2023 Bombers Rally to Overtake Marmots in MABL AAA Division of Southern Colorado

Southern Colorado MABL, AAA Division

Colorado Springs Bombers 8, Marmots 5

It was one of those finals where the winning team had to fight from behind for the series AND the final game.  The Colorado Springs Bombers, in the highly competitive AAA division, found themselves down in the best of three series after a game 1 loss to the Marmots, or Mots, 10-4.  They showed heart and resilience, though, when they won game 2 by a score of 11-4, never once relinquishing the lead from wire to wire and riding the superb pitching of their go-to starter, Ben Wirt, and shutdown closer, Hunter Crisp.  But that would all change and the script would be quite different for the Bombers in the rubber match.

They were facing a team that had won the last three championships, twice beating the tough Bombers team.  The Marmots were known for their offensive firepower and pitching.  Falling behind against a team like that was often met with defeat.  So, when the Bombers fell behind 1-0 early and then 4-0 in the third off a Thomas Meals 3-run blast, the inklings of a game 3 defeat started to creep into the Bomber’s minds.  But not this day!

In the fourth, like a heavy-weight bout, the Bombers hitters came alive and punched back.  Caleb Wade drew a leadoff walk and Franco Garlobo smashed a triple bringing him in.  Alec Ortiz hit a deep sacrifice fly to bring in Garlobo and suddenly it was a 4-2 game.  With starting pitcher Ben Wirt about to face the Mot’s hitters a third time through the line-up, Bomber’s manager, Chris Dahl, elected to go to the lefty, Crisp, to change it up.  The strategy seemed sound as Crisp got a quick 1-pitch out and shut down the fifth, 1-2-3.

Another run was squeaked across by the Bombers in the seventh when Russ Torres stroked a leadoff double and was later driven in on an infield hit by Wade making it 4-3.  The Marmots answered in the bottom of the seventh, though, when they plated a run on a controversial call at the plate when a laser was fired from Bomber’s centerfielder Domique SanFelippo to catcher Thomas Revering in what appeared to be a beautiful assist and put out.  Unfortunately, the umpire saw it otherwise and the Marmots led 5-3 heading into the top half of the eighth.

Time was running out for the Bombers.  Leading off, SanFelippo singled, Yankee Badillo reached on an error and Crisp singled which loaded the bases with no outs in a hotly contested 2-run game.  It looked like the perfect opportunity for the Bombers to break it open.  A quick out brought Torres to the plate where he subsequently lined an RBI single to left and suddenly it was a 1-run game again, 5-4!  Sadly, though, with the bases still loaded, the Bombers couldn’t capitalize further and went down swinging with their next two batters.

Meanwhile, it was up to Bomber’s pitcher, Hunter Crisp, to keep the game close which he did masterfully in the bottom of the eighth with another 1-2-3 inning.  That set the stage for the dramatic and exciting top of the ninth.  Here, the Bombers had the heart of their lineup set to go.

After a lead-off strikeout, things seemed bleak.  But, with clutch hits by Garlobo and Ortiz and only one out, that brought the go ahead run to the plate with the Bombers 4-hole hitter, Dominic San Felippo.  The Marmots took a calculated risk and walked Dom to load the bases.  Their plan appeared to work when Badillo fouled out to the catcher.  This meant all hopes of a Bomber’s victory rested squarely on the shoulders of Hunter Crisp who strode to the plate with two outs and the bases still loaded.

He worked himself into a two-two count and, with the Bombers down to their last strike, Crisp showed he was up to the task!  Instantly he crushed a bases clearing, stand-up double over the right fielder’s head to put the underdog Bombers up 7-5!  What a turn of events!  Hunter advanced to third on a wild pitch and still, with two outs, Jim Martin hit a high chopper, RBI single to third that brought in the Bomber’s final run making the score 8-5!  Ominously, though, the bottom of the ninth awaited and with the Mot’s vaunted firepower, well known to these Bombers.  They were poised to spoil the surprising Bombers celebration, as the bottom of the ninth started with 5-pitch walk and an infield single.

The first out came on a routine fly to right fielder Angel Morales.  With one out and runners on first and second, the top of the Mot’s lineup waited.  Bombers faithful knew that any one of the next three hitters could tie or win the game for the Mot’s with one swing of the bat.  But, again, it was not to be this day!

Crisp continued to deal and, with an 0-2 count, he threw a sneaky fastball that had the Mot’s hitter pounding it into the dirt and serving up a tailor made unassisted double play by Bomber’s second baseman, Jared Esquivel, who scooped up the hard-hit ball, stepped on second, and rifled a perfect throw to Ortiz at first to slam the door!  The Bombers had done it!

Down one game to none in the best of three series and then down 4-0 early in the final game, the Bombers had come back twice to win it the hard way showing grit, clutch-hitting and solid ‘D’ to take home the title.  This was their day!  Their series!  Their Championship!  Congrats Colorado Springs Bombers on a well-deserved and impressive Championship run!