For the second year in a row, two teams who have never met in the playoffs will face each other for the Eastern League Pennant. The Queensland Eagles are making their first playoff appearance in 11 years, after they won the United Cup back in 1945-46. Its their third playoff appearance overall and their 96 wins easily surpasses their previous high water mark of 88 victories back in their inaugural 1937-38 season.
The Stratford Barons meanwhile return to the playoffs after a one year absence. It’s their 10th playoff appearance overall. They are in pursuit of their 6th EL Pennant and 4th United Cup. No team has won more than three Cups.
Both teams enter the Pennant Series healthy. And both clubs have managers at the helm who have previously won United Cups. 64-year old manager
Xavier Ahernfeld (683-549, .554) has managed the Stratford Barons since the 1950-51 season, winning two Pennants and the 1954-55 United Cup.
Queensland’s 55-year old manager
Daryl Rowde (1362-1410, .491) has spent his 18 seasons managing five clubs, including the Balmoral Giants twice. His greatest success came in his third and final season at the helm of the Fort Richmond Generals, leading them to a United Cup championship in 1947-48. The following season, he led the Stratford Barons to an EL Pennant before falling to the Wolseley Unions in the United Cup in 7 games. He returns to the playoffs for the first time in 7 years, his first year with the Eagles.
While Queensland won their regular season matchup with the Barons, five of their nine wins came in the final six games they played each other. Overall, the Eagles outscored Stratford, 63-61. Without question, the highlight was their epic 18-inning, 5-1/2 hour marathon back on January 17 that Stratford ultimately won, 9-7.
With two evenly match clubs who will not give an inch facing each other for the Pennant, the consensus is that this series will not be a short one.
The playoffs have arrived. Play ball!
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April 1 – Game 1
Wagner Stadium hosts the playoffs for the first time in 11 years to a packed house.
Queensland gives the game ball to their two-time Satchel Paige Award winner, 32-year old RHP
Logan Belsey, who is making his playoff debut after toiling 10 seasons, all with the Eagles.
Stratford counters with 31-year old RHP
Joseph Sellwood (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3.0 IP in 2 playoff games with the Wolseley Unions). This will be his first major league start in the playoffs.
Bottom of the 2nd:
Ryan Conisford makes his first career playoff at-bat a memorable one, slamming a 1-0 offering from Sellwood 357 ft. into the leftfield bleachers for a one-out
solo home run.
Stratford 0 – Queensland 1
Top of the 5th:
After giving up a first-pitch lead-off single to Roberto Ríos back in the first inning, Logan Belsey mows through the rest of the Barons’ lineup, racking up 7 strikeouts in the process. In the 5th inning however, Stratford finally breaks through.
Callum Spalton and Kosaku Fukushima lead off with back-to-back, full-count doubles, tying up the game. Then the Eagles get sloppy defensively.
With one out and Fukushima at second, Walter Beauvais reaches safely when CF Matsuo Oyama misplays a lazy fly ball, putting runners on the corners.
Joseph Sellwood then hits a dribbler out to second. Dennis Purcell scoops it up but his throw to first sails wide and into the 1st-base dugout, allowing Fukushima to score.
Stratford 2 – Queensland 1
Bottom of the 5th:
Hal Dhu draws a 4-pitch wall with two out, then promptly steals second. Apia Yarrah then lines a 0-1 single to rightfield. Dhu tears around third and beats out the throw from RF Kosaku Fukushima to tie up the game.
Stratford 2 – Queensland 2
Top of the 6th:
Stratford retakes the lead when Sherwin Carasig leads off with a line drive single into rightfield and Alfonzo León immediately triples him home.
Matthew Channing follows with a deep sac fly to rightfield. León easily beats out the throw from RF Hal Dhu to increase the Barons’ lead.
Stratford 4 – Queensland 2
Bottom of the 6th:
Rod Dennis gets a run back, launching a 2-1 pitch 368 ft. into the leftfield stands for a lead-off
home run.
Stratford 4 – Queensland 3
Top of the 7th:
Stratford responds thanks to more defensive miscues from the Eagles.
After Walter Beauvais leads off with an infield single, Joseph Sellwood lays down a bunt back to the pitcher. Logan Belsey attempts to cut down Beauvais at second, but his throw sails into the outfield, allowing both runners to reach safely.
With two out and runners on the corners, Alfonzo León sends a ground ball out toward short. SS Simon Flatt picks it up and tosses it to 2B Dennis Purcell, but his throw sails wide, allowing Beauvais to score.
Stratford 5 – Queensland 3
Bottom of the 8th:
Robbie Leivers connects for Queensland’s third home run of the game, a two-out
solo shot that lands 376 ft. into the leftfield bleachers.
Matsuo Oyama follows with a walk and then reaches second on a wild pitch. Simon Flatt singles down the leftfield line over the head of 3B Walter Beauvais. Oyama gets the greenlight at third but is cut down at home by a tremendous throw from LF Roberto Ríos to end the inning.
Stratford 5 – Queensland 4
Top of the 9th:
A close game is broken wide open, this time by poor in-game management.
Logan Belsey manages to get two outs but is clearly running on fumes. He surrenders four walks, including three in a row, forcing in a run. After 177 pitches, manager Daryl Rowde finally relieves him, but his replacement, RHP Kaula Mafileo, gives up a single to Callum Spalton that finds the hole into left-centerfield. That scores both Sherwin Carasig and Matthew Channing, increasing the Barons’ lead to four.
After giving up a walk to Kosaku Fukushima, Mafileo finally induces a ground out from Aaron Skidmore to end the inning.
Stratford 8 – Queensland 4
Bottom of the 9th:
RHP Glen Limon comes in to relieve Sellwood but gives up back-to-back singles to PH Zhao-dao Lui and Hal Dhu. With two out, Rod Dennis and Ryan Conisford also bang out back-to-back singles, driving in a run. But Robbie Leivers hits into a 5-4 fielder’s choice to end the inning and the game.
FINAL: Stratford 8 – Queensland 5
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April 2 – Game 2
The Eagles will look to try and get on track after shooting themselves in the foot multiple times in Game 1. They turn to their No. 2 starter, 30-year old RHP
Stiofan Micklethwait, who is also making his first career playoff appearance. On the other hand, 29-year old LHP
Robin Wadsworth (3-4, 1 SV, 4.18 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 118 ERA+) will make his 7th start in the playoffs, all with the Barons.
Top of the 1st:
Roberto Ríos lofts one out to short right for a lead-off single. After Sherwin Carasig grounds into a fielder’s choice at second, Alfonso León smacks one down the rightfield line and into the corner. RF Hal Dhu throws it back to 2B Dennis Purcell for the relay as Carasig is sent home. Carasig dives and beats out the relay to open the scoring as León pulls up into second.
Matthew Channing then lines the very next pitch into shall centerfield for a base hit. León chugs around third and heads for home as CF Matsuo Oyama whips the ball in. León goes in hard and just beats out the throw, adding to the Barons’ lead.
Stratford 2 – Queensland 0
Bottom of the 2nd:
Robbie Leivers drives a 1-0 pitch down the line toward deep rightfield. Kosaku Fukushima races back to the warning track but it’s over his head and into foul territory. Leivers careens around second and beats out the relay for a lead-off triple.
Matsuo Oyama then lofts a 2-2 changeup to deep right center. Fukushima backs up and hauls it in. Leivers tags up and slides safely into home to get the Eagles on the board.
Stratford 2 – Queensland 1
Top of the 3rd:
Roberto Ríos draws a four-pitch walk to lead off but is cut down one pitch later by C Robbie Leivers as Ríos attempts to steal second.
Sherwin Carasig then slams 0-2 slider to deep right centerfield. Matsuo Oyama chases after it as it skips to the wall. Carasig scampers past second and slides in safely for a triple.
Alfonzo León then slices a 90 mph fastball into rightfield, scoring Carasig.
Stratford 3 – Queensland 1
Bottom of the 5th:
After Rod Dennis chops one into leftfield for a one-out single, Ryan Conisford squeaks one past third base as Dennis takes second.
Robbie Leivers hits a bouncer out to short, but Callum Spalton drops it, loading the bases.
Four pitches later, Wadsworth walks Matsuo Oyama, forcing home Dennis.
Stratford 3 – Queensland 2
Top of the 6th:
Matthew Channing lofts Micklethwait’s first pitch into short centerfield for a lead-off base hit. Callum Spalton then crushes 1-0 fastball into deep leftfield. Rod Dennis sprints after it but can’t reach it as it bangs off the wall for a double. Channing is given the greenlight and heads for home, just beating out the tag by a pivoting C Robbie Leivers.
After Spalton moves up to third on a ground out, Aaron Skidmore lines one out to left center. Spalton comes home for Stratford’s second run of the inning.
Stratford 5 – Queensland 2
Bottom of the 9th:
With two out, Ryan Conisford slaps RHP José Rodríguez’s 2-0 pitch out toward short. But Callum Spalton commits his second error of the game as hit boots it, allowing Conisford to reach safely.
But Rodríguez gets Robbie Leivers to whiff on a 2-2, 89 mph fastball to end the game. The Barons beat two of the best pitchers in the United Leagues to take the first two games on the road as the Series now heads to Stratford’s Bosworth Field.
FINAL: Stratford 5 – Queensland 2
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April 4 – Game 3
Over 27,000 fans brave the elements as continual rain makes the field at Bosworth Field a bit soggy. The Barons hand the game ball to their No. 3 starter, 30-year old RHP
Ted Smith (2-1, 4.03 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 99.1 ERA+) for his 10th career playoff start. Queensland turns to their No. 3 starter as well, 33-year old RHP
Tyler Gissing, who is making his first career appearance in the playoffs.
Top of the 1st:
Hal Dhu jumps on a Smith cutter and lines one into right center for a lead off base hit, then advances to second when Apia Yarrah grounds one out to 1B Sherwin Carasig.
Dennis Purcell then hits a hard grounder between third and short and into leftfield. Dhu races around third and heads for home. Roberto Ríos fires it back in but Dhu slides safely under the tag to get the Eagles on the board.
Queensland 1 – Stratford 0
Bottom of the 3rd:
Walter Beauvais bashes a 0-1 fastball toward the gap in left center. CF Matsuo Oyama lunges for it but comes up short as Beauvais digs for third and slides in safely for a lead-off triple. With one out, Roberto Ríos hits a hard grounder toward the hole in leftfield. 3B Apia Yarrah snares it and makes the play at first as Beauvais heads home to get Stratford on the board.
Queensland 1 – Stratford 1
Top of the 6th:
Queensland loads the bases with nobody out as Rod Dennis leads off with a walk while Ryan Conisford and Robbie Leivers bang out back-to-back singles.
After a called strike to PH John Rose, a balk is called on Ted Smith, scoring Dennis from third.
With the infielders moved in, Rose floats the next pitch to short right center for a base hit. Conisford scores easily. Leivers is hot on his heels and avoids the tag as the Eagles increase their lead to three.
Queensland 4 – Stratford 1
Bottom of the 6th:
But Stratford quickly get those runs back. Gissing runs into trouble as he surrenders three straight singles to Alfonso León, Matthew Channing and Callum Spalton, which scores a run. Gissing then walks Kosaku Fukushima on four-straight pitches to load the bases. With one out, PH Don North lofts one out to deep left center. Channing tags up and scores, beating out LF Rod Dennis’ throw home.
PH Alan Tennant taps one out toward the pitcher. Gissing picks it up, but Tennant beats out the throw to reload the bases. Gissing then walks Roberto Ríos on four straight pitches, forcing in the tying run.
Queensland 4 – Stratford 4
Top of the 7th:
RHP José Rodríguez takes the hill to start the 7th. Apia Yarrah lines a 1-0 fastball sharply toward short rightfield for a lead-off single. But back-to-back groundouts to second puts Rod Dennis at first with two out. Ryan Conisford then pounds one toward the left side and into leftfield as Dennis takes second. Dennis is then taken out of the game for PR John Oldknow.
Robbie Leivers works the count full before slicing one over the head of 2B Matthew Channing and into shallow rightfield. Oldknow races around third and scores without a throw.
Queensland 5 – Stratford 4
Bottom of the 7th:
Alfonso León leads off and lines a 2-2 slider into short left field and pulls up into second before LF John Oldknow can get the ball back to the infield. Matthew Channing and Callum Spalton follow with back-to-back singles, scoring León and ending Tyler Gissing’s afternoon. RHP Kaula Mafileo comes on in relief.
With one out, Aaron Skidmore works the count full before drawing a walk and loading the bases. PH Andy Faulkner launches one out to the warning track in deep centerfield. CF Zhao-dao Liu makes a tremendous leaping catch, but Channing tags up and scores without a throw, giving the Barons the lead for the first time in the game.
In the top of the 9th, Apia Yarrah sends a ground ball out toward the hole in rightfield. 2B Matthew Channing pounces on it but it slips out of his glove, allowing Yarrah to reach safely on the error. Dennis Purcell then draws a walk and John Oldknow grounds into a fielder’s choice at second that puts runners on the corners with one out.
But Ryan Conisford strikes out swinging and Robbie Leivers grounds out to SS Callum Spalton to end the threat and the game. The Barons take a commanding three games to none lead in the Series.
FINAL: Queensland 5 – Stratford 6
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April 5 – Game 4
The dreary conditions of yesterday have moved on and the Queensland Eagles are hoping their fortunes will improve as well as they now face an uphill battle in staying in the Series. Stratford hands the ball to their No. 4 starter, 31-year old RHP
Bill Wolf (6-4, 4.89 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 81.8 ERA+), who has no shortage of playoff experience. He makes his 9th career playoff start. Queensland counters with their No. 4 starter, 31-year RHP
Danilo Narvaez (0-0, 6.75 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 63.7 ERA+) who last appeared in the playoffs with the Braeland City Monarchs back in 1953-54. He has pitched all of 4.0 innings and will make his first postseason start today.
Bottom of the 1st:
With one out, Sherwin Carasig blisters a 1-1 slider out to leftfield that drops right in front of LF Rod Dennis for a base hit. With two out, Matthew Channing drills one to shallow center for another base hit. Carasig wheels toward third and beats out the throw, putting runners on the corners. Callum Spalton then crushes a 2-2 cutter down the line deep into leftfield. As Dennis chases it down, Carasig crosses the plate. Channing is waved home and just beats out the relay as he slides under the tag for the Barons’ second run.
Queensland 0 – Stratford 2
Bottom of the 3rd:
Roberto Ríos, Sherwin Carasig and Alfonso León lead off with three consecutive base hits, adding to the Barons’ lead.
Queensland 0 – Stratford 3
Top of the 5th:
The Eagles finally get to Bill Wolf, as Robbie Leivers lines a 3-1 fastball out toward short right center for a lead-off base hit. Matsuo Oyama belts a hard line drive into deep right center that bounces all the way to the wall. Oyama pulls up into second as Leivers is held up at third. With one out, Danilo Narvaez lifts one out to deep rightfield. Leivers tags up and scores as Oyama moves up to third.
Hal Dhu then pounces on the first offering from Wolf and lines it into center. Oyama scores easily on the base hit.
Queensland 2 – Stratford 3
Top of the 8th:
Hal Dhu and Apia Yarrah lead off with back-to-back singles, putting runners on the corners. With one out, Rod Dennis sends a fly ball sailing out to deep rightfield. Dhu tags up and beats out the throw from RF Kosaku Fukushima to tie up the game.
Queensland 3 – Stratford 3
Top of the 9th:
Robbie Leivers jumps all over a 1-1 forkball, sending it deep into right centerfield. RF Kosaku Fukushima sprints after it but the ball bounces to the wall. Leivers rounds second and slides in safely with a lead-off triple. PH Joshua Challen is then intentionally walked putting runners on the corners. But Wolf’s first pitch to PH Bob Sobel is wild, allowing Leivers to race home for the go ahead run.
In the bottom of the 9th, RHP Logan Belsey takes over from RHP Jeremy Albury to get the final three outs. Belsey gets both Matthew Channing and PH Don North to pop out to the infield before surrendering a walk to PH Andy Faulkner. But PH Eiichi Nakashima strikes out swinging to end the threat. The Eagles finally get in the win column and stay alive for at least another day.
FINAL: Queensland 4 – Stratford 3
