#1 Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (79-29) vs #3 County Crossing Bloodbugs (59-50)
Game 1: Nordhagen Beach 3, County Crossing 2, 10 inn.
Party Boys, Bloodbugs Play 10 to Settle Game 1, Nordhagen Beach Now Leads Series 1-0
The Nordhagen Beach Party Boys started the Association Championship in dramatic fashion today, stealing Game 1 from the County Crossing Bloodbugs in a walk-off in the 10th inning. Nordhagen Beach took the 3-2 win thanks in large part to a good day from starter Tommy Beach. The right-hander threw 6.0 innings allowing 2 runs in the win, which gave the Party Boys a 1-0 lead to start the best-of-7 series.
The clutch at-bat came in the bottom of the tenth inning, when Nordhagen Beach third baseman Jon Hitman, facing Jesse Bibeault, had a run-scoring single. It gave the Party Boys the 3-2 win.
"We're playing like gangbusters right now," said Hitman.
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Slocum's Joe Seaside Stadium in Winthrop.
Game 2: Nordhagen Beach 3, County Crossing 2
Nordhagen Beach Wins Again, 3-2
With starter Chet Arthur leading the charge, the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys defeated the County Crossing Bloodbugs, 3-2, in Game 2 of the Association Championship today. The right-hander threw 7.0 innings of 6-hit ball at Slocum's Joe Seaside Stadium to help Nordhagen Beach take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 series.
Jonathan Angelou hit a 2-run double off Whip Lashley in the bottom of the third, which put the Party Boys in front, 2-0. In addition to the double, Angelou had 1 single and 1 walk, while going 2 for 3.
"We put it together today and came out with the win," Angelou said in postgame remarks. "That's the main thing."
Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday at Beantown Brewery Stadium in County Crossing.
Analysis
Pitching is indeed the story so far in this series with the four starting pitchers combining for 9 earned runs in 26 innings so far. Only Jesse Bibeault's 10th-inning run allowed was the non-started run allowed.
County Crossing now gets the scare of having to face the Party Boys' well-rested ace Beachboy Nut. Should the Bugs' Jared Zaccone not outduel Nut, then we could see Nordhagen Beach with a 3-0 series lead.
Looking forward to what the hitters can do, each of the Boys' best hitters so far--Jonathan Angelou, Pointie Shroud, and Michael Fogcrawler--are not surprises. Nordhagen Beach could use more production from players like Brian Masterson and Ryan Combs.
For the Bloodbugs, Ajani Peacock, Biter Trout, and Taygun Topaloglu have looked fine so far, each getting at least three hits in the series. They could use help from the 4-8 hitters, including Cy Thompson and Ginger Rogers.