2022 Salem Mariners Pour it On Late to Capture 18+ Title in Willamette Valley (OR) MSBL

Willamette Valley MSBL, 18+ Division

Salem Mariners 8, Storm 3

After a long season in the Willamette Valley Men’s Baseball League 18+ division, a champion has been named.  The Salem Mariners defeated the Storm by a score of 8-3 to secure the league championship. 

The score of the game does not give the intensity of the matchup justice. Going into this game these teams have faced each other four times throughout the season and splitting the series. The Storm won the first two matchups and the Mariners won the last two games in dominating fashion. This championship game was no different.

Going into the bottom of the eighth the game was tied 0-0 with very few runners able to reach base on either side due to dominating pitching performances from Stephen Kahn from the Storm and crafty lefty Brandon Cervantes, the Newberg High alum and Clackamas Cc Alum from the Mariners. Cervantes left the game after six innings, allowing one hit, one walk, and striking out six. Fellow Newberg High alum Brandon Ferris relieved him in the seventh striking out one with one runner left on.  

In the bottom of the eighth things took a turn as the Storm bunted their way on and got a sacrifice fly to take the lead.  Pitcher Brandyn Reinhart battled his way through bases loaded to only allow that one run in the bottom of the eighth. In the top of the ninth, the bottom of the lineup was due up for the Mariners but hope was not all lost.  Utility man Jason Bernal, the South Salem Alum, accumulated what may have been the most important hit of the season for the Mariners as he hit a bloop single over the shortstop to get on base.

The next turn of events is when John Ensey drew a walk.  With two runners on, the Mariners were in a good spot with leadoff speedster Franklin Leonard, the Corvallis High product and George Fox alum, helped the Mariners take the lead with a 1-out double that would score two. All the momentum shifted in the Mariner’s favor as they would go on to pour it on, as they scored eight in the top of the ninth.

The Storm rallied for a comeback in the ninth as they would go on to add three more but it would not be enough. The Mariners fell short last year but 2022 was a different story as they became champions that night!