Championship Final Series: Tritons Trip Twilighters For Fourth Consecutive Title      

              The Tri-Cities Tritons became only the third team in league history to win four consecutive championships as they staged a late rally and defeated the Sunrise Sunsets, 9-5, in Game 4 of the 2019-2020 Fall/Winter season Championship Final Series. The Tritons won the series, which began in March and then endured a three month layoff due to the Covid-19 virus, three games to one.
              John Hardardt got the start for the Water Dwellers and he was handed a two run lead before he threw his first pitch. With one out in the top of the first, Chris Marrero singled and went to third when Zac Miller reached on an error. After Miller stole second, Marrero scored on Mike LaManna's RBI ground out to short. Miller scored the second run on a single by Agner Martinez.
              In the bottom of the first, the Twilighters cut their deficit in half as Brandon Hull singled, stole second, and scored on an RBI single by Chris Price. The 'Sets tied the score in the second. Jimmy Schariest led off with a base hit, stole second, and scored on a two out infield single by Nick Arata.
              The Twilighters moved ahead in the third. A leadoff double by Chris Price is right on time as it was followed by an RBI double by Johnnie Cole. 
              With the Sunsets leading 3-3 after three, Hardardt, and his counterpart, Brant Spring, each put up zeroes in the fourth, fifth, and sixth. 
              In the top of the seventh, Brandon Sam led off with a base hit to left and moved to second on a bunt single by John Haritan. A single to center by Calvin Rayburn loaded the bases with none out.  
              Jay Warman's three run double, down the left field line, cleared the bases and gave the Tritons a 5-3 advantage. 
              Tommy Tritz came out of the bullpen, but walked Marrero and Zac Miller to load the bases. LaManna grounded into a double play, but Warman scored on the play, increasing the lead to 6-3.  
              Trailing by three, the Sunsets responded in the bottom of the seventh. Arata and Hull led off with back to back singles and both scored on Price's two run double. With the potential tying run on second, Tritons' skipper summoned rookie Chad Allen from the bullpen. Allen fanned Javier Aguilar and Johnnie Cole before retiring Schariest on a fly to deep center to escape the jam.
              The Sunsets loaded the bases in the eighth, but Allen struck out Price to leave them loaded.  
              In the top of the ninth, the Tritons added three important insurance runs. After Marrero's one out double, Miller reached on an error. LaManna's second RBI ground out of the game scored Marrero. Matt Rodriguez and Jayven Miller both drew walks, and Brandon Sam's two run single capped the scoring.
              In the bottom of the ninth, Cole briefly kept the 'Sets alive with a one out single, but Allen recovered and induced Schariest to ground into a game ending, and season ending double play. 
              Hardardt, who allowed five runs on 10 hits in six innings, got credit for the win. Allen tossed three scoreless innings of one hit relief, walking three and striking out five, to earn the save. Spring permitted four earned runs on 12 hits in six innings and took the loss.
              Warman's three hits and three RBI led the Tritons. Hull and Price had three hits a piece for the Sunsets. 
              After the game, the editors of South Florida Baseball Report named Calvin Rayburn as the Most Valuable Player of the playoffs. Rayburn went 2-0 in the Championship Final Series and contributed five hits. It was the fifth time that Rayburn has won the award in his six seasons as a Triton. 
              For Tritons' manager Mike Whittaker, who, with the conclusion of this series, became the longest tenured manager in league history, this latest championship cements his legacy as one of, if not the, greatest manager in Federal League history.  
              For the league, the conclusion of the series, in spite of the unprecedented delays and obstacles, is a much smaller, but still significant, victory as well.
              Tritons Lead Series After Game 3 Win: The Tri-Cities Tritons moved to within one win of becoming only the third team in league history to claim four consecutive titles as they defeated the Sunrise Sunsets, 12-8, in Game 3 of the 2019-2020 Championship Final Series. The Tritons lead the best of five series, two games to one.
              Calvin Rayburn, who earned the win in Game 1 back in March, tossed a complete game for his second win of the series. Rayburn allowed three earned runs on eight hits, walking six, hitting four, and striking out 16.
              Brant Spring started for the Twilighters and permitted eight runs, five earned, on 14 hits and took the loss.
              The Water Dwellers opened the scoring in the bottom of the second with a pair of runs. Jayven Miller started the rally with a one out single. Brandon Sam was hit by a pitch, and both runners scored as Rayburn laced a two run double. 
              The Sunsets tied the score in the bottom of the fourth. Chris Price led off with a single and advanced to second when Brandon Hull was hit by a pitch. An RBI single by Johnnie Cole brought in one run, and a throwing error led to another. 
              In the bottom of the fourth, the Tritons broke the tie, scoring three runs. Rayburn singled with one out and moved to second on a two out base hit by Chris Marrero. Zac Miller then delivered Rayburn with the go ahead with an RBI single, before Tre Dingus doubled home two more runs, giving the Sons of Poseidon a 5-2 advantage.  
              Jay Warman's three run home run, following a two out error, in the bottom of the fifth increased the Tritons' lead to 8-2. 
              The Water Dwellers built a 10-2 lead in the seventh and took a 12-4 lead into the ninth. Trailing by eight, the 'Sets refused to quit in the final frame. Cole's two run double and RBIs by Tommy Tritz and Nick Arata drew the Twilighters to within four, but Rayburn fanned Garrett Rogers with the potential tying run waiting in the on deck circle to seal the win.  
              Rayburn, Marrero, and Zac Miller had three hits each for the Tritons.
              Cole had three hits and three RBI for the 'Sets.  
              The Tritons can wrap up the title, while the Sunsets will seek to square the series in Game 4, which is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday night.
              Sunsets Even Series As Baseball Resumes: After more than three months in quarantine, Federal League Baseball returned to action on Tuesday night as the Sunrise Sunsets and Tri-Cities Tritons met in Game 2 of the 2019-2020 Championship Final Series at Highlands Christian Academy. The Twilighters cruised to a 13-3 win over the Water Dwellers to even the series at one win a piece. The Tritons had won Game 1, 4-3, back on March 14.
              Garrett Rogers started for the 'Sets and, apart from a shaky sixth inning, was in complete control of the Tritons' hitters. Rogers registered a complete game two hitter for the win.
              Chad Allen got the starting assignment for the Tritons and the layoff seemed to have a greater affect on the youngster. Allen was not sharp, struggling with his control. Allen walked nine and hit four batters as he was charged with seven runs on just two hits in five and a third innings and took the loss.
              After Rogers worked around a two out walk to Zac Miller in the top of the first, the Sunsets struck for three runs in the bottom of the first. Nick Arata and Jimmy Schariest opened the frames with consecutive walks. A wild pitch and an errant pickoff throw let Arata score the game's first run. A one out double by Javier Aguilar sent Schariest to third and a walk drawn by Chris Price loaded the bases. Allen walked Brandon Hull to force home another run and hit Chris Craig with a pitch to force home another.  
              Arata hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the second to give Rogers a four run cushion. 
              After Arata's homer, Allen settled down and seven of the next eight batters, but, in the fifth, he walked Aguilar, hit Price with a pitch, and walked Hull to load the bases. Tommy Tritz was hit by a pitch to bring in Aguilar, Chris Craig drew a walk that brought home Price, and Allen hit Demetrio Green with a pitch to force in Hull, giving the 'Sets a 7-0 advantage.  
              In the top of the sixth, the Tritons got on the board.
              An error and a walk issued to pinch hitter Matt Rodriguez put two runners aboard. Jay Warman followed with an RBI single to break up Rogers' shutout and his no-hit bid. Chris Marrero singled in another run, and Warman scored on a wild pitch.  
              Still possessing a 7-3 lead, the Twilighters responded with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Aguilar doubled in one run, and Hull singled in another.
              The Sunsets added four more runs in the bottom of the seventh to end the scoring. Rogers contributed an RBI double, Aguilar singled in two runs, and Price singled in one.  
              Aguilar led the 'Sets with three hits and three RBI.
              The game was played in an efficient two hours and 19 minutes.  
              Game 3 of the series is scheduled for Thursday night. 
              Tritons Top Twilighters In Game 1: The Tri-Cities Tritons edged the Sunrise Sunsets, 4-3, in Game 1 of the best of five Championship Final Series. While a thrilling opening game win would normally be a cause for celebration, the Water Dwellers were left to wonder when they will get the chance to play Game 2.
              After the game ended, the city of Pompano Beach confirmed that they will close the Baseball Complex for the remainder of the month as a Coronavirus precaution. The league has not yet postponed the series, as it will seek to find alternate venues during the upcoming week.
              Calvin Rayburn started for the Sons of Poseidon and ran in to some immediate trouble. With two outs, his opposite number, Garret Rogers singled through the left side. One batter later, Javier Aguilar doubled in Rogers, giving the Sunsets a 1-0 lead.
              The Tritons quickly responded, tallying three runs in the bottom of the first. Jay Warman greeted Rogers by smacking his first pitch for a leadoff double. Chris Marrero followed with a bloop single to right, and, Warman scored, one batter later, on an RBI single by Zac Miller. With two out, Matt Rodriguez sliced a two run single to right that scored Marrero and Miller and put the Tritons in front, 3-1.  
              In the bottom of the third, Miller crushed a one out home run, giving the Water Dwellers a 4-1 advantage.
              Protecting a three run lead, Rayburn cruised until the top of the sixth. In that frame, Brandon Hull led off with a single, but was erased trying to steal second. Hull's gamble proved especially costly as Rogers followed with a single and Aguilar delivered another RBI double. With two out, Chris Craig doubled home Aguilar, bringing the 'Sets to within one run and leaving them to wonder what might have been.
              The Twilighters threatened to tie the score in the seventh when a single by Schariest and a walk to Rogers put two runners aboard, but Rayburn retired the hot hitting Aguilar on a ground out to end the inning.
              In the ninth, the 'Sets put the potential tying run on base, but Rayburn induced Hull to fly out to right to end the threat and the game.
              Miller's three hits and two RBI paced the Tritons. Warman and Rodriguez added two hits a piece, with Rodriguez driving home two. Rogers had three hits and Aguilar had two for the Sunsets.
              Rayburn went the distance for the Tritons and garnered the win. Rayburn scattered eight hits, walked two, and struck out 11. Rogers took the hard luck loss, allowing nine hits, walking none, and striking out 13.
              The teams are set to play Game 2 on Monday night, but it remains to see if, and where, that will occur. 
              Series Preview-Tritons Tackle Twilighters In Championship Final Series: When, on Saturday, the three time defending champion Tri-Cities Tritons meet the Sunrise Sunsets in Game 1 of the 2019-2020 Fall/Winter Championship Final Series, it will mark the seventh consecutive time that the two rivals have faced off for the title.
              While the Water Dwellers have won the previous three meetings, and five of the last six, the Tritons' last playoff series loss came at the hands of the Twilighters in the 2017-2018 Fall/Winter Championship Final Series.
              During the regular campaign, the teams evenly split the season series.
              The Tritons hit .300 as a team, good for third in the league, and led the league in runs scored, walks drawn, and on base percentage. The Sunsets batted .269, sixth among league teams, and finished third in runs scored while leading the league in home runs. The Tritons led the league in stolen bases. The Sunsets finished second in that category.  
              The Tritons' pitching staff paced the league's staffs in wins, complete games, and team ERA. The Sunsets' pitching staff were second in wins, fourth in team ERA, and issued the fewest walks. Tritons' pitchers were second in strikeouts. Sunset pitchers were sixth in strikeouts.
              Individually, Tre Dingus led the Tritons in hitting. Among those batters that had enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title, Jay Warman paced the Sons of Poseidon. Javier Aguilar was the leading batter for the Twilighters. Aguilar and third baseman George Negron tied for the team lead in RBI. Mike LaManna paced the Tritons in runs driven in.
              Demetrio Green led the 'Sets in home runs. LaManna led the Tritons. Warman scored the most runs of any Tritons. Catcher Chris Craig suprisingly led the Sunsets in runs scored.
              Warman's 11 stolen bases were tops on the Tritons. Chris Price had 13 swipes for the 'Sets.  
              On the mound, Calvin Rayburn paced the Tritons with a pristine 10-0 record. In fact, Rayburn has won 27 consecutive decisions, dating back to his loss to the Sunsets in Game 3 of the 2017-2018 Fall/Winter Championship Final Series. Rookie Chad Allen had a 2-1 record, including a no-hitter, and a sterling 2.22 ERA. Veteran John Hardardt finished the campaign 4-3 with a 2.90 ERA. Dingus and Eric Silverberg were the only other active Tritons to throw any significant innings.
              The Sunsets hurlers are led by ace Brant Spring, who went 7-2 with a 1.73 ERA. Eric Sabido was 3-2. Garrett Rogers, limited by injury was only 1-1, but is well established as a quality starter. Tommy Tritz, Brandon Hull, Ryan Sander, and Jimmy Schariest will work out of the bullpen.
              The top of the Tritons' order, featuring Warman, speedy Chris Marrero, Zac Miller, LaManna, and catcher Matt Rodriguez is as potent as there is in the league.
              The Sunsets' offense is less prolific and will miss the dynamic bat of shortstop Nick Arata, who is out with an injury.
              Both teams are above average defensively, although any slight advantage that the Twilighters may have had evaporated with Arata's injury.
              If the 'Sets enjoy any area of advantage it is in the depth of its pitching staff. While both teams have three starters, the Tritons only have two legitimate bullpen options. The Sunsets have six pitchers available to work in relief if called upon. 
              While Sunset skipper Brandon Hull has established himself a top flight manager, any pilot would pale in comparison to the dean of Federal League managers, the Tritons' Mike Whittaker. In what is clearly a Hall of Fame career, Whittaker has led the Tritons to the Championship Final Series 10 times and has delivered six championships. 
              Without question, the Tritons are favored to win their fourth straight title, but the Sunsets should not be taken lightly, as this could end up being the most closely fought series these teams have yet played.
              
                           

            
              
                   
                

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