2018 PCBL AA-Division Spring Championship
July 29, 2018 @ College of the Canyons
Berserkers (11-7) -vs- Dodos (12-4-2)
Sunday afternoon was the scene for an epic matchup in the 2018 Double A Championship Game - the defending AA champion Dodos against the Berserkers, who a week earlier knocked out the top seed to get to the final game.
The Berserkers came out swinging early against Dodos' ace Jennings Imel. George Williams and Brady Anderson led off the first with back-to-back singles. Dan Hagman brought one home on a fly ball/error to left, and Mike Johnson another on a sacrifice fly. Berserkers pitcher Nick Koontz struck out a pair of Dodos in the bottom of the inning, giving the Berserkers an early 2-0 lead.
The Dodos' bats woke up in the bottom of the 3rd. Dave Estrada and Albert Hernandez each reached on errors to lead things off. Jason Walker singled home Estrada, and Pablo Medina walked to load the bases. Dustin Burke started a streak of 4 consecutive singles (along wiht Ken Cantero, Jennings Imel and Mike Zumwalt.) All told, the Dodos batted around and plated 6, taking a 6-2 lead.
Imel and Koontz startd putting up zeroes, though Mike Zumwalt helped the Dodos with an amazing diving stop at first to turn a double play in the 5th. But a game that featured so much offense early had turned into a pitching duel in the July heat.
The Dodos finally picked things up in the bottom of the 6th. Mike Zumwalt singled, and Alex Garcia was hit by a pitch. One out later, Dave Estrada reached on an error to bring home Zumwalt, and pinch hitter Steve Cole doubled home Garcia. After 6 in the books, the Dodos extended their lead to 8-2.
More Dodos offense in the 7th as Kenny Gerber led off getting hit by a pitch. He moved to second on a Rick Jarakian ground out
(which he NEARLY legged out for a single), and Dustin Burke singled home Gerber to extend the Dodos lead to 9-2.
The Dodos went to their bullpen in the top of the 8th, bringing in lefty Steve Cole. With their backs against the wall, the Berserkers knew they needed to make a move soon. Anthony "Beef" Saldana and Dan
Sloane led off with back-to-back walks, and Conrad Kramer reached on a fielder's choice/error. With the bases loaded, pinch hitter Evan Johnson walked to bring home Saldana and chase Cole from the game. JR Gomez came in, and after a George WIlliams fielder's choice plated one (at the cost of an out), a double play ball ended the threat.
Gomez pitched a perfect 9th for the save, locking down the Dodos as back-to-back champions!
Congratulations to the Berserkers on another strong season - the fell in the Fall 2017 championship as well - your first trophy is surely right around the corner. But this day belonged to the Dodos - your Spring 2018 Double A Champions!
Congratulations to the 2018 AA-Division Champion Dodos!
Berserkers 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 4 7 6
Dodos 0 0 6 0 0 2 1 0 x 9 11 2
Pitching Stats:
WP Jennings Imel (Dodos) 7IP; 2R (0ER), 7H, K, BB (Championship Game MVP)
LP Nick Koontz (Berserkers) CG, 8IP; 9R (2ER), 11H, 11K, BB, 2HBP
S JR Gomez (Dodos) 2IP; K
Steve Cole (Dodos) 0IP; 2R (1ER), 3BB
Dodos
Mike Zumwalt - 3-4, 2B, R, RBI
Dustin Burke - 2-4, R, 3RBI
Ken Cantero - 2-4, R
Jennings Imel - 1-4, 2RBI
Berserkers
George Williams - 1-3, R, RBI, BB
Brady Anderson - 1-4, R
Anthony "Beef" Saldona - 1-2, R, BB
Michael "Mags" Maglione - 1-4