2017 Washington Cardinals Sweep Golden Islands for DCMSBL 22+ Metal ‘C’ Crown

DCMSBL 22+ Metal ‘C’ Division

Washington Cardinals 4, Golden Islands 3

‘Andrews and Doyle Dominate on the Bump’

Submitted by Kyle Robins, Cardinals manager

In their first season in the 22+ metal league in DCMSBL, the Washington Cardinals won the C League Championship. The first playoff game against the Fighting Lloyds was a close game with the score tied at six going into the top of the ninth. Leading off the inning, Matt Dean got on with a single, Demetri Austin took his base on balls and Kristian Ager hit a single to score Dean as Austin advanced to third. Ager stole second base then Ryan Doyle followed with another single that scored Austin and Ager, making the score 9-6. With runners on second and third and two outs, starting pitcher Doyle got the win after shortstop Austin fielded a deep grounder up the middle and threw out the runner.

After throwing a complete game just four days prior, Doyle was ready to start the Cardinal’s second playoff game, and only gave up three runs in seven innings. Things really came together at the plate as Bill Alderson, Jesse Hernandez, Ager, Doyle, Michael Law and Will Andrews scored at least two times each to win the game 16-3.

In the final series against the Golden Islands, a team the Cardinals lost to in the regular season, starting pitcher Andrews did not give up any runs in seven innings in the first game. The closing pitcher, Austin, only gave up one run and Hernandez and Ager each had three stolen bases. Chong Soh, Chris Davids and Patrick Miller each drove in two runs to get the 6-1 victory.

In game two of the best of three final series, Doyle was back on the mound as the starting pitcher. Going into the fifth the Cardinals were down 3-2. With a runner on third and one out, the Golden Islands hit a pop fly to right field. Thinking the ball was hit too deep for right fielder Miller to make a throw to the plate in time, the runner was proven wrong by about 10 feet and decided to head back to third, where Andrews threw to Dean for the third out. That play changed the momentum at the plate for the Cardinals.

Miller took his base on balls then Dean hit a double off the center field wall to drive in Miller. Ager followed up with a double to drive in Dean to put the Cardinals in the lead. With Doyle throwing strikes, and the Cardinals defense not making any errors the last four innings, the Cardinals were able to keep their lead of 4-3 and win the championship game.