2018 Wolfpack Win 25A Division Crown in Long Island MSBL
Long Island MSBL, 25A Division
Long Island Wolfpack 6, Massapequa Braves 5
‘Sheridan Walk-off Hit in Extras Secures Title’
The Long Island Wolfpack won the Long Island MSBL 25A championship in only its second season. An A5 win team a year ago, the Wolfpack, led by managers Vinny Pica and Mick Sheridan, won their 19th game of the year in an epic 11 inning championship clinching victory!
Solid pitching, good team defense and a no-quit attitude helped propel the Wolfpack to the win against the Massapequa Braves. In an intense back and forth battle between two solid teams the Braves took the lead 4-3 in the seventh, only to see the Wolfpack tie it back up in the bottom of the seventh. The top of the eighth saw the braves score one to take the lead. Trailing by one in the bottom of the ninth, Wolfpack DH Anthony Dowalo led off with a single which was followed by pinch runner Brendan Brady stealing second base. Two batters later, Johny Galgano, one of the Wolfpack’s hottest hitters during the playoffs came through with another big hit to tie the game.
Off to extras we go! In the bottom of the 11th, Brendan Brady, with minimum at-bats the last few weeks, came up with a 1-out single down the third base line and then promptly stole second. A single by Johny Galgano AGAIN and an out mixed in found the Wolfpack with runners at first and second with two outs. Some would say it was perfectly set up. The manager and one of the hottest hitters, Mick Sheridan, stepped to the plate with a chance to give the Wolfpack the championship. In an at bat that saw probably nine or ten pitches, a 3-2 fastball up in the zone got hammered to left field for a series clinching RBI single!! An extra innings championship winning walk off victory!!
Some notable stats for the Wolfpack during their 6-win, 1-loss playoff run is as follows:
Andrew Brooks, Wolfpack MVP: Four wins, two shutouts and only two earned runs in 35 innings pitched.
Vinny Pica: Two wins and a championship game victory.
Brendan Brady: Championship clinching starter. Eight innings pitched and 10 K’s while holding down a very hot Braves team.
Sheridan: 12/24, 8 rbi; Dylan Krouse: 5/16, 3 rbi; Galgano: 11/22, 6 rbi; Dowalo: 8/17; Greg Visco: 11/22; Brooks: 6/13, 9 rbi, 2 home runs
The Wolfpack would like to take a minute and give credit to the Massapequa Braves on one hell of a season!! To all teams, all divisions, all leagues GOOD LUCK next year!! Mick Sheridan