Chief Jones Saves the Day with a Walk Off Blast

The BrewCrew found themselves in a virtual tie with the Chesapeake Hooks in the Chesapeake League for first place prior to Tuesday's doubleheader. Ace pitcher Steve Cooke took the ball and was as dominant as ever. The offense hit a lull through the middle innings but was bailed out by Dre "Chief" Jones. This game was the quintessential BrewCrew game since the formation of the team in 2013. 

Cooke rolled through the first 1-2-3. Dre Jones lead off the game with a hit by pitch and Kenny West hit one off the wall in left center to score him. West later scored on a wild pitch to take the 2-0 lead. The Hooks rallied back in the third with a pair of hits and an error to tie the game. 

Then there was a lull in scoring. The BrewCrew loaded the bases in the 6th, nut a Mike Latona line out to left field kept the game at 2-2. Zach Nadolny had a two out double in the bottom of the 7th but was stranded. As the game entered extras Steve Cooke continued to roll with 9 strikeouts through seven innings. 

Andy Welling reached on a one out walk in the 8th and Kyle Jirsa pinch ran. Jirsa stole second but was stranded there. In the 9th, the Hooks were able to beat the BrewCrew defense. Four errors in the inning allowed one run to score. 

But in the Bottom of the 9th, Mike Latona lead off with a single. Then with one out, Chief Jones hammered a ball over the left field wall for a walk off homerun and victory for the BrewCrew. 

Jones went went 1-4 with a homerun, two runs and two RBIs. Harry Slade did not get out in the game, going 1/1 with three walks. Cooke finished the complete game, nine innings, with twelve strikeouts with only one earned run. 

The BrewCrew take on the Hooks next in the second game of the double header.

BrewCrew Take Lead of Chesapekeake American Division

After Dre "Chief" Jones deflated the Hooks tires with his walk off homerun to end game one of the double header, in game two the BrewCrew slashed those same tires. The 'Crew rode them hard and all game long. Zach Nadolny's first inning double scored Jones to take the 1-0 lead. Then Harry Slade's single scored Nadolny to take the 2-0 lead much like the first game. But the scoring did not stop. In the second Matt Gabrielski and Johnny Bandzwolek walked and scored on a hit by Connor Goodie and ground out by Dan McCann. In the third, Slade reached for his sixth consecutive at bat and stole second. He scored on Gabrielski's single. The scoring did not stop till the final, of 8-0. 

Sean Welling took the start for the first time in his career and did not disappoint. He threw four innings, allowing no runs. The Hooks only threat came in the first, but Welling was able to retire back to back batters to preserve the lead. Welling ended with two strikeouts and no runs allowed. Latona came in the fifth inning and pitched himself to a three innning save. He also had two strikeouts and allowed no runs. 

Harry Slade struck out in the fifth to end his on base streak at 7. Z. Nadolny went 2-4 with a double, homerun, two runs and three RBIs. Johnny Bandzwolek and Ben Henry reached in every at bat and Connor Goodie had two hits. 

Next up for the BrewCrew is the Delmarva Holiday Invitational this weekend in Cecil County.

BrewCrew Slaughter Rule Trojans to Start Tournament

Brandon Friedland started for the BrewCrew in his first start of the season. The BrewCrew offense exploded on the Trojans in the last three innings to complete the slaughter. Dre "Chief" Jones, Zach Nadolny, Tommy Mazurkiewicz, and Andy Welling all had two hits. Sean Welling had three. Next up for the BrewCrew is the Baltimore Rattlers in game two of the Delmarva Holiday Tournament.

BrewCrew Squash Rattlers to Start Tourney 2-0

In Cameron Kalandros first start with the team since 2016, he threw a no hitter against the Baltimore Rattlers. But that was not even the crushing blow. The crushing blow was the 15 runs their pitchers allowed. Zach Nadolny and Johnny Bandzwolek each had two hits and the BrewCrew only needed three at bats to slaughter the snakes.

BrewCrew Defeat Trojans to Advance to Championship

After Sean Welling's dominant start against the Hooks on Tuesday, he takes the ball against the Trojans. A victory would put the BrewCrew in the championship of the Delmarva Holiday Invitational. A loss and the BrewCrew would play the Baltimore Cyclones in an elimination game. In the first, a two out hit for the Trojans put them up early. Then in the second a string of hits to open the inning put the Trojans up 2-0. But Welling was able to get out of the two on and no out situation with no more damage. 

Then the bats came alive. A two-run double by Johnny Bandzwolek down the left field line tied the game scoring Matt Gabrielski and Ryan Welling. BrewCrew starter Sean Welling was injured on the play and would have to leave the game. A two-out, two-run single by Brandon Friedland put the BrewCrew up 4-2 a few batters later. 

In the fourth, another double by Bandzwolek to center put the BrewCrew up 6-2. The game closed 8-3 on a time limit expiration. After the S. Welling injury, Mark Smith threw the last two innings for the save. Johnny Bandzwolek led the team with two hits and Ben Henry had three walks in three plate appearances. 

The championship game has been pushed to a later date. 

Next up for the Crew is the Chesapeake Orioles on Tuesday night.