BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
8 June 2317
Six-Run Comeback Marks Yale's First CCBL Championship
Entering the bottom of the 8th inning of Game 5 of the 2317 College Series, the Yale Bulldogs appeared to have come close but just short. Yale trailed 8-2 entering their last two at bats. But they were not finished.
First came the 8th inning and chipping away. Yale scored two runs thanks to star 2B Warring Morris' two-run homer. That cut the Commonwealth University lead to 8-4.
In the bottom of the 9th, with the Terriers' Nemesis Oakley on the mound to start the inning, the Bulldogs were ready to become champions. Oakley faced two batters, a triple by Kerwin Cox and then an RBI single by Helter Skelter to make it 8-5 CWU.
Schooner Newton then came in for the Terriers. Ryder Francis answered that change with a single, followed by an RBI double by Jiminy Christmas to cut the lead to 8-6 with no outs and the tying run on second.
After Morris was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Terror Kavanagh singled to cut the lead to 8-7. Wawa Medlock then singled to tie the game with the championship-winning run on third and no outs. Ralph Batten swung at the first pitch he saw from Newton and drove it between the SS and 3B. Morris skipped into home plate. clinching the title for Yale.
"We've got grit," said Bulldogs right fielder Jiminy Christmas, who was named MVP of the series. "We know how to win when we have to." Christmas was 9 for 22 in the series, won three games to two by the Bulldogs. he hit two homers and drove in six.
"I didn't have a great series," Morris said, "but that was from games 1 through 4. In Game 5, I was ready to win a championship in my last college game." Morris hit .188 for the series, but went 2 for 4 with a home run, a HBP, two runs, and two RBI. "It felt amazing to be the one to cross the plate for the winning run."
In just its fifth season as part of the CCBL, Yale is now champions for the first time. Commonwealth University won the championship in 2314.