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reds1 · 12-15-2017, 06:53 PM

April 9, 1948

Braeland City Monarchs (96-58) vs. Fort Richmond Generals (88-68)
Season Matchup: 4-2 in favor of Fort Richmond

Braeland City: Runs scored – 705 (5th in EL); runs allowed – 636 (2nd in EL)
Fort Richmond: Runs scored – 678 (7th in WL); runs allowed – 599 (1st in WL)

For the second season in a row, two teams who have never won the United Cup meet to battle for the United Leagues’ greatest prize. The Braeland City Monarchs make their second appearance in the Final, their first since 1939-40, when they fell to the Cambria Cannons in 7 games. The Monarchs nearly squandered a 3 games-to-1 lead in the Eastern Pennant Series, finally prevailing over the Stratford Barons in the 12th inning of Game 7.

The Fort Richmond Generals are making their first appearance in the United Cup Final in their very first playoff appearance. The Generals dispatched the Wolseley Unions, the defending Western League Pennant Champions, in just 5 games. Thus they will be much more rested than the Monarchs. But both clubs are dealing with injuries that will impact their roster heading into the finals.

Fort Richmond will be without SS Nobuyoshi Yoshida (.276/.332/.435, 7 HR, 42 RBI, 25 BB, 1.9 WAR). The 23-year old rookie injured himself in the field in Game 2 of the Western League Pennant. He was diagnosed with chronic back soreness. 25-year old SS Clive Lanham (.268/.336/.364, 4 HR, 28 RBI, 23 BB, 0.9 WAR) took his place and will continue to do so. Incidentally, both Yoshida and Lanham were 8th overall picks for Fort Richmond: Lanham in 1943-44 and Yoshida in 1946-47.

Meanwhile, Braeland City will be without rookie RP Freddie Trerise (2-3, 5.70 ERA, 1.69 WHIP). The 22-year old Trerise tore a rotator cuff in the Game 2 of the Eastern League Pennant, the same day as Fort Richmond’s Yoshida. However, the Monarchs welcome back 27-year old SP Nicholas Grimes (5-6, 2.92 ERA, 1.31 WHIP), who suffered a torn shoulder muscle in December. He is on their playoff roster and is thus eligible to pitch in the United Cup.

Regardless of how the Series plays out, the very appearance of the Generals in the Finals is validation of sorts for their 52-year old manager, Eugene Rogge. Rogge has been Fort Richmond’s only manager, and he has overseen a lot of losing during that time.
Meanwhile, Braeland City’s field manager, 50-year old Toby Reakes, is also making his first playoff appearance. He is in his fourth season as a manager.

So either way, a new team is soon to be crowned United Cup Champions – again!

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Game 1

Pomp and ceremony are the order of the day, as Braeland City’s Kings Park hosts Game 1 of the United Cup. Skies are clear, the weather is mild and a gentle breeze is blowing out to center. 26,813 are on hand to witness the action.
The two teams go with their aces: 38-year old LHP David Cooling (0-2, 3.68 ERA) gets the start for the Monarchs, while Fort Richmond responds with 25-year old RHP Nicky Sherlock (1-0, 2.16 ERA).

Top of the 4th:
Home runs are the order of the day for this game. Both Cooling and Sherlock go toe-to-toe until the 4th inning, when RF Brandon Robinson connects on a 1-0 pitch from Cooling for a one-out solo home run, 432 ft. to dead centerfield.
Fort Richmond 1 – Braeland City 0

Top of the 5th:
The Generals double their lead, when C Louis Wearne leads off with a solo home run, 396 ft. to left centerfield.
Fort Richmond 2 – Braeland City 0

Bottom of the 5th:
Braeland City finally gets to Sherlock, when SS Simon Flatt cranks out a one-out solo home run, 430 ft. to centerfield.

In the bottom the 9th, RP Ch’ang-chieh Li looks to get the final three outs. PH Dean Witherden leads off with a single. But he is thrown out at 2B when CF Jason Pollock unsuccessfully tries to bunt him over. After PH Jorge Valentín strikes out on a full count, Simon Flatt pops-up to the second baseman, ending the game. Fort Richmond takes Game 1.
FINAL: Fort Richmond 2 – Braeland City 1

Player of the Game: Nicky Sherlock picks up his second win of the playoffs, going 7.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 128 PI (2-0, 1.62 ERA).

Brandon Robinson goes 2-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB.

Louis Wearne goes 1-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R.

For Braeland City:

Once again, David Cooling finishes with a better game score (66 to 64), but gets stuck with a tough loss. He went 9.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 HR, 108 PI, (0-3, 3.04 ERA).

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Game 2

Braeland City looks to at least get a series split before heading to Fort Richmond. The weather continues to be a non-factor: clear and warm with a slight breeze blowing in from right. 26,899 pack to stadium to support the home team.
LHP Nicholas Grimes gets his first start since December 11, 1947. Fort Richmond counters with their No. 2 starter, 23-year old RHP Shinzo Okamoto (0-0, 2.16 ERA).

Bottom of the 2nd:
The Monarchs get things going in the 2nd. Three consecutive singles by 1B Kyle Pryor, C Christopher Dainty and 2B Dennis Borton load the bases with nobody out. RF Jesús Ortega then grounds out, scoring Pryor.
With two out, the Monarchs pummel Okamoto some more with four straight singles, this time by SP Grimes, SS Simon Flatt, 3B Adam Ashley and LF Daniel Tantoco. That scores 4 more runs.
The Monarchs bat around the lineup (if you’re a member of ‘Team 10’) when Kyle Pryor and Christopher draw back-to-back walks. That scores another run, before Dennis Borton pops up to the second basemen to end the inning.
Fort Richmond 0 – Braeland City 6

SP Grimes is unable to finish the 4th inning, when he injures his shoulder while pitching. RHP Harrison Revell comes in to relive him.

[Note: When I played out this game, I swear that Grimes finished the inning before being replaced in the 5th by Revell. The game log agrees with me. Nevertheless, the box score only shows Grimes going 3.2 IP.]

Bottom of the 6th:
Jesús Ortega leads off with a single, ending SP Okamoto’s afternoon. With RHP John Bullivant getting the call from the bullpen, Jason Pollack singles and Simon Flatt draws a walk to load the bases with one out. Adam Ashley then comes through with a 2-run single, upping the Monarchs’ lead.
Fort Richmond 0 – Braeland City 8

Top of the 7th:
SS Clive Lanham smashes a two-out solo home run, 409 ft. to left-centerfield, getting the Generals on the board.
Fort Richmond 1 – Braeland City 8

Top of the 9th:
3B Loïc Billon leads off with a solo home run, 380 ft. to leftfield. But RP Revell gets Clive Lanham and 2B Oscar Agnolutto to fly out to centerfield and rightfield respectively. Lastly, Revell induces a 6-3 ground out from PH Brian Earle to end the game. Braeland City evens up the series before heading out to Fort Richmond.
FINAL: Fort Richmond 2 – Braeland City 8

Player of the Game: Harrison Revell gets the honor, after coming in to replace an injured Nicholas Grimes. Revell went 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 2 HR, 63 PI (2-0, 4.05 ERA).

Adam Ashley went 2-5 with 3 RBI, 1 R.

Nicholas Grimes suffers yet another injury. He suffered a sore shoulder while throwing and is DtD for 3 weeks.

For Fort Richmond:

Shinzo Okamoto lasts just 5.0 IP, with 8 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 88 IP (0-1, 6.07 ERA)

Loïc Billon went 2-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R.

Brandon Robinson went 3-4.

This is interesting: In the first two games, Fort Richmond has scored 4 runs – all of them on solo home runs.

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Game 3

The United Cup makes its first ever appearance in Fort Richmond, with the two teams knotted up at one apiece. 24,486 arrive to cheer on their team. Skies are partly cloudy with just a pleasant breeze blowing from right to left.
26-year old LHP Mo Goldstraw (0-1, 18.69 ERA), who got roughed up in his lone outing against Wolseley, gets the start for Fort Richmond. Meanwhile, 36-year old LHP Max MacColl (0-1, 6.75 EA) is tabbed by Braeland City.

Bottom of the 1st:
Fort Richmond wastes no time. LF Jake Stunt leads things off with a double, then advances to 3B when RF Brandon Robinson follows with a line drive single. With one out, Stunt crosses the plate on a wild pitch. 1B Clint Jones then slices a line drive single into shallow left to score Robinson.
Braeland City 0 – Fort Richmond 2

Bottom of the 2nd:
3B Loïc Billon and SS Clive Lanham lead off with back-to-back first-pitch singles. With one out, SP Goldstraw advances the runners on a sac bunt. Jake Stunt then cashes in both runners with a first-pitch single to left-centerfield.
Braeland City 0 – Fort Richmond 4

Bottom of the 7th:
Jake Stunt draws a 4-pitch walk to start the inning. A sac bunt and ground out moves him to 3B. After Clint Jones is intentionally walked, C Louis Wearne singles in Stunt for the Generals’ fifth run, ending SP MacColl’s day.
Braeland City 0 – Fort Richmond 5

Top of the 9th:
C Christopher Dainty and RF Jesús Ortega lead off with a walk and a single respectively, then advance when 3B Adam Ashley grounds out to 1B.
2B Dennis Borton breaks the goose egg with a deep fly ball to centerfield, scoring Dainty.
But after LF Daniel Tontoco draws a walk, CF Jason Pollock hits into a 5-3 ground out to end the game.
FINAL: Braeland City 1 – Fort Richmond 5

Player of the Game: Mo Goldstraw settles down and pitches a great game, going 9.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, 122 PI (1-1, 6.75 ERA).

Jake Stunt goes 3-4, 1-2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB.

Clint Jones went 1-2, 1 RBI, 2 BB.

For Braeland City:

Max MacColl suffers his second loss: 6.2 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 97 PI (0-2, 6.75 ERA).

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Game 4

The streak of beautiful weather ended today. While the temperature is very mild (76F), it has been raining off and on throughout the day. The wind has picked up a little as well, blowing in from right. Nevertheless, 24,279 fans converge on Generals Stadium to see if Fort Richmond can carry the momentum.
28-year old LHP Joy-shan Liu (1-0, 2.40 ERA) is handed the game ball for Fort Richmond, while 27-year old RHP Robin Medellin (1-0, 4.40 ERA) takes the hill for Braeland City.

Top of the 4th:
3B Adam Ashley leads off with a 4-pitch walk. With two out, CF Jason Pollack doubles home Ashley for the game’s first run.
Braeland City 1 – Fort Richmond 0

Bottom of the 4th:
The Generals load the bases with a LF Jake Stunt double, a RF Brandon Robinson walk and a CF Dylan Moyne single with nobody out. 1B Ron Gavin hits a ground ball to 2B, but the Monarchs’ Dennis Borton cuts down Stunt at home plate. C Louis Wearne then draws a 4-pitch walk off SP Medellin to force in Robinson and tie the game.
3B Loïc Billon then breaks it open with a 3-run double.
After SS Clive Lanham draws an intentional walk, 2B Oscar Agnolutto singles to load the bases once again. SP Lui then comes through with a bloop single into shallow centerfield, scoring both Billon and Lanham.
Braeland City 1 – Fort Richmond 6

Top of the 5th:
SS Simon Flatt leads off with a double and scores when 1B Dean Weatherden follows him with a single.

With one out, the game is delayed for 55 minutes as the rain intensifies.
Braeland City 2 – Fort Richmond 6

Bottom of the 5th:
Ron Gavin cranks out a one-out solo home run, 421 ft. to right-centerfield, ending SP Medellin’s soggy afternoon.
Braeland City 2 – Fort Richmond 7

Top of the 6th:
LF Daniel Tantaco gets that run back with a lead-off solo home run, 364 ft. to rightfield.
Braeland City 3 – Fort Richmond 7

Bottom of the 6th:
Some miscues lead to the Generals’ next run. With RHP Danilo Narvaez pitching in relief, Brandon Robinson draws a one-out walk. Robinson steals 2B, but a throwing error on the play allows him to take 3B. With two out and runners on 1B and 3B, C Louis Wearne hits a groundball to shortstop, but SS Flatt misplays the ball, allowing Robinson to score.
Braeland City 3 – Fort Richmond 8

Top of the 7th:
C Christopher Dainty takes RP John Bullivant yard on a lead-off solo home run, 356 ft. to leftfield.
Braeland City 4 – Fort Richmond 8

Top of the 9th:
Christopher Dainty leads off with a walk. Adam Ashley and Dennis Borton then hit back-to-back singles with one out to load the bases. Daniel Tantaco follows with a line drive sac fly to left-centerfield, scoring Dainty.
But Bullivant gets Jason Pollock to ground out to 3B, ending the threat and the game. The Generals now take a commanding 3-games-to-1 lead in the series.
FINAL: Braeland City 5 – Fort Richmond 8

Player of the Game: Despite the loss, Braeland City’s Christopher Dainty got game honors, going 3-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB.

Robin Medellin took the loss, going just 4.1 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 72 IP (1-1, 6.75 ERA).

For Fort Richmond:

Loïc Billon went 2-5, 1-2B, 3 RBI, 1 R.

Brandon Robinson went 1-3, 2 R, 2 BB.

Joy-shan Liu picked up his second win in the playoffs. He went 5.2 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 0 K, 95 PI (2-0, 3.05 ERA).

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Game 5

The dreary weather of the day before has finally moved on and clear, warm skies have returned. The temperature has shot up (78F) with just a soft breeze blowing in from right to left. With Fort Richmond aiming to win the United Cup at home, 24,394 have jammed themselves into tiny Generals Stadium to hopefully join in the keenly anticipated celebrations.

The pitching matchup is the same as Game 1, with RHP Nicky Sherlock (2-0, 1.69ERA) looking to lead the Generals to victory, while LHP David Cooling (0-3, 3.04 ERA) looks for his first win of the playoffs and send the Series back to Braeland City.

Top of the 1st:
On the very first pitch of the game, SP Sherlock hits SS Simon Flatt. Flat then advances to 2B on an Adam Ashley U3 groundout. With one out, 1B Kyle Pryor reaches safely on an error (E4), allowing Flatt to score.
Braeland City 1 – Fort Richmond 0

Bottom of the 1st:
After LF Jake Stunt strikes out to start the inning, Brandon Robinson reaches base safely on an error (E1). Next up is CF Dylan Moyne, who slams SP Cooling’s first offering 358 ft. into the rightfield bleachers for a 2-run home run.
Braeland City 1 – Fort Richmond 2

Bottom of the 5th:
Nicky Sherlock leads off with a first-pitch single. Jake Stunt then moves him to 2B on a sac bunt. After Brandon Robinson is intentionally walked, Dylan Moyne singles home Sherlock, who beats out the throw to home plate.

In the top of the 9th, SP Sherlock looks to go the distance. PH Dean Witherden flies out to centerfield. Simon Flatt flies out to leftfield. Finally, Adam Ashley flies out to rightfield on a 3-0 pitch to end the game and series.
The Fort Richmond Generals win their first United Cup and become just the third Western League team (after Kingston and Cambria) to win it all.
FINAL: Braeland City 1 – Fort Richmond 3

Player of the Game: Nicky Sherlock was magnificent, going 9.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 6 BB, 3 K, 130 PI (3-0, 1.08 ERA). He also earned United Cup MVP honours.

Dylan Moyne goes 2-4 with 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R.

For Braeland City:

David Cooling did all he could to keep Braeland City in the game, but it was not to be. He went 8.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 100 PI (0-4, 2.84 ERA).

Simon Flatt went 1-3, 1-2B, 1 R, 1 BB.

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12-15-2017, 06:53 PM	#396
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,929	April 9, 1948 Braeland City Monarchs (96-58) vs. Fort Richmond Generals (88-68) Season Matchup: 4-2 in favor of Fort Richmond Braeland City: Runs scored – 705 (5th in EL); runs allowed – 636 (2nd in EL) Fort Richmond: Runs scored – 678 (7th in WL); runs allowed – 599 (1st in WL) For the second season in a row, two teams who have never won the United Cup meet to battle for the United Leagues’ greatest prize. The Braeland City Monarchs make their second appearance in the Final, their first since 1939-40, when they fell to the Cambria Cannons in 7 games. The Monarchs nearly squandered a 3 games-to-1 lead in the Eastern Pennant Series, finally prevailing over the Stratford Barons in the 12th inning of Game 7. The Fort Richmond Generals are making their first appearance in the United Cup Final in their very first playoff appearance. The Generals dispatched the Wolseley Unions, the defending Western League Pennant Champions, in just 5 games. Thus they will be much more rested than the Monarchs. But both clubs are dealing with injuries that will impact their roster heading into the finals. Fort Richmond will be without SS Nobuyoshi Yoshida (.276/.332/.435, 7 HR, 42 RBI, 25 BB, 1.9 WAR). The 23-year old rookie injured himself in the field in Game 2 of the Western League Pennant. He was diagnosed with chronic back soreness. 25-year old SS Clive Lanham (.268/.336/.364, 4 HR, 28 RBI, 23 BB, 0.9 WAR) took his place and will continue to do so. Incidentally, both Yoshida and Lanham were 8th overall picks for Fort Richmond: Lanham in 1943-44 and Yoshida in 1946-47. Meanwhile, Braeland City will be without rookie RP Freddie Trerise (2-3, 5.70 ERA, 1.69 WHIP). The 22-year old Trerise tore a rotator cuff in the Game 2 of the Eastern League Pennant, the same day as Fort Richmond’s Yoshida. However, the Monarchs welcome back 27-year old SP Nicholas Grimes (5-6, 2.92 ERA, 1.31 WHIP), who suffered a torn shoulder muscle in December. He is on their playoff roster and is thus eligible to pitch in the United Cup. Regardless of how the Series plays out, the very appearance of the Generals in the Finals is validation of sorts for their 52-year old manager, Eugene Rogge. Rogge has been Fort Richmond’s only manager, and he has overseen a lot of losing during that time. Meanwhile, Braeland City’s field manager, 50-year old Toby Reakes, is also making his first playoff appearance. He is in his fourth season as a manager. So either way, a new team is soon to be crowned United Cup Champions – again! -------- Game 1 Pomp and ceremony are the order of the day, as Braeland City’s Kings Park hosts Game 1 of the United Cup. Skies are clear, the weather is mild and a gentle breeze is blowing out to center. 26,813 are on hand to witness the action. The two teams go with their aces: 38-year old LHP David Cooling (0-2, 3.68 ERA) gets the start for the Monarchs, while Fort Richmond responds with 25-year old RHP Nicky Sherlock (1-0, 2.16 ERA). Top of the 4th: Home runs are the order of the day for this game. Both Cooling and Sherlock go toe-to-toe until the 4th inning, when RF Brandon Robinson connects on a 1-0 pitch from Cooling for a one-out solo home run, 432 ft. to dead centerfield. Fort Richmond 1 – Braeland City 0 Top of the 5th: The Generals double their lead, when C Louis Wearne leads off with a solo home run, 396 ft. to left centerfield. Fort Richmond 2 – Braeland City 0 Bottom of the 5th: Braeland City finally gets to Sherlock, when SS Simon Flatt cranks out a one-out solo home run, 430 ft. to centerfield. In the bottom the 9th, RP Ch’ang-chieh Li looks to get the final three outs. PH Dean Witherden leads off with a single. But he is thrown out at 2B when CF Jason Pollock unsuccessfully tries to bunt him over. After PH Jorge Valentín strikes out on a full count, Simon Flatt pops-up to the second baseman, ending the game. Fort Richmond takes Game 1. FINAL: Fort Richmond 2 – Braeland City 1 *Player of the Game:* Nicky Sherlock picks up his second win of the playoffs, going 7.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 128 PI (2-0, 1.62 ERA). Brandon Robinson goes 2-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB. Louis Wearne goes 1-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R. *For Braeland City:* Once again, David Cooling finishes with a better game score (66 to 64), but gets stuck with a tough loss. He went 9.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 HR, 108 PI, (0-3, 3.04 ERA). -------- Game 2 Braeland City looks to at least get a series split before heading to Fort Richmond. The weather continues to be a non-factor: clear and warm with a slight breeze blowing in from right. 26,899 pack to stadium to support the home team. LHP Nicholas Grimes gets his first start since December 11, 1947. Fort Richmond counters with their No. 2 starter, 23-year old RHP Shinzo Okamoto (0-0, 2.16 ERA). Bottom of the 2nd: The Monarchs get things going in the 2nd. Three consecutive singles by 1B Kyle Pryor, C Christopher Dainty and 2B Dennis Borton load the bases with nobody out. RF Jesús Ortega then grounds out, scoring Pryor. With two out, the Monarchs pummel Okamoto some more with four straight singles, this time by SP Grimes, SS Simon Flatt, 3B Adam Ashley and LF Daniel Tantoco. That scores 4 more runs. The Monarchs bat around the lineup (if you’re a member of ‘Team 10’) when Kyle Pryor and Christopher draw back-to-back walks. That scores another run, before Dennis Borton pops up to the second basemen to end the inning. Fort Richmond 0 – Braeland City 6 SP Grimes is unable to finish the 4th inning, when he injures his shoulder while pitching. RHP Harrison Revell comes in to relive him. [Note: When I played out this game, I swear that Grimes finished the inning before being replaced in the 5th by Revell. The game log agrees with me. Nevertheless, the box score only shows Grimes going 3.2 IP.] Bottom of the 6th: Jesús Ortega leads off with a single, ending SP Okamoto’s afternoon. With RHP John Bullivant getting the call from the bullpen, Jason Pollack singles and Simon Flatt draws a walk to load the bases with one out. Adam Ashley then comes through with a 2-run single, upping the Monarchs’ lead. Fort Richmond 0 – Braeland City 8 Top of the 7th: SS Clive Lanham smashes a two-out solo home run, 409 ft. to left-centerfield, getting the Generals on the board. Fort Richmond 1 – Braeland City 8 Top of the 9th: 3B Loïc Billon leads off with a solo home run, 380 ft. to leftfield. But RP Revell gets Clive Lanham and 2B Oscar Agnolutto to fly out to centerfield and rightfield respectively. Lastly, Revell induces a 6-3 ground out from PH Brian Earle to end the game. Braeland City evens up the series before heading out to Fort Richmond. FINAL: Fort Richmond 2 – Braeland City 8 *Player of the Game:* Harrison Revell gets the honor, after coming in to replace an injured Nicholas Grimes. Revell went 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 2 HR, 63 PI (2-0, 4.05 ERA). Adam Ashley went 2-5 with 3 RBI, 1 R. Nicholas Grimes suffers yet another injury. He suffered a sore shoulder while throwing and is DtD for 3 weeks. *For Fort Richmond:* Shinzo Okamoto lasts just 5.0 IP, with 8 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 88 IP (0-1, 6.07 ERA) Loïc Billon went 2-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R. Brandon Robinson went 3-4. This is interesting: In the first two games, Fort Richmond has scored 4 runs – all of them on solo home runs. -------- Game 3 The United Cup makes its first ever appearance in Fort Richmond, with the two teams knotted up at one apiece. 24,486 arrive to cheer on their team. Skies are partly cloudy with just a pleasant breeze blowing from right to left. 26-year old LHP Mo Goldstraw (0-1, 18.69 ERA), who got roughed up in his lone outing against Wolseley, gets the start for Fort Richmond. Meanwhile, 36-year old LHP Max MacColl (0-1, 6.75 EA) is tabbed by Braeland City. Bottom of the 1st: Fort Richmond wastes no time. LF Jake Stunt leads things off with a double, then advances to 3B when RF Brandon Robinson follows with a line drive single. With one out, Stunt crosses the plate on a wild pitch. 1B Clint Jones then slices a line drive single into shallow left to score Robinson. Braeland City 0 – Fort Richmond 2 Bottom of the 2nd: 3B Loïc Billon and SS Clive Lanham lead off with back-to-back first-pitch singles. With one out, SP Goldstraw advances the runners on a sac bunt. Jake Stunt then cashes in both runners with a first-pitch single to left-centerfield. Braeland City 0 – Fort Richmond 4 Bottom of the 7th: Jake Stunt draws a 4-pitch walk to start the inning. A sac bunt and ground out moves him to 3B. After Clint Jones is intentionally walked, C Louis Wearne singles in Stunt for the Generals’ fifth run, ending SP MacColl’s day. Braeland City 0 – Fort Richmond 5 Top of the 9th: C Christopher Dainty and RF Jesús Ortega lead off with a walk and a single respectively, then advance when 3B Adam Ashley grounds out to 1B. 2B Dennis Borton breaks the goose egg with a deep fly ball to centerfield, scoring Dainty. But after LF Daniel Tontoco draws a walk, CF Jason Pollock hits into a 5-3 ground out to end the game. FINAL: Braeland City 1 – Fort Richmond 5 *Player of the Game:* Mo Goldstraw settles down and pitches a great game, going 9.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, 122 PI (1-1, 6.75 ERA). Jake Stunt goes 3-4, 1-2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB. Clint Jones went 1-2, 1 RBI, 2 BB. *For Braeland City:* Max MacColl suffers his second loss: 6.2 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 97 PI (0-2, 6.75 ERA). -------- Game 4 The streak of beautiful weather ended today. While the temperature is very mild (76F), it has been raining off and on throughout the day. The wind has picked up a little as well, blowing in from right. Nevertheless, 24,279 fans converge on Generals Stadium to see if Fort Richmond can carry the momentum. 28-year old LHP Joy-shan Liu (1-0, 2.40 ERA) is handed the game ball for Fort Richmond, while 27-year old RHP Robin Medellin (1-0, 4.40 ERA) takes the hill for Braeland City. Top of the 4th: 3B Adam Ashley leads off with a 4-pitch walk. With two out, CF Jason Pollack doubles home Ashley for the game’s first run. Braeland City 1 – Fort Richmond 0 Bottom of the 4th: The Generals load the bases with a LF Jake Stunt double, a RF Brandon Robinson walk and a CF Dylan Moyne single with nobody out. 1B Ron Gavin hits a ground ball to 2B, but the Monarchs’ Dennis Borton cuts down Stunt at home plate. C Louis Wearne then draws a 4-pitch walk off SP Medellin to force in Robinson and tie the game. 3B Loïc Billon then breaks it open with a 3-run double. After SS Clive Lanham draws an intentional walk, 2B Oscar Agnolutto singles to load the bases once again. SP Lui then comes through with a bloop single into shallow centerfield, scoring both Billon and Lanham. Braeland City 1 – Fort Richmond 6 Top of the 5th: SS Simon Flatt leads off with a double and scores when 1B Dean Weatherden follows him with a single. With one out, the game is delayed for 55 minutes as the rain intensifies. Braeland City 2 – Fort Richmond 6 Bottom of the 5th: Ron Gavin cranks out a one-out solo home run, 421 ft. to right-centerfield, ending SP Medellin’s soggy afternoon. Braeland City 2 – Fort Richmond 7 Top of the 6th: LF Daniel Tantaco gets that run back with a lead-off solo home run, 364 ft. to rightfield. Braeland City 3 – Fort Richmond 7 Bottom of the 6th: Some miscues lead to the Generals’ next run. With RHP Danilo Narvaez pitching in relief, Brandon Robinson draws a one-out walk. Robinson steals 2B, but a throwing error on the play allows him to take 3B. With two out and runners on 1B and 3B, C Louis Wearne hits a groundball to shortstop, but SS Flatt misplays the ball, allowing Robinson to score. Braeland City 3 – Fort Richmond 8 Top of the 7th: C Christopher Dainty takes RP John Bullivant yard on a lead-off solo home run, 356 ft. to leftfield. Braeland City 4 – Fort Richmond 8 Top of the 9th: Christopher Dainty leads off with a walk. Adam Ashley and Dennis Borton then hit back-to-back singles with one out to load the bases. Daniel Tantaco follows with a line drive sac fly to left-centerfield, scoring Dainty. But Bullivant gets Jason Pollock to ground out to 3B, ending the threat and the game. The Generals now take a commanding 3-games-to-1 lead in the series. FINAL: Braeland City 5 – Fort Richmond 8 *Player of the Game:* Despite the loss, Braeland City’s Christopher Dainty got game honors, going 3-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB. Robin Medellin took the loss, going just 4.1 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 72 IP (1-1, 6.75 ERA). *For Fort Richmond:* Loïc Billon went 2-5, 1-2B, 3 RBI, 1 R. Brandon Robinson went 1-3, 2 R, 2 BB. Joy-shan Liu picked up his second win in the playoffs. He went 5.2 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 0 K, 95 PI (2-0, 3.05 ERA). -------- Game 5 The dreary weather of the day before has finally moved on and clear, warm skies have returned. The temperature has shot up (78F) with just a soft breeze blowing in from right to left. With Fort Richmond aiming to win the United Cup at home, 24,394 have jammed themselves into tiny Generals Stadium to hopefully join in the keenly anticipated celebrations. The pitching matchup is the same as Game 1, with RHP Nicky Sherlock (2-0, 1.69ERA) looking to lead the Generals to victory, while LHP David Cooling (0-3, 3.04 ERA) looks for his first win of the playoffs and send the Series back to Braeland City. Top of the 1st: On the very first pitch of the game, SP Sherlock hits SS Simon Flatt. Flat then advances to 2B on an Adam Ashley U3 groundout. With one out, 1B Kyle Pryor reaches safely on an error (E4), allowing Flatt to score. Braeland City 1 – Fort Richmond 0 Bottom of the 1st: After LF Jake Stunt strikes out to start the inning, Brandon Robinson reaches base safely on an error (E1). Next up is CF Dylan Moyne, who slams SP Cooling’s first offering 358 ft. into the rightfield bleachers for a 2-run home run. Braeland City 1 – Fort Richmond 2 Bottom of the 5th: Nicky Sherlock leads off with a first-pitch single. Jake Stunt then moves him to 2B on a sac bunt. After Brandon Robinson is intentionally walked, Dylan Moyne singles home Sherlock, who beats out the throw to home plate. In the top of the 9th, SP Sherlock looks to go the distance. PH Dean Witherden flies out to centerfield. Simon Flatt flies out to leftfield. Finally, Adam Ashley flies out to rightfield on a 3-0 pitch to end the game and series. The Fort Richmond Generals win their first United Cup and become just the third Western League team (after Kingston and Cambria) to win it all. FINAL: Braeland City 1 – Fort Richmond 3 *Player of the Game:* Nicky Sherlock was magnificent, going 9.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 6 BB, 3 K, 130 PI (3-0, 1.08 ERA). He also earned United Cup MVP honours. Dylan Moyne goes 2-4 with 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R. *For Braeland City:* David Cooling did all he could to keep Braeland City in the game, but it was not to be. He went 8.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 100 PI (0-4, 2.84 ERA). Simon Flatt went 1-3, 1-2B, 1 R, 1 BB. -------- __________________ United Leagues of Braeland