2025 Malvern Kings Defeat Deep Run for 35+ Bux-Mont Championship
Bux-Mont MSBL, 35+ Division
Malvern Kings 9, Deep Run Thunderhawks 7 (Game two in best-of-three championship series sweep)
Submitted by Lion Nealy, Malvern Kings manager
The Malvern Kings outlasted Deep Run Thunderhawks on a clutch display from Pat Milia in Game Two of the League Championship. Pat drove in four runs on two hits to lead Malvern past Deep Run 9-7 in Game Two of the 35+ BuxMont League Championship.
Milia hit a home run to left field in the fourth inning, scoring three runs, and singled in the fifth inning, scoring one. A big hit by Randy Milia late in Game Two provided the final runs needed to hold off a late charge from Deep Run.
Brian Karcewski earned the win for the Malvern Kings in the deciding game. The righty allowed seven hits and three runs (two earned) over five innings, striking out five and walking none. Mike McGuire collected the two-inning save to deliver the championship to Malvern.
This is the King’s first championship in its second season in the BuxMont division. The Kings were able to avenge a first-round playoff loss to Deep Run to end their 2024 season. Returning most of their lineup and a couple of key additions, the Kings went 14-2 during the regular season to finish in first place.
Deep Run was also 14-2 this season, with their only losses coming against Malvern in the regular season and championship.
The Kings had a dominant regular season, amassing 164 runs scored in 16 games with a run differential of nearly 100 runs! Dominant pitching performances, great defense, and a deep, capable lineup fueled Malvern all season long.
Malvern was able to get to the championship round after a tough first-round matchup against the Northampton Angels, requiring all three games of the series to get past one of the only two teams to beat the Kings all season.
Their journey to the championship round was made more difficult after losing Dan Kunze (regular-season clean-up hitter) and Sean Bond (starting CF) for the playoffs due to injuries. Bond heroically returned for the championship round to play, but not bat, as he continued healing from a broken thumb, recording the final out of the series!
In game one of the series earlier in the morning, Malvern defeated Deep Run 3-0 in a complete game shutout. Michael DeRafelo started the game for Malvern Kings, recording all 21 outs and only allowing two hits.
The Malvern Kings got on the board in the first inning after Randy Milia singled, scoring one run. Malvern scored one run in the bottom of the second on a solo home run to left field by Patrick McCaffrey.
Milia, Ross Nicolini, Andy German, and McCaffrey each collected one hit for Malvern Kings. Steve Walker, Milia, and McCaffrey each drove in one run for the Kings.
Pat Milia paced Malvern with three walks, and Mark Monroe started rallies with two walks of his own. Overall, the team had patience at the plate, amassing seven walks for the game, and the Kings didn’t commit a single error in the field. Robbie DeRafelo and McCaffrey called amazing games and kept Deep Run’s runners in check in both games from behind the plate.
The team looks forward to 2026 and chasing another title!