Los Angeles Baseball League

Pirates Take Booty

The Brentwood Braves, regular season toppers in South Bay Sunday Wood, hosted the Griffith Park Pirates in the championship game at San Manuel Stadium on 9/8/13.

Stats promised a pitching duel. The Braves’ Joudan Leiro (13-2, 1.46 ERA, 1.05 WHIP+) would face Mike Bodlovich (6-3, 3.86 ERA / 1.58 WHIP+) for the Pirates. This matchup would impress with both pitchers going the distance and working out of numerous jams - without giving up runs - in 95-degree heat. When the dust settled, victory went to the team with no mistakes and the timeliest hitting.

Both teams threatened early; the Pirates with RISP in the first two innings, the Braves’ with bases loaded in the 2nd. No runs either way. 3rd Inning, both teams sit down, 1-2-3.

The 4th brought runs, the Pirates scoring first off Marvin Caballero’s IF hit followed by a fielding error that scored Richie Nash. The Braves answered with league-leading power: Anthony Martinez blasted a shot over the right center wall opening the Braves’ bottom half. Later, with Darrol Harris on, Leiro helped himself with a double down the left field line to put two Braves in scoring position with only one out. Up steps Armando Jovel with a gap-shot double to the wall, scoring two. Braves up 3-1.

The Pirates answered the Braves’ answer in the very next frame, with Mylan Stepanovich leading off with a walk followed by a DJ Chomyk single. A wild pitch put both runners in scoring position with no outs for Eddie Alfano, who delivered a SAC fly run to right field, Chomyk tagging up to third with one out. Nick Manning provided the second SAC fly of the inning to erase the Braves lead, textbook situational hitting, times two.

Both teams went down in order in the 6th.

Pirate Bryan Jones smacks a one-out single in the 7th and Chomyk follows with a double down the left field line. Pirates are in business with two runners in scoring position with one out. Alfano gets to first on an IF roller-error, bases loaded for Dale Dymkoski, who hammers a liner to left field that plates two more Pirates. 5-3.

The Braves come right back in the bottom of the 7th with two singles; Jovel again, and Garrett Champion legging out a bunt. Dymkoski then makes the Pirate highlight reel catching a liner off his shoelaces for the first out. Adam Novak laces a single to left maybe too hard, as the Pirate outfielders get to it quick to prevent a run. Bases loaded for the Braves, one out. Bodlovich gets a pop-up and a ground ball at the top of the order to end the threat.

Pirates are still up 5-3 going into the bottom of the 8th. Braves on first and second, two outs. Jovel with yet another line drive shot, but this one is right at Dymkoski and the last Braves’ threat was done.

Leiro eventually strikes out the Pirates in the 9th, but Bodlovich and the Pirates Defense put the Braves down in order to end it.

Griffith Park Pirates win their third South Bay Sunday Wood National Championship in a row.

More important that timely hitting, the Pirates defense was without a mistake that day: Catcher Eddie Corona was excellent behind the dish, and Kyle Taylor matched him at the SS position.

For the Braves: Jovel is 3/4 with a double. Leiro is 2/3 with a double. Adam Novak is 2/4, as is Martinez with a HR.

Thanks to LABL and Mr.’s Provost and Becker, and all the South Bay teams for another great summer of baseball.

Date: September 8, 2013     Time: 2:00pm      Venue: San Manuel Stadium