2024 Capital District Bombers Log Fourth Championship

Capital District MSBL, 18+ Division

Bombers 3, Ducks 2 (Series clinching Game 5)

Submitted by Rick Dijohn, Bombers’ manager

The Ducks had a rollercoaster of a season, starting 14-1 only to have injuries derail the regular season to lose their last 4 games to finish 3rd. The Ducks played the Expos round 1 in the playoffs and battled in a 3 game series led by 2 HRs by Mantova in game 3 to defeat the expos and move on the play the #2 seed the Mets.

The Mets won games 1 and 2 easily (despite game 2 being close until the end), but Ducks still with some injuries going on and players playing out of position, grinded and fought their way to win 3 in a row and knock out a great Mets team, including beating Chris Salamida twice, and down to their last out in game 5 down by 1, tying it with a clutch RBI hit by catcher Colin Allen, and then eventually winning the game to move on to play the #1 seed the Bombers.

Games 1 & 2 recap

The more rested Bombers came off a 3 game series while the Ducks came off a hard fought 5 game series where they used a lot of pitching, so Ducks sent usual position player and SS Cam Myers to the mound to face off against Bombers ace pitcher and cy young candidate Eric Agan. Cam Myers would have it going, and so did reliever Riley Fischer, holding the hot Bombers team to only 5 hits, and winning the game 4-1.  Hard hitting lefty Tony Poveda would have a 2 RBI hit late to put the game away.

Game 2 would have a similar feel, which featured a pitching matchup of Sean Cramer for the Ducks going against always effective Bombers pitcher Nigel Gorman. Cramer and reliever Dan Jones would combine to once again hold the Bombers to 5 hits. And like game 1, a Ducks player had a key 2 RBI hit to put the game away, this time it was Brandon Baumann. Ducks were in complete control of the first two games of the series.

Games 3 & 4 recap

In Game 3 Ducks sent Spencer Brown (who pitched very well the previous series vs the Mets) to the mound while Bombers countered with pitcher Henry Flint, who did not have a single loss all season. Bombers desperately needed an offensive spark, and in the first inning Will Gorman provided it. Will hit a 3 run HR, bringing the Bombers offense back to life. Bombers would end up getting out of many jams, and held on to win 6-4. Will Gorman finished a double short of the cycle, he had a HR, triple, single and walk.

Bombers wanted to continue this momentum into game 4, which featured Ducks ace pitcher Dino Ferrarese vs Bombers game 1 starter Eric Agan. This game was filled with incredible defense by both sides, including many web gems and a good back and forth. Bombers were down 2-1 in the top of the 6th, when game 3’s hero’s brother Nigel Gorman would hit a gap shot with the bases loaded, scoring 3 and giving the Bombers a 4-2 lead.

Bombers Pat McGuire would come in for relief, and after giving up an unearned run in the bottom of the 7th, Colin Allen (who also hit a game tying hit in game 5 vs the Mets) would once again hit a game tying hit late to make it 4-4. The game would go extra innings, and in the top of the 8th, Nigel Gorman would come through in the clutch once again to put the Bombers up 5-4 (off reliever Sean Cramer). Bombers would hold into win it and force a game 5.

Game 5 recap

Two days prior Bombers Pat McGuire and Ducks Sean Cramer would finish out game 4 pitching, and both would start game 5 for each respective team. Both pitchers were dealing, Pat McGuire ending up with 7 Ks and Sean Cramer holding the Bombers to 1 run through 5 innings. Bottom of the 6th Ducks were leading 2-1, and Bombers would get some guys on and manufacture a run to tie the game on an infield hit by Zach Agan.

Tied 2-2 bottom 7, Ducks would turn to Dan Jones to keep the game going. Pat McGuire reached base, and the next batter Kyle Tedford hit a ball deep down the left field line, staying barely fair and going into the corner, which gave time for Pat McGuire to score from first, giving the Bombers a series winning walk off hit.

Pat McGuire would pitch all 7 innings somehow after pitching a few innings in game 4, and also Pat got the wins in both games 4 & 5 (while chipping in 5 playoff hits), Pat McGuire has been named co-MVP (for the consecutive wins in game 4 and 5 while chipping in 5 hits in the Ducks series) along with Will Gorman (the other co-mvp), who had 7 hits and 4 RBIs during this playoff run.

It was a highly competitive and great series, with both teams playing great and the series could have went either way. The Ducks had a great playoff run despite many injuries and players playing out of position. Coach Jim Bonaparte did everything possible to will his team to win, and made a lot of great moves during the Ducks strong playoff run. It was a tight series where either team could have won any of the 5 games.