For the first time in eight years, two teams still searching for their first United Cup will meet in the finals. Back in 1947-48, it was the Braeland City Monarchs and Fort Richmond Generals, with the Generals prevailing in five games. This year, it’s the Wellington Athletics and Pulberry Trolleys. This is the third time the Athletics have reached the United Cup finals, having won the Eastern League Pennant twice before – in 1937-38 when they fell to the Kingston Pelicans in the ULB’s inaugural season and then 14 years later in 1951-52 when they were denied by the Wolseley Unions. As for the Pulberry Trolleys, this marks their first appearance in the United Cup finals. They have finished in top spot in the West over the past three seasons but finally broke through this year to win their first Pennant. This is also the first time in four years where two first-place teams will face each other in the finals.
Both teams report no lingering injuries to their respective playoff rosters and enter the United Cup at full strength.
In addition to the clubs as a whole, both managers are seeking their first United Cup championship. For 62-year old
Wildemar Aquino (210-223, .484), this season marks the first playoff appearance of his 18-year career. However, this was just his third season as a manager, with the rest spent as either a hitting or bench coach.
50-year old
Ryo Ichikawa (1001-851, .540) just completed his 12th season as a big-league manager. He has led his teams to the playoffs 6 times, winning a Pennant both with the Embro Suns and now the Trolleys. But the United Cup still eludes him.
During the regular season, Pulberry outplayed Wellington, winning 5 of 6 contests and outscoring them 27-17. But as we know, history is all in the past when it comes to the playoffs. With the top two teams meeting for the United Cup and both hungry for their first championship, this should be a dandy. Play ball!
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Game 1 – April 6
Trolleys Stadium takes center stage for Game 1 of the Untied Cup. The ballpark is packed and millions of Braelanders are either watching the game on their new-fangled tellies or more likely listening in on their radios at work. It’s hot and no rain is in the forecast to spoil the proceedings.
Wellington’s No. 4 starter, RHP
Troy Conlin (0-1, 6.0 IP, 1.50 ERA), is tasked with starting game 1. His previous playoff experience was game 4 of the Eastern League Pennant Series, a 7-4 loss where he gave up only 1 earned run but was victimized by three errors committed by his infielders. Pulberry responds with their young ace, 20-year old LHP
Bart Ohara (1-0, 15.0 IP, 0.60 ERA), who will be making his third playoff start. He won game 1 of the Western League Pennant Series in his first playoff appearance.
Bottom of the 6th:
Through the first 5-1/2 innings, both Ohara and Conlin kept the game scoreless, giving up one single and 4 walks each over that stretch. But it all came crashing down in the bottom of the 6th for Conlin.
Leading off, Gerard Koerner rips the first pitch past the pitcher. 2B Vaiga Bultarro lunges for it but it slips out his glove for a base hit. Aidan Thirkettle then walks on four pitches. Cooper Tyson bangs one through the hole into leftfield, loading the bases. Paul England then draws a full-count walk, forcing in Koerner for the game’s first run.
Ellis Dibble draws a full count as well, forcing in Thirkettle.
Sean Abercrombie gets hit with a 2-2 pitch, bringing home Tyson with the bases still loaded and nobody out.
Paul Heisler then walks on a low and outside pitch to score England.
Bart Ohara sends a hard shot past second base and into rightfield for a base hit. Dibble scores Pulberry’s 5th run. At this point, Wellington’s manager Aquino has seen enough and brings in RHP Zachary Collingham to relieve Conlin. But the hits keep coming.
Francis Jones rips one out to the right side past first base for a base hit, scoring Abercrombie.
Gerard Koerner, who led off the inning, bangs one out toward short rightfield for another base hit. Heisler scores on the play. Ohara rounds third and heads for home, but RF Jim Mars whips it back to C Declan Bugbie in time to tag out Ohara for the first out.
After Aidan Thirkettle strikes out, Cooper Tyson draws a walk to reload the bases. Paul England then sends a sharp line drive into shallow center. Jones scores on the play. Koerner rounds third and beats out the throw from CF Greg Yates with a hard slide as England moves up to second.
Finally, Ellis Dibble grounds out to 2B Vaiga Bultarro to end the inning.
Wellington 0 - Pulberry 9
Bottom of the 7th:
Sean Abercrombie knuckles one over the infield out toward short centerfield for a lead-off base hit. With one out, Bart Ohara bunts one back to the pitcher as Abercrombie advances to second on the sacrifice. Francis Jones then pounds a hard ground ball past the pitcher into centerfield for a base hit. Abercrombie motors past third and slides in safely at home.
Wellington 0 - Pulberry 10
Bottom of the 8th:
Collingham gets two quick outs before Ellis Dibble lines one into opposite rightfield. Jim Mars races over to get under it but it pops out of his glove. Dibble takes second on the error. Sean Abercrombie then smashes a missile down the line into deep rightfield. Mars chases after it as it bangs around in the corner. Dibble scores as Abercrombie slides into second, beating out the throw from Mars.
Paul Heisler pounces on a 3-1 pitch, hitting it back up the middle for a base hit. Abercrombie takes third then sprints for home. C Declan Bugbie attempts the tag but Abercrombie slides under it safely.
In the bottom of the 9th, Vaiga Bultarro leads off with a vicious grounder. But SS Sean Abercrombie corrals it and throws him out. Jim Mars then strikes out swinging on a 1-2 pitch. Finally, Matthew Floyd flares one out to opposite leftfield. Aidan Thirkettle moves in and gloves it for the final out. Pulberry completely destroys the Athletics to take game 1 as Bart Ohara throws a one-hitter.
FINAL: Wellington 0 - Pulberry 12
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Game 2 – April 7
Pulberry made perhaps the most dramatic statement to open a United Cup series in ULB history and look to keep the momentum going. All Wellington can do is to try to shake it off and start fresh. They will try and do that with their ace, 28-year old RHP
Vinnie Snell (1-0, 15.1 IP, 1.17 ERA), getting the start. The Trolleys respond with their No. 3 man, 34-year old RHP
Robin Medellin (0-1, 8.0 IP, 1.12 ERA), who gave up the only run in a 1-0 loss to the Sherburn Tigers in Game 3 of the WL Pennant Series. The weather is a carbon copy of the day before and thus will not be a factor.
Bottom of the 1st:
The Trolleys waste no time getting on the board. Francis Jones checks his swing for a lead-off walk. With one out, Aidan Thirkettle crushes one toward the gap in deep left center. LF Matthew Floyd chases after it but it’s beyond his reach and falls in for extra bases. Jones comes in to score. Thirkettle chugs for third as Floyd throws it in but it’s not in time as Thirkettle slides in safely for a triple.
Cooper Tyson rips a grounder toward shortstop. Vance Fendley plays it on the short hop and hurries his throw to 1B to throw him out, but Thirkettle comes home to score Pulberry’s second run.
Wellington 0 - Pulberry 2
Bottom of the 2nd:
Ellis Dibble leads off by shooting a grounder into the hole just wide of 1B. Wayne Emmert reaches to pick it up but mishandles it as Dibble reaches safely on the error. Sean Abercrombie then smashes one down the line into rightfield with Jim Mars in hot pursuit. As it bangs around in the corner, Dibble reaches third as Abercrombie pulls up into second. Paul Heisler then pulls a grounder toward leftfield, finding the crease. Heisler holds up at 1B, but Dibble comes into score. Abercrombie hustles around third and heads for home. Mars throws it back in, but Abercrombie launches himself and slides in under the tag.
Wellington 0 - Pulberry 4
Bottom of the 3rd:
With one out, Cooper Tyson crushes a 1-1 offering to rightfield. Jim Mars races back to the wall but it’s over his head, landing 411 ft. into the bleachers for a
solo jack.
Wellington 0 - Pulberry 5
Top of the 9th:
Wayne Emmert lines one to the right side, but 2B Paul Heisler reaches out and gloves it for the first out. Matthew Floyd then ends Wellington’s 17-inning scoring drought when he gets all of Medellin’s 1-1 offering for a massive
solo home run that lands 442 ft. into the centerfield stands. Floyd and Medellin exchange words as he rounds the bases, as the pitcher felt that Floyd spent too much time admiring his shot.
After the barking from both dugouts subsides, Greg Yates sends a hopper to the left side. SS Sean Abercrombie scoops it up and throws him out for out No. 2. Jim Mars then belts a high fly ball out to rightfield. Ellis Dibble moves under it and brings it down for the final out. The Trolleys take game 2 with another all-around dominant performance.
FINAL: Wellington 1 - Pulberry 5
RHP
Vinnie Snell injured his wrist in the 7th inning and was forced to leave the game. However, it was later diagnosed as simply some soreness and should not be serious (Day to day, 3 days).
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Game 3 – April 9
The United Cup moves to Santop Stadium in Wellington with the Athletics desperately trying to figure out how to solve the Trolleys and get back into the Series. The weather has cooled off a bit but otherwise it’s ideal for championship baseball.
Both teams go with their No. 2 starters. Pulberry pegs 28-year old RHP
Taylor Folkard (1-0, 14.1 IP, 1.88 ERA) to start, after he pitched effectively to seal Pulberry’s first Western League Pennant 5 days ago. Wellington looks to 24-year old RHP
Mike Murray (0-0, 8.2 IP, 8.31 ERA) who pitched only 0.2 innings before being pulled in Game 7 of the EL Pennant Series.
Top of the 1st:
Mike Murray starts the game by loading the bases. Francis Jones leads off with a full-count walk. Gerard Koerner then rips a liner to short center for a base hit as Jones takes second. Aidan Thirkettle follows and walks on 4-straight pitches.
Cooper Tyson then walks on a full count, forcing in Jones for the game’s first run.
Paul England skies one to deep center. Greg Yates hauls it in for the first out. Koerner tags up at third and slides in safely at home.
Pulberry 2 - Wellington 0
Bottom of the 2nd:
With one out, C Declan Bugbie strikes out on a called third strike. Bugbie takes exception to the call and immediately gets into it with the umpire. Before manager Wildemar Aquino can run in and pull him away, Bugbie is ejected. C Doug Bowman takes his place in the lineup for the remainder of the game.
Pulberry 2 - Wellington 0
Top of the 3rd:
Murray gives up back-to-back walks to Gerard Koerner and Aidan Thirkettle to lead off the inning. During Cooper Tyson’s subsequent at-bat, Murray throws a wild pitch, allowing the base runners to advance as the booing from the fans grow louder.
Tyson then lofts one to deep center. As Greg Yates hauls it in, Koerner tags up and beats out the throw to the plate.
Pulberry 3 - Wellington 0
Bottom of the 5th:
With one out, Yorikane Takeuchi smacks one toward the gap in deep left center. LF Aidan Thirkettle races back for it but it caroms off the wall. Takeuchi motors around second and slides in headfirst at third safely, beating out Thirkettle’s throw. Vance Fendley then sends a hard grounder past the pitcher and up the middle. SS Sean Abercrombie snags it and whips it to first for the out as Takeuchi comes home to get the Athletics on the board.
Pulberry 3 - Wellington 1
Bottom of the 6th:
Vaiga Bultarro lines Folkard’s first offering out toward shallow center for a lead off base hit. Two pitches later, Bultarro beats out C Paul England’s throw to steal second. Wayne Emmert then drives one into deep center. Cooper Tyson races back for it but can’t reach it as it bounces off the wall. Bultarro scores as Emmert slides in safely for a double.
Matthew Floyd then battles Folkard to a full count before drawing a walk.
With one out, Jim Mars sends a hard shot out toward short. SS Sean Abercrombie dives and knocks it down and flips it sideways to 2B Paul Heisler. But it ricochets off Heisler’s glove, loading the bases.
Doug Bowman hits a slow dribbler back up the middle. Folkard nabs it and fires it home for the force out. C Paul England throws it to first, but Bowman reaches safely to avoid the double play.
Yorikane Takeuchi hits a grounder straight up the middle that sneaks its way into centerfield. Floyd scores. Mars tears around third and slides into home safely, beating out the throw from CF Cooper Tyson as the Athletics take the lead for the first time in the series.
Pulberry 3 - Wellington 4
Bottom of the 7th:
Mike Murray leads off and sends a liner into shallow leftfield for a base hit. With two out and facing Matthew Floyd, Taylor Folkard pitches one low and away and it sails past C Paul England as a wild pitch. Murray then moves up the second. Floyd is then intentionally walked. But two pitches later, Folkard throws another wild pitch allowing the baserunners to advance. Greg Yates then flares one into leftfield that falls in front of Aidan Thirkettle. Murray crosses the plate. Floyd sails past third and heads for home. C Paul England spins around to try and make the tag, but it’s not in time as Wellington goes up by three.
Pulberry 3 - Wellington 6
Top of the 8th:
Mike Murray gets two quick outs before surrendering a double to Paul England. Murray grabs his arm immediately after the pitch. After the trainer examines him, he is removed from the game. RHP Finley Capstick comes on in relief and gets Ellis Dibble to strike out swinging to end the inning.
In the top of the 9th, Capstick strikes out Sean Abercrombie then induces back-to-back fly outs from PH Gustavo Hernández and PH Ángelo Ríos to end the game. The Athletics come from behind to get a much-needed win.
FINAL: Pulberry 3 - Wellington 6
RHP
Mike Murray was diagnosed with muscle fatigue (dead arm) and is doubtful for the rest of the Series (1 week).
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Game 4 – April 10
The Athletics broke through with their first win of the series and look to keep the hometown advantage working in their favour. The day is mild and gameday conditions are perfect.
Pulberry gives the starting duties this afternoon to their No. 4 starter, 29-year old RHP
Harley Rodman (0-0, 7.2 IP, 3.52 ERA). Rodman last pitched in game 4 of the WL Pennant Series and got a no decision in a 6-3 Pulberry win that went 10 innings. Wellington tasks their No. 2 starter, 32-year old RHP
Hyun-kyoo Sin (0-0, 10.0 IP, 3.60 ERA). Sin pitched 4 solid innings in game 6 of the EL Pennant Series before injuring himself. But the injury was not serious and he is ready to go.
Top of the 1st:
Sin gets roughed up right off the hop. Francis Jones leads off with a full-count walk. With one out, Aidan Thirkettle crushes one to right center. RF Jim Mars goes back and tries to time his jump, but it caroms off the top of the wall. Thirkettle tears around second and slides headfirst into third ahead of the throw as Jones scores.
Cooper Tyson belts one high into the air toward rightfield. Mars pulls it in. Thirkettle tags up and scores without a throw.
Paul England pounds the very next pitch through the hole into rightfield for a base hit. Ellis Dibble then smokes one to deep right center. CF Greg Yates tries to track it down but it’s over his head and skips to the wall. Dibble rounds second and slides safely into third as England scores.
Sean Abercrombie hits a weak grounder toward the hot corner. Yorikane Takeuchi charges for it and scoops it up but doesn’t risk the throw as Dibble scores.
Paul Heisler then pounds ones down the line into rightfield. Mars gives chase but can’t get to it as it bounces into the corner. Abercrombie hustles to third then breaks for home. 1B Wayne Emmert cuts off the throw to home and fires it to third. But Heisler slides in safely where it is officially scored as an RBI double.
Pulberry 5 – Wellington 0
Top of the 2nd:
Francis Jones takes a pitch low and away for ball four to lead off. That ends Sin’s afternoon as LHP Jeff Routh comes on in relief.
Geralrd Koerner slaps one out to the right side. 1B Wayne Emmert fires it to second to cut down Jones but Koerner beats out the return throw to first to avoid the double play. Aidan Thirkettle hits s a roller between third and shortstop. SS Vance Fendley gloves it and throws out Koerner at second but 2B Vaiga Bultarro gets upended with a hard slide from Koerner. During Cooper Tyson’s subsequent at-bat, Thirkettle gets a great jump to steal second. Tyson then crushes one down the line into rightfield. Jim Mars races over to try and track it down but it bangs off the wall. Tyson hesitates at second then turns on the jets before sliding in hard to beat out the relay throw for a triple as Thirkettle scores on the play.
Pulberry 6 – Wellington 0
Bottom of the 4th:
Rodman’s pitch is too far inside, hitting lead-off hitter Jim Mars. Declan Bugbie hits a hard grounder back up the middle into centerfield. Mars tears around second and hustles over to third to put runners on the corners. Yorikane Takeuchi skies one out toward center. Cooper Tyson hustles to it and makes a nice running grab. Mars tags up as Tyson throws home. Mars slides in hard but is called out on a very close play. Bugbie takes second on the play. But Vance Fendley hammers one out to right. Bugbie takes third then sprints for home. C Paul England tries to apply the tag but Bugbie scores on the RBI single.
Pulberry 6 – Wellington 1
Bottom of the 5th:
With one out, Wayne Emmert punches one through the first base side into rightfield for a base hit. Two pitches later, Emmert breaks for second. C Paul England rifles it to second but his throw sails wide into the outfield. Emmert takes third on the error.
Matthew Floyd then hits one out to left centerfield. Cooper Tyson pulls it down and throws home, but Emmert slides in safely to score.
Pulberry 6 – Wellington 2
Bottom of the 6th:
Declan Bugbie lines one down the line into short leftfield. Aidan Thirkettle pursues it as it rolls around in foul territory. Thirkettle throws to second, but Bugbie slides in safely with a one-out double. With two-out, Vance Fendley flares a 2-0 pitch out toward short left center for a base hit. Bugbie takes third then breaks for home. C Paul England gets the throw from Thirkettle and spins to try and apply the tag, but Bugbie is ruled safe for the Athletics’ third run.
Pulberry 6 – Wellington 3
Bottom of the 7th:
LHP Dermott Rathbone comes on in relief of Rodman. But Wayne Emmert lashes Rathbone’s first offering into rightfield for a 1-out base hit. Mathew Floyd walks on 5 pitches, moving Emmert up to second. Greg Yates then lines the first pitch into short left-center. SS Francis Jones leaps but it finds the outfield for a base hit. Emmert tears around third and heads for home. CF Cooper Tyson sends a long throw to the plate, but Emmert slides in headfirst safely.
Tyson immediately reacts in pain after the throw and is removed from the game after the trainer examines his left shoulder. Bryan Goetz takes his place in the outfield.
In the bottom of the 9th, Matthew Floyd flares one out to short leftfield. Aidan Thirkettle charges at full speed but it falls in for a lead off base hit. But both PH Brayden Docking and Jack Jefferson strike out swinging. Lastly, Declan Bugbie lofts one down the leftfield line. Aidan Thirkettle charges and making a sensational diving catch to end the game. Pulberry hangs on to take a commanding 3 games to 1 lead in the series.
FINAL: Pulberry 6 – Wellington 4
CF
Cooper Tyson was later diagnosed with shoulder tendinitis and is gone for the rest of the Series (6 weeks).
