2024 Grasshoppers Reel in Muskies to Capture Back-to-Back 28+ Championships in Twin Cities MABL
Twin Cities MABL, 28+ Division
Grasshoppers 7, Muskies 6 (11 innings)
Submitted by Jon Lipinski, Grasshopper’s manager
The Grasshoppers have done it again by clinching our second consecutive championship title this season.
From the start of the season, we had aspirations of holding the trophy once again. With most of the team returning in 2024, we had limited roster spots available but looked to build depth in the outfield. During an uncharacteristic regular season for the Hoppers marred with injuries and player availability, that depth would prove invaluable.
Newcomers Drew Joiner and Ben Jones provided that depth in the field with Brandon Casa de Calvo providing valuable depth on the mound. Throwing a curveball in the middle of the season was Bart Duffy’s unexpected passing. Bart was the Hoppers’ biggest fan and father to our catcher Tim Duffy. Winning the final six regular season games, and finishing the regular season with a 10-3 record, the bugs secured our third division crown.
Our playoff journey to the championship started against the Isotopes and was marked by standout performances both on the mound and at the plate. Matt Chruscielski paced the team on the bump, pitching a complete game five-hit shutout. The Hoppers knocked around 16 hits (five doubles) while scoring a ton of runs en route to a 15-0 victory. Eddie Carey led the way with five RBI.
Round two of the playoffs was a rematch of last year’s championship game against the Irish. Eric Hendrickx got the nod on the bump and delivered with 6 1/3 innings, yielding only two runs (one earned) while Brandon Casa de Calvo got the save for tossing 2 2/3 innings of shutout ball. While the hits were abundant, runs were harder to come by against a grizzled knuckleballer. Heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, with a 3-2 lead, Bryan Jamieson produced the clutch hit, driving in two runs and putting the game out of reach with a final score of 5-2.
Heading into the championship game, we knew were facing fierce competition and had a significant uphill battle against a highly reinforced Muskies squad from the year prior. The Muskies had one of the most historic offenses in TCMABL history with strong pitching to complement it.
The championship game was off to a bad start for the Hoppers, going down 2-0 after four innings. After plating one in the top of the fifth inning and leaving multiple runners on base, the game remained 2-1 in favor of the Muskies until the eighth inning. In the top of the eighth, the Hoppers were able to tie the game at two with a sacrifice fly from pinch hitter Eric Hendrickx after a leadoff double from Hogan Jackson, followed by a single from Dan Hill and a walk from John McMillan. With two outs, the Hoppers would take advantage of a misplayed ball to plate another run. Now leading 3-2, back-to-back doubles from Bryan Jamieson and David Webb would plate three more runs.
Heading to the bottom of the ninth with a 6-2 lead, the Muskies would not go down quietly. They would score four runs to tie the game at six. With multiple chances to win the game, the Hoppers squeaked by after sending Bryan Jamieson to the bump to make sure we got to the 10th inning.
The Hoppers would load the bases up in the 10th, but would fail to score; as the heart of the Muskies lineup would go 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 10th inning. With one out in the top of the 11th inning, Eric Hendrickx would single followed by a Jack Regan walk. Seeing how this game was progressing, one run could prove to be the difference, so Sean Grenfell was put in to pinch run at second base.
On the first pitch of the at-bat, Bryan Jamieson would send a bloop single into right field. Sean would read the ball perfectly and score on a close throw to home to put the Hoppers up 7-6. In the bottom of the 11th inning, the Muskies would put two runners on after a leadoff walk and single. With runners on first and second with no outs, the next hitter smacked a hard liner to center where perennial platinum glove caliber David Webb would track it down. On the hit, the Muskies runner at second would go, unaware he had just been doubled off at second base. With two outs, the next hitter would line out to left fielder Eddie Carey, giving the Hoppers their second consecutive league championship.
A mix of timely hits, stellar defensive plays, and strategic decisions kept the momentum on the Hoppers’ side, ultimately leading to a well-deserved victory in a nail-biting championship game for the ages.
Bryan Jamieson would end up getting the nod for playoff MVP with a .462 AVG, four RBI (including driving in two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth in round two against the Irish and the winning run in the top of the 11th in the championship game); and pitched the final three innings giving up 0 earned runs and striking out two getting the win in the championship game.
This back-to-back win is a testament to the hard work, perseverance, and dedication of the entire team, management, and families/fans. The 2024 season is dedicated in loving memory to Bart Duffy. Bart never missed a Hoppers game and will truly be missed by all of us.
The Hoppers look forward to next season and continuing the success with this brotherhood.