukes in the Championship Series. This is the Bulls third Title in just four years, as they also won the ‘B’ Bracket Championship in their first year in the League back in 2014.
The Semi-Finals was a pitching duel between the teams’ two aces, the Bulls’ John Boker and the Loudoun Nationals’ Kris Turberville. Team contributions came from some unlikely heroes before the big ‘Bull’, Mike Pochatek, a former Division I hockey player, ‘slapped’ one over the fence to give the Bulls the lead and eventual winning run, late in the game.
Despite sweeping the LBC Dukes in two games in the Championship Series, it was definitely no easy task, as their pitching was the best the Bulls had seen all season. Damon Wellington may have saved the game for the Bulls by gunning down a runner from his left field spot to home plate in the late innings. Former Reds pitching prospect Brad Morenko was then untouchable and closed out the last three innings. The stage was set again for the ‘Bull’, as Pochatek lined a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth, winning it for the Bulls, 4-3.
Game two started out as another great pitching duel for almost seven innings, before the Bulls were able to rack up a combined eight runs in the eighth and ninth innings and sealed another Championship title, with a 12-2 win. Contributions literally came from every player and position on the team to make this a true team victory.
For the combined playoff and Championship games, John Boker pitched an incredible 28 innings, recording 30 strikeouts with an ERA of only 2.57 for the tournament.
The Bulls are hoping for three in a row next season, but the DCMSBL’s excellent competition will have a lot to say about that. Many thanks to the League officials for another professionally run season.