2024 Sea Dogs to Back-to-Back in Rhode Island MSBL 40+ Division
Rhode Island MSBL, 40+ Division
Sea Dogs 13, Rhody Breakers 2 (Game three in best-of-five championship series sweep)
‘Sea Dogs Claim ‘Back-to-Back’ Championships’
Submitted by Michael Doherty, Sea Dogs manager
The Rhode Island MSBL Championship saw a matchup of two league titans that featured the defending league champions in the Sea Dogs, versus the season’s first place finisher in the Rhody Breakers. The Sea Dogs found their way to the Championship after a hard fought 2-1 series against a tough Braves team. The Breakers secured a sweep against the crafty Colt 45s.
Game 1 saw the Breakers come out strong with two runs in the bottom of the first. Veteran knuckleballer Mike “Squish” Squatrito then settled in to hold the Breakers’ bats at bay. Good pitching kept the Sea Dogs off balance until they broke through for four in the fourth on the strength of a 2-RBI double by Brian Baker. The Dogs followed up with three more in the sixth to take a 7-2 lead. The Breakers stormed back with four in their half of the sixth, but that was where their scoring would end after Baker entered the game on the mound and shut the door. The Dogs added two in the seventh, three in the eighth, and one more in the ninth to seal the Game one victory. Great offensive performances from Jeff Gaccione (3/5, BB, Run), and Rob Reyes (3/5, HBP, 2 Runs).
Game 2 was a pitching matchup for the ages with the Sea Dogs sending Claudio Rodriguez to the mound to face the Breakers’ crafty lefty, Greg Ouimette. The Dogs broke through first with three runs on a Jay Martin home run. They added one more in the fourth, but Ouimette proved to be too much on this day. The Breakers got two in the sixth and three in the seventh and that was all they would need, securing the 5-4 Game two victory.
The Sea Dogs turned to Jared Tinkham to do what he does best in Game 3 – win big baseball games. And Tinkham did not disappoint. He was perfect through three, didn’t give up a hit until the fifth, and didn’t surrender a run until the seventh when the game was out of hand. The Dogs game out strong in the first plating three in the top half. The Breakers pitching settled in after that before the Dogs were able to punch through two more in the fifth before breaking the game open in the seventh with eight runs. The Breakers managed to plate two in their half but couldn’t add any more to continue the game. Worth noting was that the last out of the game was recorded by a batted ball striking the baserunner between second and third bases. Final score of Game three was 13-2, called after seven by run rule.
Offensive standouts were Jake Ferreira (3/5, 2 Runs, RBI), Jay Martin (3/5, 3 Runs, 2 RBI), Rob Reyes (2/5, 2 Runs, 2 RBI), Darwin Hernandez (2/4, 2 RBI), and Jay Lee (2/3, Run, BB, RBI).
This was a great team series with contributions from up and down the Sea Dogs bench. Great defense and key pinch running played major parts in these wins and this Championship belongs to everyone!