2023 Pour Bros Jacks Sweep Crusens Reds for First Peoria Sunday Morning Title

Peoria Sunday Morning League

Pour Bros Jacks 9, Crusens Reds 5 (Game two in best of three series sweep)

Submitted by Zach Skulte, manager

After losing the past three seasons in either the championship series or the semi-final series, we were finally able to get over the hump this year and break through for our first franchise title in our team’s 8-year history. We had a bit of a roller coaster season finishing the regular season with an 11-11 record. (Shows just how competitive the SML is). All 22 guys on our roster contributed in our playoff run, a run where we went 5-0, outscoring our opponents 31-8 across those five games.

We rallied behind the pitching of SIU-Carbondale’s Vinni Massaglia, and our side-arming closer from Tennessee Wesleyan, Turner Mann. We also rallied behind the clutch hitting of our catcher, Mount Mercy University’s Justin Janssen, who went 8-14 in the postseason with three doubles and a home run.

Then when our backs were up against the wall the most, we were lifted up again by a monster 3-run home run from Morton College’s Noah Chase in the championship-clinching game, propelling us to an 8-5 lead in the fifth inning. In the past, we had blown leads like this that prevented us from winning titles. This team showed a lot of resilience and knew it wasn’t over until the lights flashed at Dozer Park.

Our Team’s All-Stars include Vinni Massaglia (RHP), Justin Janssen (C), Zach Skulte (DH), Max Jones (SS), Turner Mann (RHP), and Evan Pogioli (1B).