2023 MudCats Walk it off in Extras to Complete Sweep and Back-to-Back Championships in Premier BuxMont PA MSBL 45+ Metro Division
BuxMont MSBL, 45+ Metro Division
Limeport MudCats 7, Collegeville Cubs 6 (Game two in best-of-three championship series sweep)
Quakertown, PA – Terry Crupi blasted a two-out, walk-off double to right center field in the bottom of the 11th inning scoring pinch runner Josh Hillman to give the Limeport MudCats a 7-6 victory and a two-game sweep over the Collegeville Cubs in the 2023 Bux-Mont Metropolitan Division (45+) Championship Series — and back-to-back league titles.
The MudCats were an out away from going into a fifth extra frame. But with two outs and bases empty against Cubs pitcher Dan Chieffalo, a single by infielder Sam Castillo and a walk drawn by outfielder Matt Provence set up Crupi’s heroics.
The marathon ending was fitting for this back-and-forth affair. Following a 10-4 win in game one — a contest in which the MudCats cruised to victory after a seven-run first inning off Cubs’ ace Jeff LaPorta, game two provided constant drama.
Paced by a three-run first inning, the Cubs held a 4-2 lead going into the bottom of the sixth inning — six outs away from forcing a decisive game three. But a leadoff double by Andy Pitsilos awoke the MudCats bats and sparked a go-ahead, four-run rally.
Following a walk to catcher/manager Keith Hawk, shortstop/pitcher Julio Lebron laced an RBI-single to cut the deficit to 4-3. Three batters later, an RBI by outfielder Rob Ruggeri tied the game and brought first baseman Joe Kelly to the plate. Kelly came through, rocketing a go-ahead, two-run single to right field off LaPorta for a 6-4 lead through six innings.
Not ready to go quietly into the off-season, the Cubs regained the momentum when facing their last chance. Two hits and a pair of MudCats errors led to two unearned runs off ace reliever Lebron and sent the game into extra innings.
The Cubs continued to threaten in extras, but the MudCats closer hung tough. Lebron stranded two runners in the eighth, one in the ninth and two more in the 10th. His three-up, three-down 11th was a fitting way to end his outing, as the offense finally broke the deadlock in the bottom of the frame.
Lebron earned the win with 5.0 innings of relief, allowing two unearned runs on four hits while fanning a pair of batters. He also earned the victory in game one with 3.0 innings of relief behind an effective start from Castillo.
The bullpen proved key in the clinching win, as injured starter Josh Hillman was unable to make it through the first inning. Luis Vasquez tossed 3.0 innings of one-run ball while Castillo followed with a scoreless 3.0 innings.
Provence got the MudCats on the board early scoring their first two runs. A leadoff single in the first inning led to an RBI groundout by Crupi; and a one-double in the third was followed by an RBI single from Pitsilos.
Lebron, Pitsolis, and Provence led the offense with three hits apiece; Hawk added two, including a double. Provence finished the championship with a series-high five hits.
The top-seeded MudCats ended the regular season at 11-5 and culminated the postseason with four-consecutive wins after taking Games two and three in their first-round series against the Malvern Kings.
Despite losing two pitchers that combined for more than half of their innings in 2022, MudCats pitchers Castillo, Crupi, Kelly, and Lebron anchored a staff that allowed the fewest runs in the league during the 16 game regular season in 2023.