Championship Series Recap: Games 1 and 2

After the 2012 WSEM championship was unfortunately never played due to forfeits, the league was anxious to see actual championship games played this year. To no one’s surprise, the top two teams in the league, the Whiteford Wicked Aces and El Diablos began their best of five series Sunday evening at Pervis Memorial in Southgate. Game 1 saw two All-Star pitchers who are the two favorites for the Clown Shu, Austin Bischoff and Craig Skinner. Both pitchers were on their games and kept the game scoreless through five innings. Neither team came close toscoring in regulation play, so the game would have to be decided in extra innings. The clutch Joel Crozier hit his second exciting HR of the playoffs and gave the Aces a 1-0 lead with a solo blast over the left field fence. That one run was all the Wicked Aces needed as Austin closed the door on El Diablos in the 6th to give his team a 1-0 series lead. The game 2 pitcher for El Diablos was an obvious choice as Chandler Phillips has been his team’s #2 all season. The Wicked Aces however once again went into the game without a second starter picked out. RJ Fisher was still not 100% after injuring his hand, so Captain Austin needed to choose someone to fill-in for him. Evan Bischoff already has a playoff shutout win this year, so he got the nod in game 2. After six innings of scoreless play, the seventh inning finally saw some scoring as both Bischoffbrothers had RBI base hits to give the Wicked Aces a 2-0 lead. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Dakota LaDouceur drew a walk giving Nicco Lollio a chance to tie the game. Nicco made it interesting by hitting a ball deep into centerfield, but Evan Bortmas made a diving catch to give his team a 2-0 series lead. Game 3, and then 4 and 5 if necessary have been scheduled for Monday, August 19th at Poolside Park.