2017 Southern Maine Red Sox Win 25+ Crown in Southern Maine MSBL
Southern Maine MSBL 25+ Division
Red Sox 4, Reds 1 (game three)
‘Three Titles in Last Four Years’
Submitted by Dan Boomhour, manager
Our Red Sox had a strong run in the 2017 playoffs finishing with five wins and only one loss to cap off three titles in the past four seasons (2014, 2016 and 2017).
We started our 2017 run to the title in the opening round with a win versus the Rays. Our Red Sox came away with a resounding 16-4 win. We then advanced to the semi-final round in a best of three series versus the Orioles. Game one was an exciting well played defensive battle and our Sox came away with a 2-1 win. Game two versus the O’s our Sox offense picked up and batted around the line-up time after time and won 16-6.
Our Red Sox moved on to the Championships, a best out of three series versus the upstart
Cincinnati Reds, who had a very impressive regular season compiling 16 wins!
In game one our Sox came out and grabbed a quick series advantage, taking a 1-up lead with a winning score of 7-3. In game two, the Reds stifled our Sox bats with some shut down pitching and won easily, 5-1. Then on September the 28th we played game three, a winner take all game for the Championship, at the prestigious Old Orchard Ballpark in OOB, Maine.
The first half of the game featured a defensive battle with a score of 2-1 through five innings. Our Sox added two runs in the last four innings to WIN the game and CHAMPIONSHIP, 4-1.!!!!!
Mike Fullerton started the game on the bump and got the win going five innings and only giving up one unearned run. Eric “The Bird-Man” Carlson got the save, throwing the final four innings of shutout ball.
The 2017 Red Sox was a fun tight-knit group who loved to show up each and every game and play hard and leave it all on the field with nothing left in the tank by game’s end. The nucleus of the team had played together over the past six years and everyone on the roster knew what it took to get the job done. Here are some of the offensive and defensive leaders in the playoffs:
Ryan Baker was a standout behind the plate and batted .400 with two home runs and seven RBI. Jake LaChance was versatile both in the infield and outfield and filled in and caught a game, too. His bat was stellar, batting .355 with four RBI. Joe Douglas batted .386 drove in five, had one win, two saves and a hold. Dan “The Boomer” batted .350 drove in three with a key RBI in game one of the championship in the seventh inning.
Dan Bradbury’s bat was hot throughout the playoffs, batting .415 with eight RBI and
several key defensive plays in the field, one time even crashing into the outfield wall. Alex Smith had his presence in the middle of the order, batting .325 with five RBI and was versatile all over the infield. He also had a few innings on the bump in relief to help bridge the gap. Mike “Fully” Fullerton was impressive on the mound coming back after a mid-season innings restrictions. His start in game three of the Championship showed all heart and desire. He also belted three home runs and drove in seven.
Eric “The Bird-Man” Carlson was a true leader on the bump all season, logging 60+ innings, and his performance in the playoffs was legendary. He compiled two wins, a save and a hold. Scott Baker and Tyler “The Tiger” Blackburn were sensational in the outfield, both making huge diving ‘inning ending’ plays to help preserve the lead! Shawn Freeman and Dan Michaud both provided pivotal at-bats in the playoffs, each time either giving us a lead or tying the score up.
Congratulations to the 2017 SMMBL RED SOX!!!!!!!