2023 Red Sox Top Crushers in Best of Three Series to Win First Austin Metro Baseball League 18+ Crown
Austin Metro Baseball League, 18+ Division
Austin Red Sox 2, Austin Crushers 0 (Game three in best of three series)
Submitted by Chris Hux, manager
The inaugural Austin Red Sox won its first AMBL 18+ Division Championship in a hard-fought 3-game series against the Austin Crushers. The Red Sox battled as the 4th seed to defeat the #1 seed Austin Wicked and the #2 seed Crushers.
The Red Sox won game one 11-5 while the shorthanded Crushers battled to a 4-2 win in game two. Both teams were strong on the hill in game three but the Red Sox defeated the Crushers 2-0. Austin DeLuca started the game for Austin Red Sox and recorded 24 outs. A single by Joel Messina after a 6-pitch at-bat scored Travis Balint to put the Red Sox on the board in the top of the second.
DeLuca earned the win for the Red Sox scattering eight hits and no runs over eight innings, striking out two and walking one. Shourd took the loss for the Crushers. The reliever went two innings, surrendering zero runs on two hits, striking out two, and walking none.
Rouze started on the mound for the Crushers and surrendered six hits and two runs (one earned) over six innings, striking out six and walking one. Joel Messina and Chris Lundeen each collected two hits for the Red Sox while collecting one RBI each. Travis Balint, Brandon Gossman, Evelio Varela, and Blake Shanburg each had one hit for the championship game.
Travis Balint played a stellar defensive shortstop with three putouts, two assists, and turning a double play behind DeLuca. Kanon Klovemski went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Crushers in hits.