B North Playoffs- 11/12/23

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Game 1: Dark Dogs vs Wolfpack

Game 1 of the playoffs featured a matchup between Dark Dogs vs Wolfpack with the winner playing top seed Wire 2 Wire. Dark Dogs came out strong defensively in the top of 1st shutting down Wolfpack and striking out two batters looking. Dark Dogs used the early momentum and jumped out in front in the bottom of the 1st scoring three runs on a three-run homer by Mike Suda to make the score 3-0 Dark Dogs after one. Wolfpack bounced back in the top of the 2nd and scored a run on an RBI sac fly by Paul Abendroth. Wolfpack then shutdown Dark Dogs' offense in the bottom of the 2nd to keep the score 3-1 after the 2nd. In the top of the 3rd Wolfpack came out swinging scoring 3 runs on RBI doubles by Kenny Goodwin and Anthony Peretti and an RBI sac fly by Harry Horn to take a one run lead. The lead did not last long as Dark Dogs answered with three runs of their own on an RBI double by Ryan Schock and a two run RBI single by Suda to put the score at 6-4 Dark Dogs after three. Wolfpack cut the lead in half in the top of the 4th after Hans Abendroth singled and then came around to score after an error and a fielder's choice. Dark Dogs continued to stay hot at the plate in the bottom of the 4th and opened the game up scoring 6 more runs on RBI singles by Nick Mariana and Suda as well as a three-run RBI double by Paul Ferruzzi Jr leaving the score 12-5 after the fourth. Kris Karaba kept the score close in the top of 5th by scoring two runs on a homerun. Paul Abendroth added another run on an RBI single to cut Dark Dogs lead to four. Wolfpack helped themselves out defensively in the bottom of the 5th and held Dark Dogs scoreless. Dark Dogs lead 12-8 after the fifth. Wolfpack closed the gap in the top of the 6th scoring one run on an RBI single by Matt Horn to bring Wolfpack to within three. Dark Dogs added two insurance runs in the bottom of the 6th on RBI singles by Bill Jones and Jim Walker to push their lead to 5 runs entering the 7th. Wolfpack came in the top of the 7th looking for a big rally to extend the game. Karaba got the inning started with a single, but then was thrown out on a fielder's choice for the first out. Matt Sheehan then had himself a single to put runners on the corner with one out. Paul Abendroth then drove in a run on an RBI sac fly to cut the lead to four, but this left Wolfpack down to their finally out. Hans Abendroth kept the game going with a single and then Dave McCauley singled himself to score another run and reduce Dark Dogs' lead to three. Dan Kalonski continued the singles parade and brought up the go ahead run. The comeback fell short as the Dark Dogs' pitcher was able to strike out the next batter looking for the third out and the victory. Dark Dogs wins the play in game 14-11 against Wolfpack and moves onto the semi-finals against Wire 2 Wire.

Game 2: Purple Cobras vs One Hit Wonders

Game 2 featured the number 2 seed Purple Cobras versus the number 3 seed One Hit Wonders for a shot in the championship. One Hit Wonders came up to bat first and went down 1,2,3 on some great defensive plays by the Purple Cobras infield. The Purple Cobras offense then exploded in the bottom of the first as they scored 6 runs on RBI doubles by Bill and Carmen Brancato, a walk and an error to give the Purple Cobras a 6-0 lead after one. Jared Owens got One Hit Wonders on the scoreboard in the top of the 2nd on his RBI sac fly, but that was all One Hit Wonders offense could generate. In the bottom of the 2nd, Corey Larwa led off with a single for the Purple Cobras, but One Hit Wonders defense was able to leave him stranded and keep the deficit 6-1 after two. In the top of the 3rd, One Hit Wonders was unable to find a hole in the Purple Cobras infield and could not score any runs. Bill Brancato extended the Cobras lead in the bottom of the 3rd on an RBI single to push the score to 7-1 after three. With the game almost halfway over, One Hit Wonders needed to start closing the gap in the top of the 4th to have a chance. Andy Springer and Jesse Grasso both singled to lead off the inning and then came around to score on an RBI single by Bill Groff and a fielder's choice by Jack Stepnowski to cut the Purple Cobras lead to four after the 4th as One Hit Wonders was able to hold the Cobras scoreless. Jason Hammer and Mike Harrington each singled in the top of the 5th for One Hit Wonders but were left stranded on a flyout and could not reduce the Purple Cobras lead. Purple Cobras then extended the lead after a Ty Allen RBI double to make the score 8-3 after five innings of play. One Hit Wonders added two runs in the top of the 6th on an RBI triple by Springer and an RBI single by Rob Gisondi to cut the lead to three. Purple Cobras added an insurance run on an RBI single by Jordan Roman in the bottom of the 6th to put the score at 9-5 Purple Cobras and only three outs away from sending Purple Cobras to the championship. In the top of the 7th One Hit Wonders was able to put a runner on after a single by Tom O'Neill, but three flyouts ended the inning and the game. Purple Cobras goes to the championship after defeating One Hit Wonders 9-5. They will play the winner of Wire 2 Wire vs Dark Dogs.

Game 3: Wire 2 Wire vs Dark Dogs

Game 3 featured a matchup between the top seed Wire 2 Wire team vs the number 4 seed Dark Dogs, winner goes to the championship to face Purple Cobras. Dark Dogs got first at bats in the top of the first. Dave Ketterlinus opened the scoring for Dark Dogs after Wire 2 Wire walked the first five batters of the game. They would go on to score 6 runs in the top of the first on a Bill Jones RBI single, RBI sac fly by Peter Burns, RBI single by Jason Hudachek and two more runs on walks putting the top seed team in a hole after the top of the 1st. Wire 2 Wire struggled early on offense and were not able to answer in the bottom of the 1st, striking out looking twice. Dark Dogs added onto their early lead scoring six more runs in the top of the 2nd on RBI singles by Jones, Jim Walker and Ketterlinus as well as an RBI sac fly by Jordan Moffett and a run by walk. Wire 2 wire got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the 2nd after an RBI sac fly by Matt Morgan to make the score 12-1 Dark Dogs after two innings. Walker added another RBI single for Dark Dogs in the top of the 3rd to extend the lead back to twelve. Wire 2 Wire got something going in the bottom of the 3rd on a two-run single by Gene Walczak as Wire 2 Wire scored three runs in the inning to put the score at 13-4 after three. In the top of the 4th, Dark Dogs answered right back scoring two runs on an RBI triple by Paul Ferruzzi Jr. and an RBI single by Nick Mariana. In the bottom of the 4th, Tom Signore scored a run on an RBI double, but Wire 2 Wire could not score anymore in the inning as the lead grew to 15-5 Dark Dogs after four. Dark Dogs offense continued to score in the top of the 5th as Jordan Moffett delivered an RBI double to give them an eleven-run lead over Wire 2 Wire. The top seed needed a bigger inning in the bottom of the 5th to get back in the game and give themselves a chance and they did just that by scoring 5 runs in the inning. Derrick Acker led the way with a two-run RBI triple followed by a Sean Butrica RBI double and RBI singles by Jacob McDevitt and Walczak leaving the score 16-10 Dark Dogs after the fifth. In the top of the 6th, Dark Dogs would increase the lead back to double digits after scoring four runs on an RBI double by Ryan Schock, RBI sac fly by Peter Burns, an error and a run by a walk. Wire 2 Wire would not go quietly as they scored three runs in the bottom of the 6th on RBI singles by Jason Falcone and Butrica to send the game into the seventh with the score 20-13. Dark Dogs added two insurance runs in the top of the 7th after another RBI triple by Paul Ferruzzi Jr. and an RBI sac fly by Schock putting the top seed in a nine run deficit and down to their last 3 outs. Wire 2 Wire put up a fight in the bottom of the 7th scoring runs on RBI singles by Alex Metz, Falcone, Acker, and McDevitt to cut the deficit to three runs, bases loaded, two outs and the winning run at the plate. Dark Dogs got the Wire 2 Wire batter to fly out and send them to the championship. Dark Dogs knocks off top seeded Wire 2 Wire 22-19.


This sets up a big championship matchup this Sunday as Dark Dogs takes on Purple Cobras in a best of three series to decide a champion. Stay tuned!