2025 Spokane Freedom Dethrones Rapids as Champions of 45+ Division in Inland Northwest Men’s Baseball League
Inland Northwest Men’s Baseball League, 45+ Division
Spokane Freedom 14, Rapids 4
Submitted by Kelly Holm, Freedom manager
The 45+ season came to an end on Wednesday night, but that is not the only thing that came to an end. The Rapids streak of not losing a game came to an end, as well as their time on the throne. The Freedom played their best baseball in the semi-finals and championship game, winning 14-4 over the Rapids.
Fink was the starting pitcher for the Freedom, while the Rapids stuck with their formula that had been working all season with Nolan on the bump.
The Freedom came out and took advantage of Rapids errors, scoring three runs in the first. Fink held the Rapids scoreless over two innings to take a 3-0 lead into the third. In the third inning, the Freedom scored five more runs, as the top of the order caught fire.
Coston continued his claim to be the MVP with hot hitting and multiple RBIs. In the bottom of the third, the Rapids put two on the board from hits by Hedden, Nolan, and RBI hits from Fadely and Foland. In the fourth, the Rapids added two more runs on hits by Lee and Frickey. At the end of four, it was 8-4, and it was starting to look like the Rapids would start one of their rallies.
But that all changed when MVP Jimmy Smith entered as pitcher for the Freedom in the fifth. Smith showed why he was the MVP, giving up only three hits over five innings, striking out five, and trusting his defense to make the plays behind him.
The Freedom scored three more runs in the seventh with hits from Fink, Vazquez, Coston, Sakwi, and Scott Smith, and three more runs in the ninth to solidify the championship 14-4.
It was definitely a fun season and I was lucky to have such great teammates.
(Editor’s note) This year, Freedom manager Kelly Holm became the first player in league history to win all three divisions (18+, 32+, and 45+).
18+ Rockies 10, Padres 0
32+ Cubs 11, Angels 3
45+ Freedom 14, Rapids 4