2020 Lake Monsters Hang On With Ninth Inning Heroics for 18+ National Division Title in DCMSBL

DCMSBL, 18+ National Division

Lake Monsters 11, Arlington Arsenal 10

‘Lake Monsters Stun Arsenal to Win Second League Title’

Submitted by Billy Long, Lake Monster manager

Our eighth season of 18+ DCMSBL was a tumultuous one. We lost five of our best players right before the season because of COVID concerns and were still looking to fill out our roster halfway into the season. Luckily, we had a consistently dominant pitching staff led by Collin Holston, Kevin Kornieck, Josh Luatua and Connor Hasson. We started 1-2 but then won eight of our next nine games and made it to the championship.

Our opponent, the Arlington Arsenal had won the last two championships and were 10-1 at this point. The Championship game was one of, if not the, most exciting game I have been a part of in my nine years in the league. It was filled with close calls, diving catches, big hits, and drama.  The Lake Monsters had jumped to an 8-run lead before our starting pitcher had to leave the game with an injury. The Arsenal had battled back to make it 8-6 when Lake Monster Adam Angeloff blasted a solo home run to dead center field to reenergize the team. He would finish 4 for 4 with three RBIs, two runs scored, two stolen bases and a walk.

The Lake Monsters were up 11-6 heading into the bottom of the ninth when the Arsenal scored four runs. With the tying run on second base, the winning run on first base and two outs, the last batter hit a deep shot to left where left fielder Christian Domaas made an over the shoulder catch at the warning track to seal the game, 11-10.