2015 Dirtbags Repeat as Champs in Santa Barbara MABL

Santa Barbara MABL 18+

Dirtbags 10, Titans 2

‘Dirtbags Make it Two in a Row’

Submitted by Morgan Moore, Dirtbags manager

The Santa Barbara Dirtbags repeated as champions in the 2015 season of the Santa Barbara MABL with a win over the Santa Barbara Titans 10-2 August 30th, 2015. The Dirtbags cruised to victory at Pershing Park in downtown Santa Barbara led by solid pitching outings from Danny Graybill and Leonard Giammanco. Danny Graybill (7-2) pitched five strong innings giving up one earned run and striking out five. Leonard Giammanco finished the game with four solid innings while not allowing an earned run.

The Dirtbags tallied 13 hits led by Morgan Moore, Brendan O’donnell and Danny Graybill, who had two hits apiece. The Dirtbags finished the season at in impressive 15-3 but would not have made it to finals without an incredible comeback performance in the semi-finals against the Santa Barbara Riptide. The Dirtbags won an 11 inning comeback victory with an improbable solo home run to tie the game by catcher Evan Soliman in the bottom off the eighth. The Dirtbags won the game in the 11th after Jeremy Howard singled, Evan Soliman doubled and Andy McCumber drove in Howard with a deep single to center. TheRiptide took the lead in the top of the eighth with a 3-run home run by Ryan Slattery and were in position to win the game with Mario Guilin on the hill, one of the best pitchers in the league. With one out in the eighth, Soliman homered to left tying the game and forcing what would eventually be extra innings.

Both Mario Guilin and Leonard Giamannco went the distance for the Riptide and Dirtbags respectively. Shortstop Wesley Ghan-Gibson and catcher Evan Soliman each had two hits for the Dirtbags. The Dirtbags recently traveled north on September 27th and beat the San Louis Obispo Angels 8-3 in the first annual County Cup at Elks Field in Santa Maria.