Championship Final Series: Tritons Capture First Crown In Team History

                For the first time, the Tri-Cities Tritons are the kings of Federal League Baseball. The Water Dwellers ended the league's longest championship drought, 33 seasons, with a 7-4 win over the Broward Cubs in Game 5 of the Championship Final Series.
                Tre Dingus went the distance, sweating out a tenuous bottom of the ninth, to earn his second win of the finals. Amed Martinez started for the Cubs and suffered the loss.
                The Tritons got on the board in the top of the first as, with two out, Dingus and Zac Miller pulled off a delayed double steal and Magdiel Sanchez doubled in a run. The Cubs escaped further trouble when Adrian Roznowski was cut down at the plate  trying to score on Sanchez's double.
                In the bottom of the first, the Bruins cut the gap to 2-1 when Ray Pereira tripled off the left field fence to bring home Martinez, who had walked. On the play, Roznowski was injured as he ran into the fence attempting to make a lunging catch of Pereira's drive.
                The Tritons restored their two run advantage in the top of the second as singles by Orlando Fallas and Jay Warman, combined with two Cub errors to produce a 3-1 lead.
                In the third, the Sons of Poseidon pushed their lead to 4-1. Julian Faria led off with a single and advanced to third on a pair of passed balls. Faria scored when Magdiel Sanchez bounced into a force play.
                The Cubs turned to lefty Ryan DiGiose in the fourth and reliever kept the Tritons from scoring through the sixth inning. Unfortunately for the Cubs, Dingus was as equally as stingy as DiGiose.
                In the seventh, the Tritons tacked on three insurance runs. Dingus led off a swatted a two strike offering to right for a single. Miller followed with a single and Faria doubled home Dingus. Miller scored on a passed ball, and Faria came home on an RBI single by Sanchez.
                With a seemingly insurmountable six run lead, Dingus cruised through the bottom of the seventh and the bottom of the eighth. However, after two were out in the ninth, Dingus walked DiGiose and then lost Kenny Perez on a full count pitch. Damian Boyum worked  Dingus to a full count before he walked to load the bases.
                Mike Robbins kept the Cubs alive with a two run single to right center to make it a 7-3 ballgame, and Mitch Kean followed with a pinch hit RBI single to bring the potential tying run to the plate.
                With two runners on base, Ray Pereira stepped to the plate and promptly launched a loud foul to left. With Tritons' fans everywhere holding their collective breath, Pereira ripped a line drive through the middle that Dingus tipped with his glove. Second baseman Eric Silverberg corralled the deflection and threw Pereira out at first to end the game and the season.
                The Tritons let out a team gasp and then celebrated in unison by the mound. The drought was definitely over. Mike Whittaker, longtime Tritons' skipper, had finally delivered a title to the Tri-Cities.
                Faria had three hits for the Water Dwellers. Miller, Sanchez, and Dingus contributed two hits a piece. Pereira's three hits paced the Cubs.
                Dingus permitted four runs on eight hits. He walked five and struck out five. Martinez took the loss after allowing three earned runs on six hits in three innings. Martinez walked three and fanned four.
                After the game, Tritons' outfielder Zac Miller was awarded the Most Valuable Player of the Playoffs Award by the editors of South Florida Baseball Report. Miller was an incredible 18-29 with 16 RBI in the playoffs for the Sons of Poseidon.
                Championship Final Series Game 4-Cubs Rout Tritons To Tie Series: The Championship Final Series stands tied at two games a piece and will head to a fifth and final game as the Broward Cubs walloped the Tri-Cities Tritons, 17-4 in Game 4.
                With their season on the line, the Bruins, once again turned to their ace Chad Volbert. Somewhat rejuvenated after Tuesday's rainout, Volbert was making his second consecutive start, and third of the series. The Water Dwellers sent playoff hero John Hardardt to the hill. Neither pitcher was up to their usual high standards, but Volbert got the better of it, tossing seven innings, and allowing three earned runs on 11 hits. Volbert was helped out by three double plays turned behind him.
                The Cubs built an 8-0 advantage through the top of the fifth. Omar Garcia's RBI single and a sacrifice fly by Ryan DiGiose gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead in the top of the second. They added five more runs in the fourth on a two run double by Damian Boyum, an RBI single by Mike Robbins, and a two run home run by Amed Martinez.
                In the fifth, Kenny Perez's RBI single pushed the bulge to eight.
                In the bottom of the fifth, the Tritons broke through, scoring three runs. A sacrifice fly by Zac Miller and a two run single by Julian Faria accounted for the tallies. Singles by Eric Silverberg and Jay Warman, aided by an error by Volbert, helped the Tritons cut the gap to 8-4 in the sixth. However, the Cubs added three runs in the seventh and six more in the eighth.
                A three run double by Robbins in the seventh, and RBI hits by Roberto Galvez, DiGiose, and Martinez in the eighth provided the Cubbies with much more than adequate insurance.
                Martinez led the Bruins with four hits and three RBI. Garcia and Robbins added three hits each. Warman had four hits for the Tritons. Faria had three hits and drove in two.
                The Cubs were, once again, without Ricky Quintero, who is out with a fractured thumb. The Tritons played without sparkplug second baseman Chris Marrero, who is out of action with a fractured ankle.
                The fifth and final game is scheduled for Saturday. The Cubs are expecting Martinez to start, while the Tritons are anticipating sending Tre Dingus to the hill.
                Championship Final Series Game 3-Cubs Crush Tritons To Stay Alive: The championship parade that was scheduled to take place through the Tri-Cities may not have been canceled, but it was delayed as the Tritons fell, 12-2, to the Broward Cubs in Game 3 of the Championship Final Series. The Water Dwellers still hold a two games to one lead.
                Facing elimination, the Cubbies sent their ace, Chad Volbert, to the hill. The Tritons countered with Eric Silverberg. Volbert responded with a complete game five hitter. Silverberg surrendered six runs on 10 hits in four and two thirds innings.
                An RBI single by Jamie Bobrow in the bottom of the first gave the Bruins the early lead. An RBI single by Kenny Perez in the second stretched the advantage to 2-0.
                In the third, the Tritons tied the score. Chris Marrero's RBI triple and a run scoring single by Zac Miller knotted the contest.
                In the fourth, the Cubs seized the lead for good. Mitch Kean's RBI single scored Omar Garcia with the go ahead run. Later in the frame, Perez scored on a sacrifice fly by Damian Boyum.
                A two run single by Ryan DiGiose in the fifth gave the Cubs a 6-2 lead and drove Silverberg from the game.
                The Cubs pelted the Tritons' bullpen for three runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh.
                Bobrow led the Bruins, going four for five. Omar Garcia was three for three with three runs scored and an RBI. DiGiose was two for two with two RBI. Amed Martinez had two hits and scored two runs. Miller had two hits to pace the Tritons.
                Volbert, who struck out five, hit three batters, but did not walk anyone. Silverberg walked two, hit a batter, and fanned one.
                All was not joyous for the Cubs as leadoff hitter Ricky Quintero was forced from the contest in the third inning with a possible fractured thumb. Quintero was pressed into service as the team's catcher with both Mike Robbins and Ray Pereira out of action. When Quintero was felled, Martinez and Perez filled in. The Tritons played without shortstop Jay Warman.
                The pivotal Game 4 is scheduled for Tuesday night.
                Championship Final Series Game 2-Tritons Take Control: The Tri-Cities Tritons won a second straight thriller to take a two games to none lead in the Championship Final Series as they edged the Broward Cubs, 6-5, in Game 2.
                Tre Dingus went the distance for the Water Dwellers, besting Ricky Quintero, who went the route for the Cubs.
                Dingus permitted four earned runs on six hits. The fireballing righty walked two, hit a batter, and struck out nine. Quintero was charged with four earned runs on 10 hits. The sidearming righty walked two, hit one, and fanned eight.
                The game was moved from Pompano Municipal Stadium, across town to Cypress Park in Coral Springs, by the quick thinking deputy under-secretary of league logistics, after the Stadium's grounds were besieged by rain.
                In fact, rain and lightning, briefly halted play at Cypress Park after two were out in the top of the first, but, after a 15 minute delay, the game resumed.
                The Tritons opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. Julian Faria and Dingus opened the frame with consecutive singles. Adrian Roznowski walked to load the bases, and Magdiel Sanchez sent Faria home with a sacrifice fly to center. Dingus scored when he stole third  and catcher Mike Robbins' throw sailed into left field.
                In the third, the Sons of Poseidon added an run as Jay Warman led off with a double, moved to third on a ground out by Chris Marrero, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Zac Miller.
                The Cubs got on the board in the top of the fourth as Roberto Galvez drove in Amed Martinez on a fielder's choice. The Bruins took a 4-3 lead in the fifth on an RBI single by Jesus Pina and a two run double by Robbins.
                The score remained tied until the bottom of the seventh when Eric Silverberg worked a leadoff walk and scored on a one out double by Marrero. Two batters later, Marrero scored an all important insurance run on a wild pitch.
                The Cubs threatened in the eighth as Robbins led off with his third double of the game, but did not advance. In the ninth, Galvez led off with an infield hit and moved to second on a wild pitch. The Cubs sent Damian Boyum into pinch run for Galvez and, after Boyum moved to third on another errant toss, he scored on an RBI ground out by Ryan DiGiose. Dingus bounced back to retire Omar Garcia on a fly ball to center and Pina on a come backer to the mound.
                In addition to pitching a complete game, Dingus led the Water Dwellers with three hits. Robbins paced the Cubbies with three doubles.
                The game was played in two hours and 19 minutes, four minutes less than Game 1.
                With the win, the Tritons moved to within one victory of the first championship in club history.
                Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday night.
                Championship Final Series Game 1-Tritons Top Cubs: The Tri-Cities Tritons prevailed in the opening game of the Championship Final Series with a 3-2 win over the Broward Cubs.
                Adrian Roznowski drilled a one out home run to left center off of Cubs' closer Amed Martinez in the top of the ninth, breaking a 2-2 tie in the Tritons' favor.
John Hardardt, who pitched a complete game nine hitter for the Water Dwellers, made the lead stand up, tossing a perfect frame in the bottom of the ninth to seal the win. Hardardt walked one and struck out four.
                Chad Volbert started for the Cubs and permitted two runs on nine hits in eight innings of work. Volbert struck out seven and walked one. Martinez allowed one run on two hits in one inning to take the loss.
                The Bruins took a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the third. Omar Garcia started the rally with a one out single. Consecutive singles by Ricky Quintero and Mike Robbins loaded the bases. With two out, Ray Pereira doubled off of the left field fence to score Garcia and Quintero, with Robbins stopping at third.
In the top of the fourth, the Tritons wasted no time in tying the contest. Zac Miller lined a one out single to center and stole second. Julian Faria singled Miller home and, after moving to third on a base hit by Tre Dingus, scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly to center by Roznowski.
                In the fifth, the Tritons threatened, as Eric Silverberg and Chris Marrero singled to put runners on the corners with one out, but Volbert induced the hot hitting Miller to ground into an inning ending double play.
                The Cubs had an opportunity in the seventh when Garcia singled to left and advanced to second on an error, but Hardardt picked Garcia off of second to squash the threat. In the top of the eighth, Miller walked and went to second on a wild pitch before Faria lofted a long fly to center that just eluded Damian Boyum lunging attempt. Miller, who initially held on the play, hoping to tag up, was nailed at the plate as Boyum recovered to throw a strie to Quintero at shortstop, who, in turn fired a one hopper to Robbins, who applied the tag as Miller dove for the dish. Robbins then righted himself and snapped a perfect throw to third to nab Faria to complete an unusual double play.
                The Cubs got a leadoff single from Robbins in the bottom of the eighth, but Hardardt let him die at second.
                After Martinez retired Dingus on a liner to left to open the top of the ninth, Roznowski hammered a round tripper to left center to give the Sons of Poseidon the lead.
                Faria and Dingus paced the Water Dwellers with two hits each Roznowski drove in two runs. Pereira led the Cubs with three hits, Robbins and Garcia had two a piece in a losing effort.
                The game was played in a breezy two hours and 23 minutes.
                Game 2 of the best of five series is scheduled for Tuesday night.
                Championship Final Series Preview: For the second time in the past three seasons, the Tri-Cities Tritons will meet the Broward Cubs in the Championship Final Series. Two seasons ago, the Bruins claimed the title with a 5-2 win in the fifth and final game.
                The series pits the league's best offense against the the loop's best pitching staff. During the season, the Tritons led all clubs in batting average and runs scored. The Cubs' mound corps had the league's lowest ERA and were second in strikeouts. 
                Conversely, the Tritons' pitching staff checking with the fourth best team ERA, while the Cubbies were third in team batting average and tied for third in runs scored. 
                Individually, Water Dweller shortstop, and former league MVP, Jay Warman finished second in the race for the batting title and led the league in runs scored. Right fielder Zac Miller was second in RBI, and catcher Julian Faria was tied for third. Cubs shortstop Ricky Quintero had the league's third highest on base percentage and was fourth in batting average.
                Cubs' ace Chad Volbert compiled a 7-0 record and a 2.11 ERA. Quintero was 4-1. Eric Silverberg was 6-2 for the Sons of Poseidon with a 3.39 ERA. 
                Behind Volbert and Quintero, the Cubbies have spot starter Jesus Pina and relievers Damian Boyum and Amed Martinez. The Tritons will send John Hardardt, who was 4-2 with a 5.05 ERA, and Tre Dingus to the hill to supplement Silverberg. Reliever Orlando Fallas pitched to a 3.00 ERA in his rookie campaign.
                The Cubs' pitching advantage rests in their depth.  In addition to Volbert, Quintero, Pina, Boyum, and Martinez, the Bruins can get innings out of veteran righties Keith Nicoll and Mike Robbins and lefty Ryan DiGiose. The Tritons' bullpen has Sandy Cabrera, who has not pitched since April 30 due to injuries, and Mike Whittaker, who only tossed one inning this season.
                On the other hand, the Water Dwellers potent lineup has been productive all season and outscored the Cubs by 40 runs during the season. In addition to Warman, Faria, and Miller, who went an incomprehensible 12-15 with 12 RBI in the Tritons' semi-final series win over the Margate Sentries, the Sons of Poseidon lineup features first baseman Magdiel Sanchez and left fielder Adrian Roznowski.
                The Cubs lineup, while not as devastating as the Tritons', boasts first baseman Jamie Bobrow, third baseman Kenny Perez, and right fielder Roberto Galvez, who all had solid campaigns.
                The two teams split the season series.
                In what figures to be a close series, that will probably take all five games to decide, the difference could hinge on whichever team is most able to capitalize on whatever breaks or fortuitous bounces that may come their way.    
                

Federal League on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FederalLeague

Send mail to webmaster@federalleague.com with questions or comments about this web site.

Web Site Copyright © Federal League Athletics, 2016. All Rights Reserved.