This year’s United Cup pits the defending Champions against a 3-time champion who are making their first appearance in the Finals in 12 years. The Brunswick Legends have largely been an afterthought in the Eastern League since they last made the playoffs as a wildcard team in 1946-47, 10 years ago. But a 22-win improvement over last season has seen the Legends enter the playoffs with the best record in the ULB.
Their ascendancy to the top of the standings can be largely attributed to a solid rotation that emerged this season. The lineup, the main strength of the team over the past few seasons also proved a bit more potent. Overall, the Legends went from 4.4 R/G scored last year to 4.8 this season, while the pitching reduced their R/G allowed from 4.4 to 3.9. As for the Trolleys, they were a model of consistency. Last season they scored 5.0 R/G; this year they scored 4.9. In the run prevention category, they averaged 4.0 R/G last season; this year they averaged 3.9. Not surprisingly, Pulberry finished with identical records both seasons.
But Brunswick seemed to have had Pulberry’s number in the regular season, for in their six interleague matchups, Brunswick took four out of five and outscored the Trolleys 31-21 overall.
Among the two clubs, there is only one significant injury. The Legends continue to be without their starting leftfielder, 30-year old
Carl Patton (.285/.399/.387, 6 HR, 51 RBI, 98 BB, 15 SB, 112 OPS+, 126 wRC+, 3.6 WAR) for the playoffs due to an injured shoulder. 27-year old switch-hitter
Ismael García (.211/.286/.316, 2-2B, 1 RBI, 19 AB in EL Pennant Series) will continue to start in his stead.
With the defending United Cup Champions out to defend their title and the re-emergence of a once dormant club determined to reclaim their past glory set to face each other, its no surprise interest in the United Cup is at a fever pitch across the island nation. The stage is set – its time to ‘Play Ball!’
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Game 1 – April 5
Babe Ruth Park hosts the first game of the Series. The weather could not be more perfect as the stadium is jammed packed for the opening match of Braeland’s premier game. 24-year old RHP
Dave Ball (0-1, 6.0 IP, 6.00 ERA in EL Pennant Series), one of Brunswick’s 20-game winners this season, gets the start. Meanwhile, Pulberry taps their No. 3 starter, 36-year old RHP
Robin Medellin (1-0, 8.0 IP, 4.50 ERA in WL Pennant Series).
Bottom of the 3rd:
Dermott Morris slices one into deep right center. RF Ellis Dibble chases after it but its beyond his reach as it drops in and rolls all the way to the wall. Morris pulls up into second standing up with a lead-off double. Dave Ball then pushes a bunt back to the mound and is thrown out by Robin Medellin as Morris takes third.
Jorge Arredondo skies one to deep centerfield. Cooper Tyson sprints all the way back to the warning track and hauls it in. Morris tags up at third and scores without a throw.
Pulberry 0 - Brunswick 1
Top of the 4th:
Cooper Tyson flares one out to leftfield that drops in for a lead-off base hit. Aidan Thirkettle follows and hits a sharp grounder past the mound and into centerfield. Joshua Witherden rushes in to scoop it up. Tyson rounds second and heads to third. Witherden whips it in, but Tyson beats out the throw, putting runners on the corners.
Ellis Dibble hits a bouncer toward the right side hole. 2B Dermott Morris snags it and flips it to SS Harris Yaag at second who in turn fires it down to 1B Francis Joicey to complete the double play. Tyson comes home to tie up the game.
Pulberry 1 - Brunswick 1
Bottom of the 4th:
Robert Kersey works the count full before drawing a lead-off walk. With one out, Joshua Witherden lifts one into centerfield for a base hit. Cooper Tyson comes in fast, but it rolls under his glove. Kersey takes third as Witherden moves up to second on the error.
With two out, Dermott Morris pounds a grounder out toward the left side hole. SS Sean Abercrombie backhands it, turns and fires it to 1B Gerard Koerner, but Morris beats out the throw as Kersey crosses the plate.
Pulberry 1 - Brunswick 2
Top of the 8th:
Francis Jones leads off and rips a liner to short right center for a base hit. With one out, Cooper Tyson shoots a grounder out toward the left side. SS Harris Yaag scoops it up and throws out Jones at second. But Jones upends 2B Dermott Morris to prevent the double play.
On a 3-1 count, Aidan Thirkettle smashes Dave Ball’s cutter down the rightfield line. Jay Mitchell sprints after it but he can only watch as it lands 337 ft. into the bleachers for a
2-run homer.
Pulberry 3 - Brunswick 2
Bottom of the 8th:
Robert Kersey ties it up with one out when he jumps all over Medellin’s first offering, crushing it 404 ft. into the right center stands for a
solo home run.
Pulberry 3 - Brunswick 3
Top of the 9th:
With one out, 2B Luke Corke chops one out toward short. Harris Yaag lays out, spears it and fires it to first. But the ball sails over the head of Francis Joicey. Corke moves up to second on the error. PH Ángelo Ríos rips one hard down the line into shallow rightfield. Jay Mitchell races hard to track it down as Ríos tears around first. Mitchell throws it back in, but Corke comes into score as Ríos slides in safely for an RBI double.
In the bottom of the 9th, PH Jean-Pierre Ferré lines one out toward rightfield, but Ellis Dibble is right there to haul it in for the first out. Dermott Morris works the count full on LHP Dermott Rathbone before drawing a walk. PH Edilberto Mandac lofts one out to centerfield. Cooper Tyson waits for it and pulls it in.
Jorge Arredondo then hits one weakly to the left side. SS Sean Abercrombie hustles in, gloves it and fires it to Gerard Koerner at first for the final out. Pulberry hangs on to take the first game on the road.
FINAL: Pulberry 4 - Brunswick 3
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Game 2 – April 6
The Trolleys pulled out a squeaker in Game 1 and look to continue pressing their advantage. To try and even the Series, however, the Legends call upon their other 20-game winner, 31-year old LHP
Luke Henty (1-0, 9.0 IP, 2.00 ERA in EL Pennant Series).
Pulberry counters with their own 20-game winner, 21-year old LHP
Bart Ohara (1-1, 16.1 IP, 3.31 ERA in WL Pennant Series). The temperature has soared while the skies are clear as the two teams get set for battle.
Top of the 4th:
Ellis Dibble smashes Luke Henty’s first offering into the gap in deep left center. CF Joshua Witherden races back for it but it caroms off the wall as Dibble sprints around second and charges for third. Witherden whips it to third but Dibble slides in safely for a lead-off triple. With the infield drawn in, Paul England grounds one out toward the left side hole past a lunging SS Harris Yaag. Dibble comes home on England’s RBI single to open the scoring.
Pulberry 1 - Brunswick 0
Top of the 5th:
With two out, Cooper Tyson hits one sharply out to short centerfield for a base hit. Gerard Koerner works the count full before drawing a walk, moving Tyson up to second.
Aidan Thirkettle then drives one to deep centerfield. Joshua Witherden chases after it, but the ball bangs off the wall as Tyson scores. Koerner moves up to third then heads for home. 1B Francis Joicey whips in the relay but Koerner slides in safely on Thirkettle’s 2-run double.
Ellis Dibble keeps the inning going by drawing a walk. Paul England then puts a charge into Henty’s 1-0 slider, sending 337 ft. down the leftfield line and into the stands for a
3-run home run. That ends Luke Henty’s day as RHP Byron Ollson comes on in relief.
Pulberry 6 - Brunswick 0
Top of the 7th:
Cooper Tyson leads off with a free pass on 4-straight pitches. With one out, Aidan Thirkettle also draws a walk, moving Tyson up to second. Ellis Dibble then bashes a hard grounder toward short. Harris Yaag stretches for it, but he can’t flag it down. Tyson takes third then heads for home. Tyson beats out the throw from LF Ismael García as Thirkettle moves up to second and Dibble reaches on a base hit.
With two out, Francis Jones smashes a soaring fly ball to the opposite field. RF Jay Mitchell sprints back to the warning track but it clears the wall, landing 377 ft. into the bleachers for a
3-run home run.
In the bottom of the 9th, Robert Kersey leads off with a grounder out toward the right side hole. 2B Wade Billyard lunges for it but it just clears his glove as Kersey settles in at first. Ismael García sends a high chopper down to third base. Francis Jones snares it and throws to Wade Billyard at second for the force out. But Kersey upends Billyard, preventing the double play. Ohara then strikes out Joshua Witherden for the second out.
But PH Jean-Pierre Ferré slaps one hard to the right side that gets through into rightfield as García takes second. Dermott Morris then cracks one out to center for a base hit, loading the bases.
PH Edilberto Mandac sends a hard grounder wide of first. Wade Billyard fields it and whips it to first for the final out. The Trolleys take both games on the road as the Series heads to Pulberry for at least the next two games.
FINAL: Pulberry 10 - Brunswick 0
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Game 3 – April 8
The United Cup moves to Trolleys Stadium in Pulberry with the Brunswick Legends licking their wounds after the embarrassing 10-0 thrashing they received at home in Game 2. As in the previous game, its sunny and hot with a sold-out stadium. 29-year old RHP
Taylor Folkard (1-0, 16.2 IP, 0.54 ERA in WL Pennant Series) makes his third start for Pulberry this postseason, while 40-year old RHP
Pi-ao Quian (2-0, 18.0 IP, 1.50 ERA in EL Pennant Series) looks to get Brunswick back in the win column.
Top of the 3rd:
Pi-ao Quian leads off, slapping one out toward the left side. SS Sean Abercrombie reaches down for it but boots it, allowing Quian to reach safely on the error. Jorge Arredondo drills one out to right. As it falls in, Quian reaches second then breaks for third. RF Ellis Dibble whips it to third, but Quian beats out the throw, putting runners on the corners.
Harris Yaag cracks one to deep leftfield. Aidan Thirkettle races back to the warning track and pulls it in. Quian tags up and scores without a throw.
Jay Mitchell then lines one out to short right for a base hit. Arredondo takes second, then heads for third. Dibble’s throw comes in but Arredondo slides in safely. Robert Kersey rips a hard grounder through the right side hole for a base hit. As Ellis Dibble fields it, Arredondo scores for the Legends’ second run.
Brunswick 2 - Pulberry 0
Bottom of the 3rd:
With one out Taylor Folkard lines one to centerfield for a base hit. Francis Jones follows, punching a base hit into centerfield as well as Folkard moves up to second. Quian then gives up back-to-back walks to Gerard Koerner and Cooper Tyson, forcing in Folkard for Pulberry’s first run and loading the bases.
Aidan Thirkettle then smashes a 1-0 cutter into left center. LF Ismael García races back but can’t corral it as it hits the wall on a hop. Jones and Koerner both score as Tyson takes third on Thirkettle’s 2-run double.
Brunswick 2 - Pulberry 3
Top of the 5th:
With one out, Jay Mitchell breaks his bat on a chopper that bounces out toward third. Francis Jones comes in, grips it and throws to first but Mitchell beats out the throw for an infield hit. Robert Kersey ropes one to left. Aidan Thirkettle charges in but he’s not in time as it falls in for a base hit as Mitchell takes second. Ismael García then lifts a lazy fly ball to straight away right. Ellis Dibble moves under it, but it clanks off his glove. Brunswick loads the bases on the gaffe.
With the infield pulled in, Folkard strikes out Joshua Witherden for the second out.
But Francis Joicey follows and smashes one to deep right center. CF Cooper Tyson races back hard but its off the face of the wall with Joicey thinking three. Tyson finally tracks it down, but Joicey dives headfirst into third for a go-ahead 3-run triple.
Brunswick 5 - Pulberry 3
Bottom of the 5th:
Francis Jones leads off and smashes the first pitch down the line into deep leftfield. Ismael García reaches out for it but comes up short. As the ball skips to the wall, Jones rounds second. García retrieves the ball as Jones sails past third. García makes the long throw home, but Jones slides in safely for an
inside-the-park home run.
Brunswick 5 - Pulberry 4
Bottom of the 6th:
Paul England leads off and smashes a bullet to short rightfield for a base hit. Sean Abercrombie lines one just over the head of 3B Jorge Arredondo and into the leftfield corner. Ismael García races in hard for it as Abercrombie pulls up into second for a double as England takes third. Wade Billyard is then intentionally walked, loading the bases with nobody out.
PH Joe Riding then sends a 2-2 cutter out toward the gap in left center. CF Joshua Witherden races back for it but cannot catch up to it in time. Both England and Abercrombie come home as Riding pulls into second for a 2-run double and Billyard takes third. Manager Finlay Fay then calls to the bullpen for RHP Lao Chen.
But Francis Jones sends a 0-1 pitch soaring into deep centerfield. Joshua Witherden sprints after it but its just out of his reach as the ball rolls to the wall. Both Billyard and Riding score as Jones pulls up into second.
Brunswick 5 - Pulberry 8
Top of the 7th:
LHP Dermott Rathbone takes over from Folkard. Robert Kersey leads off and rips a liner into centerfield. Cooper Tyson races back but can’t get to it in time as it falls in for a base hit. Ismael García lofts the first pitch he sees to shallow right center for a single as Kersey takes second. Joshua Witherden then sends a hard shot back up the middle and into centerfield for a base hit as Brunswick loads the bases with nobody out.
PH Jean-Pierre Ferré sends a high fly ball to leftfield. Aidan Thirkettle camps under it and pulls it in. Kersey tags up and beats out the throw to the plate.
In the top of the 9th, Ismael García sends a soaring pop-up to the right side infield. 2B Wade Billyard moves in and pockets it for the first out.
Joshua Witherden then shoots a hard grounder past the mound. SS Sean Abercrombie dives and knocks it down. Throwing from his knees, he cuts down Witherden at first for the second out.
PH Jim Hamel belts one high into the air out toward deep centerfield. Cooper Tyson charges over, reaches out and hauls it in for the final out. Pulberry takes a commanding lead in the Series.
FINAL: Brunswick 6 - Pulberry 8
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Game 4 – April 9
The Legends put up a better effort in Game 3 but still came up short and are now facing the very real possibility of being swept. To try and keep their championship hopes alive, Brunswick turns to their No. 4 starter, 29-year old RHP
Mhelter Pilapil (1-1, 16.1 IP, 2.76 ERA in the EL Pennant Series). In looking to close things out, Pulberry hands the assignment to their No. 4 starter as well, 32-year old RHP
Quintiliano Galeo (0-1, 7.2 IP, 3.52 ERA in the WL Pennant Series). With the conditions sunny and hot, the weather will not be a factor.
Top of the 1st:
Brunswick wastes no time getting on the board. Jorge Arredondo blasts a 0-1 slider to deep leftfield. Aidan Thirkettle pursues it all the way back to the warning track, but it sails 420 ft. into the stands for a lead-off
solo home run.
Brunswick 1 - Pulberry 0
Bottom of the 1st:
The Trolleys load the bases with one out when Pilapil surrenders back-to-back-to-back walks to Gerard Koerner, Aidan Thirkettle and Cooper Tyson. Ellis Dibble bounces one toward third. Jorge Arredondo scoops it up and throws out Tyson at second as Koerner scores. Tyson’s hard slide prevents the relay throw to first as Dibble reaches base and Thirkettle moves up to third.
Paul England then lifts one into short centerfield. Joshua Witherden runs in but cannot get to it in time. Thirkettle comes home as Pulberry takes the lead.
Brunswick 1 - Pulberry 2
Bottom of the 3rd:
Aidan Thirkettle flares one out toward the gap in deep left center. CF Joshua Witherden pursues and extends his glove but its just beyond his reach as the ball falls in and skips to the wall. Thirkettle pulls up into second for a lead-off double. Cooper Tyson hits a sharp grounder to the right side hole. 2B Dermott Morris traps it and throws out Tyson at first as Thirkettle moves up to third.
Ellis Dibble then jumps all over a 1-1 fastball and crushes it to deep leftfield. Ismael García motor after it but it clears the wall, landing 397 ft. into the cheering stands for a
2-run home run.
Brunswick 1 - Pulberry 4
Top of the 4th:
Galeo runs into trouble in the fourth. Robert Kersey leads off and drives the first pitch into deep rightfield. Ellis Dibble runs to the warning track and leaps at the wall but its not enough as the ball clears the wall, landing 342 ft. into the stands for a
solo home run.
Ismael García then lines one to short left center for a base hit. He is followed by Joshua Witherden, who walks on four-straight pitches. Francis Joicey smashes a hard grounder that finds a crease through the right side for a base hit, loading the bases.
With the infield drawn in, PH Dane Evans drives one into the gap in deep right center. CF Cooper Tyson hustles after it but cannot catch up to it as the ball touches down and bangs off the wall. García and Witherden both score and Joicey takes third as Evans pulls into second for a 2-run double.
Mhelter Pilapil shoots a grounder through the left side past a diving SS Sean Abercrombie. Joicey comes in to score as Pilapil holds up at first. Evans rounds third, then breaks for home. LF Aidan Thirkettle whips the ball to home plate, but Evans slides in safely as Brunswick takes a two-run lead. That ends Galeo’s afternoon as RHP Bonie Bandong takes over.
Brunswick 6 - Pulberry 4
Top of the 5th:
Robert Kersey pounds one out to short left. Aidan Thirkettle races in but cannot get to it in time as Kersey leads off with a base hit. Ismael García bloops one into shallow right center for a base hit. Kersey rounds second and reaches third safely. Joshua Witherden then bashes one toward the alley in left center. CF Cooper Tyson gives chase, leaps at the wall and makes a sensational catch to keep the ball from leaving the yard. But Kersey tags up and scores without a throw.
Brunswick 7 - Pulberry 4
Top of the 6th:
Jorge Arredondo leads off with a four-pitch walk. Harris Yaag bunts it back to the mound and is thrown out by Bandong as Arredondo takes third. Jay Mitchell then works the count full before blasting one high down the line toward deep rightfield. Ellis Dibble chases after it but it lands 356 ft. into the bleachers for a
2-run homer.
Brunswick 9 - Pulberry 4
Bottom of the 7th:
Aidan Thirkettle checks his swing on a 3-0 pitch for a lead-off walk. Cooper Tyson then jumps all over a 2-0 fastball and crushes it 382 ft. into the rightfield stands for a
2-run home run. Manager Finlay Fay then signals for LHP Ron Killingworth as Mhelter Pilapil’s day comes to an end.
Brunswick 9 - Pulberry 6
Top of the 8th:
RHP Shou-xin Chin comes in to start the inning in relief of Bonie Bandong.
Jorge Arredondo then walks on four pitches with one out. Harris Yaag hits a hard bouncer through the left side for a base hit as Arredondo moves up to second. Jay Mitchell grounds one past the pitcher. 2B Wade Billyard picks it up and tosses it to SS Sean Abercrombie covering second. But the throw is off the mark as Mitchell reaches first on the error to load the bases.
Robert Kersey belts one out deep center. Cooper Tyson backs up and hauls it in, then whips it toward home as Arredondo tags up at third. But Arredondo scores on a head-first slide.
In the bottom of the 9th, RHP Lao Chen takes over from Ron Killingworth.
Ellis Dibble leads off and hits a sharp grounder to the right side. 2B Harley Truman fields it and throws him out at first.
Paul England skies one to deep centerfield. Joshua Witherden chases it down near the warning track and makes the catch for the second out.
PH Gustavo Hernández then skies one out to almost the exact same spot in deep centerfield. Witherden races over near the warning track and hauls it in for the final out. Brunswick finally wins one to stave off elimination.
FINAL: Brunswick 10 - Pulberry 6
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Game 5 – April 10
The Legends finally prevailed in Game 4 over the Trolleys, who have been playing more like steamrollers. Still, Brunswick has no margin of error if they want to extend the Series. Winning today and sending it back home would certainly help their cause. To try and do that, the Legends turn to their Game 1 starter, RHP
Dave Ball (0-2, 14.1 IP, 4.40 ERA), who is still in search of his first playoff victory. Pulberry turns to their Game 1 starter, RHP
Robin Medellin (2-0, 16.0 IP, 3.94 ERA) to try and close things out at home.
Top of the 2nd:
With one out, Ismael García slaps a ground ball to the right side. 2B Wade Billyard lunges, snares it, gets to his feet and sidearms it to first. But it sails over Koerner’s head toward the dugout. García takes second on the error.
With two out, Francis Joicey slices one down the line into deep leftfield. Aidan Thirkettle draws a bead on it, but it drops in and bounces to the wall. García crosses the plate as Joicey slides in safely with a double.
Brunswick 1 - Pulberry 0
Bottom of the 4th:
PH Gustavo Hernández flares one to left center. It drops in front of CF Joshua Witherden for a lead-off base hit. Witherden reaches down to field it, but he kicks it away instead. Hernández moves up to second on the error.
Gerard Koerner then laces a hard grounder to the right side. 1B Francis Joicey dives and knocks it down and on one knee, throws to Dave Ball who is covering first. But Koerner beats out the throw as Hernández takes third. Aidan Thirkettle then lines one into shallow rightfield. Jay Mitchell charges in but cannot make the catch. Hernández scores as Koerner reaches second. Koerner bolts for third and beats out the throw, putting runners on the corners still with nobody out.
Cooper Tyson is then hit on a 1-0 pitch and is awarded first base, loading the bases. Ball then loses Ellis Dibble on a 3-1 pitch, forcing in the go-ahead run.
Paul England belts a 2-2 cutter out to left center. Joshua Witherden sprints after it but cannot reach it as the ball caroms off the wall. Both Thirkettle and Tyson score as Dibble moves over to third. England slides in safely ahead of the relay for a 2-run double.
Sean Abercrombie then sends one high into the air down the line toward the leftfield corner. Ismael García hauls it in then fires a bullet to home. Dibble tags up and slides in but he is cut down by García’s tremendous throw to complete the twin killing. England moves up to third on the play. Wade Billyard is then given a free pass.
But Robin Medellin sends a hard grounder wide of third base. Harris Yaag lunges for it but it screams past him into leftfield. England scores on the base hit.
Brunswick 1 - Pulberry 5
Top of the 5th:
Harris Yaag walks on five pitches with one out. Jay Mitchell grounds one between first and second. 2B Wade Billyard reaches for it, but it sails past him into rightfield. Yaag tears around second and heads for third. Ellis Dibble scoops it up and fires it to third, but Yaag slides in safely as Mitchell moves up to second.
Robert Kersey shoots one down the leftfield line. 3B Dwayne Stace makes a sprawling save and sets up for the throw, but instead holds onto it as there is no chance for the out as Yaag scores on the infield single.
Ismael García pounds a changeup hard to the right side. Billyard fields it but it handcuffs him. Mitchell hustles home on the error.
Brunswick 3 - Pulberry 5
Bottom of the 5th:
Aidan Thirkettle slaps one hard into shallow centerfield for a one-out base hit. Cooper Tyson pounds a 0-2 cutter past the mound. SS Harris Yaag extends himself but cannot get a clean grip and has no play. Thirkettle takes second on the infield hit.
Ellis Dibble cracks a hard grounder to the left side near third base. Jorge Arredondo whips it to 2B Dermott Morris for one but Tyson slides in hard to prevent the double play as Thirkettle takes third.
Paul England then punches one toward the left side hole. SS Harris Yaag lunges for it but it skips past him into leftfield. Thirkettle crosses the plate as England comes through with an RBI single.
In the top of the 9th, Jay Mitchell smashes one down the line into rightfield off LHP Dermott Rathbone. As it rolls into the corner, Mitchell charges around second and heads for third. Ellis Dibble gloves it and fires it over to third but Mitchell slides in safely for a lead-off triple.
But Robert Kersey lifts a towering pop-up on the left side infield. SS Sean Abercrombie ranges over and pulls it in for the first out.
Ismael García hits a grounder out toward third base. Dwayne Stace scoops it up, checks the runner at third, then throws out García at first.
Joshua Witherden then sends a 1-0 grounder out past the mound to the right side. 2B Wade Billyard fields it and rifles it to first to retire Withderden for the final out. The Pulberry Trolleys defeat the Brunswick Legends and repeat as
United Cup Champions!
FINAL: Brunswick 3 - Pulberry 6
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