Wolseley Unions (101-53) vs.
Downie Chiefs (96-58)
Season Matchup: 4-2 in favor of Downie
Wolseley: Runs scored – 813 (1st in WL); runs against – 537 (1st)
Downie: Runs scored – 796 (2nd in EL); runs against – 623 (1st)
For the first time since the 1945-46 season, two first place teams will face each other for the United Cup. The 87-68 Stratford Barons met the 104-50 Kingston Pelicans that year and defeated the Pelicans 4 games to 2. It also marks the first time since 1941-42 that two teams with 90 or more regular season wins will square off. That was when the 93-61 Brunswick Legends downed the 94-60 Cambria Cannons 4 games to 2 to win their first cup.
The Downie Chiefs were known more for losing year in and year out, but that changed last season when they finished in the first division in the East for the first time with a 79-75 record. This year they broke through with a 96-58 record, taking first place and sweeping the Braeland City Monarchs for the Eastern League Pennant.
The Wolseley Unions are making their fourth consecutive appearance in the playoffs and are the defending United Cup Champions. After three consecutive 2nd place finishes, the Unions soared above the competition in the West with 101 victories. They then won the Western League Pennant in dramatic fashion, storming back from a three games to none deficit to take the next four to defeat the Fort Richmond Generals.
Downie has regained the services of 34-year old veteran RHP
Harley Bracher (18-9, 4.69 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 85 ERA+) after he sat out the Eastern League Pennant Series due to mild shoulder inflammation, but the Chiefs hardly missed him. He returns for the United Cup and will pitch out of the bullpen if needed.
The Wolseley Unions organization has accomplished a unique trifecta this season: they and their two farm clubs all reached their respective championship series. But it has not gone well so far. In the Amethyst Leagues, the Pulberry Trolleys’ AAA team, the Rutledge Red Caps, defeated Wolseley’s Caledonia Jets to win the Kings Cup 3 games to 1. And down in the AA Heritage Leagues, Downie’s Minto Tribe upended Wolseley’s Waterloo Whips to win the Governors Cup, 3 games to 2.
So will the Unions make it 0-3 in the championship series this year? Or will they buck the trend and successfully defend their title against these ‘Eastern upstarts’? One thing is certain: both teams are legitimate powerhouses and proved that in their respective Pennant Series. Anticipation is running high to get things underway. Play ball!
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Game 1 – April 7
Just like last year, the United Cup gets underway at Satchel Paige Park in Wolseley, with 30,519 exuberant fans on hand millions more nationwide listening in via radio. It party cloudy, warm (74F) and just a light breeze blowing from left to right (10 mph).
Wolseley’s ace 26-year old RHP
Jeremy Albury (1-0, 2.81 ERA against Fort Richmond) gets the start, while Downie counters with their No. 1 starter, 27-year old RHP
Kelii Pelanekilina (1-0, 1.00 against Braeland City).
Top of the 1st:
Albury gets two quick outs to start the game, but CF Alfonso León then lights him up with a first-pitch
solo home run that lands 368 ft. into the leftfield stands to open the scoring.
Downie 1 – Wolseley 0
Top of the 5th:
Kelii Pelanekilina shows everyone that he is no slouch at the plate, as he slams a first pitch double deep into centerfield with one out. Speedy leadoff hitter SS Mac Medley then slaps an infield hit on the very next pitch and beats out Albury’s throw to 1B as Pelanekilina moves up to 3B.
1B Robin Duerden battles Albury to a full count before hitting a ground ball to 2B. Medley is thrown out at second but Duerden beats out the double play attempt as Pelanekilina comes home to score.
Downie 2 – Wolseley 0
Bottom of the 5th:
Wolseley gets something going thanks to a couple of Downie miscues. Pelanekilina gets two quick outs before 2B Make-Make Kamaka reaches safely on an error (E4).
Immediately after Kamaka steals 2B, RF Howard Ockey reaches safely when Pelanekilina’s throw to 1B is off the mark. Kamaka rounds 3B and scores on the play to get the Unions on the board.
Downie 2 – Wolseley 1
Top of the 7th:
As he did in the 5th inning, Pelanekilina doubles with one out, sending it down the 3B line. Two pitches later, a wild pitch by Albury allows Pelanekilina reach 3B.
Mac Medley then singles into shallow centerfield scoring Pelanekilina for the Chiefs’ third run.
In the bottom of the 9th, 1B Wen-huan Liu leads off, battling Pelanekilina to a full count before doubling into centerfield. Liu reaches 3B when CF Owen Claridge grounds out to 2B.
But 3B Burt Willey pops up to 1B Robin Duerden and PH Blair Toman strikes out swinging to end the game. The Chiefs take Game 1 in an impressive performance on the road.
FINAL: Downie 3 – Wolseley 1
Player of the Game: Kelii Pelanekilina was a force both on the mound and at the plate. Offensively, he went 2 for 4, 2-2B, 2 R, 1 K. On the pitching side of things, he went 9.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 133 PI (2-0, 0.50 ERA; Game Score: 76).
Alfonso León went 1 for 3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB.
For Wolseley:
Jeremy Albury was no slouch either but could not match ‘zeros’ with Pelanekilina. Albury went 9.0 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 108 PI (1-1, 2.88 ERA; GS: 60).
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Game 2 – April 8
The beautiful weather continues for a second day in Wolseley, as partly cloudy skies, 72F temperatures and a 12 mph breeze blowing in from left to right greet the players and the 30,645 fans on hand. The Unions look to try and get the split before the Series switches to Downie, while the Chiefs are intent on keeping their momentum going and win their 6th playoff game in a row.
No. 3 starter 30-year old RHP
Kai Tosh (0-1, 3.00 ERA) gets the call for Wolseley, while Downie goes with their No. 2 starter, 30-year old RHP
Joong Ling (1-0, 2.25 ERA).
Bottom of the 2nd:
SS George Kimpton gets the Unions on the board first when he slams a first-pitch, one out
solo home run 408 ft. into the joyous left centerfield stands.
Downie 0 – Wolseley 1
Bottom of the 4th:
C Éric Denis leads off with a first-pitch double that gets past Robin Duerden and down the 1B line. Joong Ling then gets two quick outs before CF Owen Claridge singles into shallow centerfield. Denis reaches 3B and is waved home on the play. CF Alfonso León’s throw to home plate is not in time as Denis scores Wolseley’s second run.
Downie 0 – Wolseley 2
Top of the 5th:
2B Francis Burrow leads off with a double. Joong Ling then lays down a sac bunt down the 1B line, but 1B Wen-huan Liu tracks it down and throws Burrow out at 3B. SS Mac Medley reaches on an error (E6), moving Ling up to 2B.
Next up is 1B Robin Duerden, who doubles into rightfield on the first pitch. Both Ling and Medley score without a throw to tie up the game.
Downie 2 – Wolseley 2
Bottom of the 5th:
2B Make-Make Kamaka leads off with a full-count walk. RF Howard Ockey attempts to lay down a sac bunt, but C Jilenko Batiles pounces on the ball and throws Kamaka out at 2B for the first out.
LF Carlton Hawking then steps up and drives a double into deep rightfield, moving Ockey to 3B. C Éric Denis follows and smacks a deep fly ball to centerfield. Ockey tags up on the play and scores without a throw.
Downie 2 – Wolseley 3
Top of the 6th:
Kai Tosh gets two quick fly outs to start the inning before RF Nathan Ashman line drives a single into right centerfield. Francis Burrow then connects for his third hit of the day, a full-count double down the 1B line. Ashman reaches 3B and is waved home as Downie ties things up again.
Downie 3 – Wolseley 3
Top of the 9th:
Francis Burrow leads off with his fourth hit of the day, a line drive single into left centerfield. PH Connor Buswell attempts a sac bunt, but 1B Wen-huan Liu again negates it when he throws out Burrow at 2B.
Mac Medley immediately singles into shallow leftfield, moving Buswell to 2B. That ends Tosh’s day, as RHP John Palm comes on in relief on a double switch.
Robin Duerden grounds out to 3B as the runners move up 90 ft. Alfonso León then hits a fly ball out to LF Carlton Hawking, but Hawking loses the ball in the sun. That allows Buswell and Medley to both score without a throw.
In the bottom of the 9th, RHP Carl Luscombe comes on in relief of Joong Ling.
3B Burt Willey flies out to centerfield but CF Lance Dulihanty (who entered the game earlier on the double switch) draws a walk.
Make-Make Kamaka follows and hits it to 2B Francis Burrow, who makes the 4-6 force-out. Kamaka beats out the throw at 1B to avoid the double play and keeps the inning alive. But Howard Ockey’s deep fly ball is just short of the centerfield wall and CF Alfonso León snags it to end the game. The Chiefs go up 2 games to none as the Series now heads to Downie.
FINAL: Downie 5 – Wolseley 3
Player of the Game: Francis Burrow was hot at the plate today, going 4 for 4, with 2-2B, 1 RBI.
Joong Ling picks up his second playoff victory, going 8.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 99 PI (2-0, 2.81 ERA; GS: 53).
Robin Duerden went 2-5 with 1-2B, 2 RBI.
For Wolseley:
There’s an argument to be made that Kai Tosh was the true Player of the Game, as he was done in by some unfortunate errors. He went 8.1 IP, with 9 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 119 PI (0-2, 2.70 ERA; GS: 54).
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Game 3 – April 10
The United Cup moves to the south-east coast as Downie’s Gibson Ballpark gets set to host the two combatants for at least the next two games. The Chiefs return home with all the momentum, but Wolseley has shown that they can be quite resilient when they need to be. It’s a beautiful day (74F) without a cloud in the sky, but the wind has picked up a little (20 mph). 30,035 have packed the park to witness Downie’s first United Cup home game.
29-year old RHP
Bernie Knowles (1-0, 4.00 ERA), Downie’s No. 3 starter, gets the start, while the Unions go with their No. 2 man, 31-year old RHP
Bill Blair (0-1, 2.25 ERA).
Top of the 2nd:
Wolseley loads the bases to start the inning, when C Éric Denis, SS George Kimpton and 1B Wen-huan Liu all single with nobody out. Then the Chiefs break down defensively.
CF Owen Claridge hits an innocent looking ball down towards 3B, but Dominic Dudding loses control of the ball, allowing Claridge to get on base and Denis to score.
Still with nobody out, 3B Burt Willey smacks one out to the shortstop, but Mac Medley’s throw to 1B is low and in the dirt, allowing Willey to reach safely and Kimpton to score the game’s second run.
Knowles then gets the next three batters to down in order to end the inning.
Wolseley 2 – Downie 0
Bottom of the 3rd:
RF Nathan Ashman leads off with a single into shallow rightfield. Two pitches later, Bill Blair attempts to pick off Ashman at 1B, but his throw sails wide and Ashman takes 2B.
2B Francis Burrow then grounds out to the SS, moving Ashman to 3B.
Bernie Knowles then steps up to the plate and knocks a double into left centerfield, scoring Ashman for the Chiefs’ first run.
Wolseley 2 – Downie 1
Top of the 4th:
With one out, Burt Willey and Bill Blair bang out back-to-back doubles, putting the Unions back up by two.
2B Make-Make Kamaka then singles, moving Blair up to 3B. RF Howard Ockey smacks one to 2B. Kamaka is thrown out, but Ockey beats out the throw to 1B, breaking up the double play and allowing Blair to score Wolseley’s fourth run.
Wolseley 4 – Downie 1
Bottom of the 6th:
With one out, 1B Robin Duerden battles Blair to a full count, then crushes a
solo home run 414 ft. to the left centerfield bleachers.
3B Dominic Dudding then steps up to the plate with two out and sends Blair’s second offering 346 ft. into the leftfield stands for a
solo home run, getting Downie back to within one.
Wolseley 4 – Downie 3
Bottom of the 9th:
Down to their final out, LF Howard Dumbrill singles into the leftfield corner. Nathan Ashman then follows with a double into the rightfield corner. Dumbrill reaches 3B and is waved home. Howard Ockey throws home but Dumbrill beats out the throw to tie the game up.
Francis Burrow then flies out to shallow leftfield to end the inning, sending the game into extras.
Wolseley 4 – Downie 4
Bottom of the 11th:
Dominic Dudding leads off with a first-pitch double off RHP John Palm and reaches 3B when C Jilenko Batiles grounds out to the pitcher. But Howard Dumbrill and Nathan Ashman fly out to leftfield and left centerfield respectively to end the threat.
Wolseley 4 – Downie 4
Top of the 14th:
Make-Make Kamaka doubles off RHP Norberto Ortíz with one out and Howard Ockey draws a walk, but PH César Morales flies out to centerfield and Éric Denis hits into a 6-4 fielder’s choice to snuff out the threat.
Wolseley 4 – Downie 4
Top of the 15th:
With RHP Harley Bracher taking over from Norberto Ortíz, George Kimpton leads off with a walk. Wen-huan Liu then battles Bracher to a full-count before crushing a
2-run home run, 425 ft. into the right centerfield stands.
Next up is Owen Claridge, who triples down the rightfield line. Burt Willey then smacks a first-pitch single into shallow leftfield to score Claridge. That ends Bracher’s day after just 17 pitches and no outs. LHP Jeff Routh takes over and after giving up a single to Lance Dulihanty, gets the next three batters to go down on ground outs.
Wolseley 7 – Downie 4
Bottom of the 15th:
RHP Hun Park starts the 15th, and he immediately gives up a shallow centerfield single to Mac Medley. Medley steals 2B just as Robin Duerden strikes out, but a bad throw from C Éric Denis sails into the outfield, allowing Medley to reach 3B.
Alfonso León grounds out to 2B as Medley scores. But Dominc Dudding flies out to rightfield to end the game. Wolseley finally prevails and ends Downie’s 6-game winning streak in the playoffs.
FINAL: Wolseley 7 – Downie 5
Player of the Game: Bill Blair got the honors, going 9.0 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 HR, 114 PI (0-1, 3.00 ERA; GS: 53).
Burt Willey went 2 for 6, 1-2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB.
Wen-huan Liu went 2 for 6, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R.
For Downie:
Bernie Knowles put up a valiant effort as well, going 8.0 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 134 PI (1-0, 3.71 ERA; GS: 51).
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Game 4 – April 11
30,062 fans have returned to Gibson Ballpark looking to see if their Chiefs can put yesterday’s heartbreaking loss behind them and become the first team in the Series to win a home game. The weather is perfect for an afternoon of playoff baseball: partly cloudy, 71F with just a gentle breeze (11 mph) blowing from left to right off nearby Pearl Sound.
Downie goes with their No. 4 starter, 30-year old RHP
Don Griffin (0-0, 2.57), while Wolseley taps their No. 4 as well: 25-year old LHP
Axel MacKay (1-0, 4.70 ERA).
Top of the 2nd:
SS George Kimpton leads off and smacks one to SS Mac Medley, but Medley’s throw sails into the dugout, allowing Kimpton to reach 2B safely. With one out, 3B Burt Willey lofts a fly ball to deep centerfield. Kimpton tags up and reaches 3B without a throw. CF Owen Claridge then singles home Kimpton for the games’ first run.
Wolseley 1 – Downie 0
Bottom of the 2nd:
With one out, LF Howard Dumbrill singles into rightfield. Next up is C Whatahui Inoke, who smashes MacKay’s second offering 420 ft. into the right centerfield stands for a
2-run home run.
Wolseley 1 – Downie 2
Bottom of the 6th:
Wolseley’s pitching and defense falls off the rails. CF Alfonso León leads off with a walk and reaches 2B on a wild pitch two pitches later. 3B Dominic Dudding then singles into shallow rightfield. León rounds 3B and breaks for home, sliding head first to beat the throw from RF Howard Ockey. Robin Duerden then hits right to 1B Wen-huan Lui. Lui steps on the bag for the first out, but Dudding slides into 2B safely ahead of the throw.
Howard Dumbrill battles MacKay for 15 pitches (including 9 foul balls) before drawing a walk. Whatahui Inoke then singles into left centerfield. LF Carlton Hawking’s throw back to the catcher is off the mark, allowing Dudding to score and for Dumbrill and Inoke to reach 3B and 2B respectively.
After Francis Burrow is given a free pass, Donn Griffin reaches 1B safely when LF Carlton Hawking commits his second error of the inning when he drops the ball. Both Dumbrill and Inoke score on the play and Burrow advances to 3B.
That ends Axel MacKay’s afternoon, as he is replaced by LHP Shane Gledhill.
But Mac Medley singles into leftfield to score both Burrow and Griffin without a throw.
Next up is PH Manuel Castaneda, who watches as Medley is thrown out trying to steal 2B. On the next pitch, Castaneda slams a
solo home run 390 ft. into the delirious leftfield stands to put an exclamation mark on a wild inning.
Wolseley 1 – Downie 9
Bottom of the 7th:
PH Robert Pybus pads the Chiefs’ lead with a lead off
solo home run, 424 ft. to left centerfield.
In the top of the 9th, C Éric Denis leads off with a single. PH Mack Kaminski slaps the ball towards 1B. Inoke throws to 2B to get the first out, but Denis’ hard slide breaks up a potential double play. Griffin then gets PH Westin Woollams to fly out to leftfield before being replaced with RHP Harley Bracher. Bracher only throws one pitch, as PH Steve Laurence pops out to 1B to end the game.
FINAL: Wolseley 1 – Downie 10
Player of the Game: Donn Griffin was solid, going 8.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 108 PI (1-0, 1.15 ERA; GS: 74).
Whatahui Inoke went 2 for 4, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R.
Howard Dumbrill went 2 for 3, 2 R, 1 BB.
For Wolseley:
There was no magic this time for Axel Mackay, as he only went 5.1 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 97 PI (2-1, 4.80 ERA; GS: 27).
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Game 5 – April 12
With the trouncing of the Unions in Game 4, the Downie Chiefs have regained the momentum right back and look to take the Series in their final home game of the season. Gibson Ballpark is packed with 30,023 fans along with standing patrons to witness what they hope will be the pinnacle of their Cinderella season. The heat is on the Wolseley Unions in more ways than one. The temperature has shot up (79F) with a cloudless sky and just a light breeze blowing left to right (12 mph).
The Game 1 starters get the call again: 27-year old RHP
Kelii Pelanekilina (2-0, 0.50 ERA) faces Wolseley’s 26-year old RHP
Jeremy Albury (1-1, 2.88 ERA). Both are their teams’ aces.
Bottom of the 1st:
SS Mac Medley leads off and battles Albury for a full-count double into centerfield. Medley advances to 3B when 1B Robin Duerden grounds out to the pitcher.
Next up is Alfonso León, who drives a deep fly ball to centerfield. Medley tags up on the play and scores without a throw.
Wolseley 0 – Downie 1
Top of the 6th:
Pelanekilina keeps the Unions off the board, limiting them to just three singles until the 6th. After getting two quick ground outs, Pelanekilina gives up a first-pitch
solo home run to LF Carlton Hawking, who crushes it 411 ft. into the left-centerfield stands.
Wolseley 1 – Downie 1
Bottom of the 9th:
Through eight innings, Albury has given up just one measly hit, a double by Mac Medley back in the first inning. Medley gets Downie’s second hit when leads off the bottom of the 9th with a first-pitch single that just gets past 2B Make-Make Kamaka. Back-to-back ground outs by Robin Duerden and Alfonso León move Medley up to 3B. Dominic Dudding is then given a free pass.
Up next is C Jilenko Batiles, who bangs out a first-pitch single that gets by 1B Wen-huan Liu down the rightfield line. Medley comes home to score the winning run. The players, fans and all of Downie erupt in jubilation as the Chiefs win their first
United Cup in their first playoff appearance!
FINAL: Wolseley 1 – Downie 2
Player of the Game: Kelii Pelanekilina wins not only his second PotG honor in the Series but the
United Cup MVP Award as well. It was an easy choice, as he was just incredible throughout the playoffs, surrendering just 10 hits in 18 IP. His line was 9.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 138 PI (3-0, 0.67 ERA; GS: 74).
Mac Medley went 2 for 4, 2 R.
For Wolseley:
On any other day, Jeremy Albury’s performance would be hailed as the key to an impressive win, but unfortunately for Albury and the rest of the Unions, he faced a pitcher that just could not be beat. Albury went 8.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 126 PI (1-2, 2.67 ERA; GS: 71).
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