The Baltimore BrewCrew, Western Charles Natty Bohs, and Chesapeake Hooks all set out on a mission to win the 2015 Southern Maryland Invitational over July 4th weekend.  The tournament format was full round robin, then the second and third place finishers would play each other in a semi-final and then the winner of that would move onto the championship to play the first seed.  But the weather would not permit and the champion would be determined on Saturday.

In the first game of the tournament, the Baltimore BrewCrew would play the Western Charles Natty Bohs, a rematch of the 2013 finals which the Natty Bohs took 14-2.  But this time was different.  Mike Devecchio threw for the BrewCrew and had one of the most impressive outings of the tournament.  He threw all 8 innings of the extra inning affair.  Johnny Klopfer of the Natty Bohs tied the game at two in bottom of the 7th taking the win from the BrewCrew's fingers and sending the game to extras.  Following a double by Johnny Bandzwolek in the top of the 8th, Ben Henry had a two-run single to put the BrewCrew in front for good.

In the second game, the Natty Bohs took on the Chesapeake Hooks.  The Bohs scored early and often.  The Bohs connected on three homeruns and were able to take the game from the hooks early.  The Bohs were able to win 9-0.  The BrewCrew were also able to jump on the Hooks early, scoring behind starter Andrew Clow.  Clow lasted 4.2 innings with 2 earned runs and 6 strikeouts.  But he wasn't just effective on the mound; he also went 3/4 with a homerun and 2 RBIs.  The BrewCrew were able to extend the lead to 9-2 but the Hooks mounted a comeback before Kenny West closed the game for the save preserving the 9-6 victory.

When the day ended, the BrewCrew were 2-0, Natty Bohs were 1-1, and the Hooks 0-2.  The weather Satuday night would not permit any games to be played Sunday.  Since the BrewCrew were undefeated in pool play, they were named champions.  Mike Devecchio, of the Baltimore BrewCrew was named the tournament MVP.

On a side note, Steve Cooke would complete a perfect sit, which received recognition from not only the Southern Maryland Invitational but also from Detroit Tigers' ace David Price who tips his cap to the BrewCrew ace.

BrewCrew game recaps are below.

BrewCrew Win First Game of Southern MD Invitational in 8

The July 4th Southern MD Invitational was between the Baltimore BrewCrew and the Western Charles Natty Bohs, a rematch of the 2013 championship game. Mike Devecchio took the hill for the Baltimore BrewCrew to defend his 7-1 record. The BrewCrew got off to a quick start offensively as Brandon Eady, Andrew Clow, and Zach Nadolny all singled to open the game and then Kenny West hit a sacrifice fly to extend the score to 2-0. But this would be the last threat for the BrewCrew for a while. 

Devecchio cruised through the first four innings only allowing one baserunner but ran into a little trouble in the fifth inning. There were three hits in the inning, the first driving in a run and the last ended the inning when Eady threw the tying run out at the plate. In the bottom of the 7th, with the BrewCrew up 2-1, the Natty Bohs were able to tie the game with a lead-off homerun but then Devecchio was able to retire the side in order. 

In the 8th the BrewCrew bats awakened. After West reached on an error, Johnny Bandzwolek stung a double down the left field line to put runners on second and third. Then, Ben Henry once again came through for the BrewCrew ripping a two run single to right center field to give the BrewCrew a 4-2 lead which was more than enough for Devecchio. The Natty Bohs went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 8th giving the BrewCrew a win in the first game of the tournament. 

Devecchio went 8 innings, a BrewCrew single game record, allowing 2 runs complete with 6 strikeouts. Eady and Nadolny were the only Brews with two hits, Eady scored a run and Nadolny had an RBI. Henry drove in two runs as well.

BrewCrew Advance to the Championship with 9-6 Defeat

The BrewCrew found themselves in a similar position, in the last game of pool play in position to go undefeated. In the Battle of Baltimore, the BrewCrew won its last game going undefeated, in the Reno Powell Invitational, the BrewCrew lost their last game of pool play, and in the Southern MD Invitational the BrewCrew won their last game to go undefeated. Andrew Clow started for the BrewCrew, as he begins to work his way into the rotation. Clow work into the fifth inning allowing 2 earned runs but had to work around sloppy defense, including 4 errors. 

The BrewCrew offense got onto a quick start in the second, when Kenny West singled and then Johnny Bandzwolek doubled him home. JD Bruck singled Bandzwolek to the plate and Ben Henry hit him home. In the third, Clow hit a solo homerun and then Bruck used his speed to score on an error. The Hooks were able to pass two runs across the board on a few hits. So in the fourth the BrewCrew responded with more runs, starting with Mike Devecchio single and Zach Nadolny double. Barr hit a sacrifice fly to score a run and then Clow hit a single to make it 8-2. West singled and then Bruck hit another RBI single to make it 9-2. 

The Hooks threatened in the fifth after several errors but Kenny West shut the door on that inning with the BrewCrew up 9-4. In the 7th, the Hooks scratched two runs across, one earned, before getting the tying run on deck. But he was left there as West is able to induce a fly out to end the game and recorded the save. The BrewCrew took a 9-6 victory and went undefeated in pool play to advance to the championship. 

Clow would go 4.2 innings with 6 strikeouts and 2 earned runs to earn the win. West would go 2.1 innings and would allow 1 earned run. Brandon Eady and Zach Nadolny once again had two hits. Clow had three hits including a homerun and two RBIs as well as the win. Kenny West added two hits and Bandzwolek had two doubles and an RBI. Bruck had two hits, 2 RBIs, and a run scored. 

The BrewCrew will play in the championship against the winner of the Hooks and the Natty Bohs.