Flashback ... It is Sept 3, 2006 and the Peakes Bombers are trying to defend their Kings County Baseball League title from 2005. The Bombers hold a slim one run lead over the Northside Brewers in the fifth and deciding game of semi final action. The Bombers added pitcher Stephen Birt that year and with the bases loaded and two out Birt was called upon to put out a potential Northside rally in the top of the sixth inning. Birt threw two high outside fastballs and was ahead on the count 0-2. Birt then threw another fastball that got too much of the plate and Dustin Clinton hit it long and far over the left field fence ending the series.
Fast forward to October 9, 2011... Bottom of the seventh inning Northside Brewers down three games to one in the best of seven finals but up 7-4 with one out and runners at first and second. Stephen Birt finally buries some old ghost of KCBL past with a three run home run capping a four run rally to tied the Brewers 7-7. The game goes in to extra innings and the Bombers win in the bottom of the ninth without the aid of a base hit.
Matt Bradley walked with the bases loaded giving the Bombers their second title and first since 2005.
Stephen Birt was named league MVP. Birt won twice in the final and had a pair of homers in the clincher.
The Bombers took a 3-1 series lead last Tuesday evening when they defeated the Brewers 8-3. Birt was the winning pitcher with twelve strikeouts. Matt Bradley had two hits with three RBIs and Trevor McAree had three hits with a pair of RBIs.
On Sunday the Bombers jumped to an early 2-0 lead and had that lead until the top of the fourth inning. Dustin Larkin homered with two out to tied the game at 2-2. The Brewers put the next two runners on base and DJ Dunn hit a long home run to left field giving the Brewers a 5-2 lead. The Brewers added another run on a wild pitch in the sixth inning. The Bombers got one back in the bottom of the sixth to close the gap to 6-3. Brodie Connolly hit a two out solo home run in the top of the seventh to provide what seem like a little more cushion. In the bottom of the seventh the Brewers were victims of some bad bounces and a couple of mistakes giving the Bombers a chance. When you give a good team like Peakes an extra out or two they will burn you and the youthful Brewers found that out. They scored their fourth run on a long sacrifice fly. Then on a 1-0 pitch, Birt got all of a Taylor Larkin fastball and he stood at the plate and enjoyed it. Birt had previously won three regular season MVP titles and two batting titles but I am pretty sure this one base hit was his most satisfying accomplishment in his lengthy KCBL career.
For Joseph Gardiner this was his seventh championship. Grant MacEwan won his third title. Colin Myers, Matt Bradley, Adam MacSwain, Matt MacDonald, Neal Morrison, Josh Coffin and coach Jeremy MacDonald, won for the second time. First ever champions were Rob Phelan, Logan Cobb, Brent MacKinnon, Brandon MacInnis and Stephen Birt.
Hats off to coach Jeremy MacDonald for guiding this veteran team to the championship. MacDonald’s help swayed a young Brandon MacInnis back into ball after he left Northside early in the year. MacDonald convinced MacInnis to come to the Bombers rather than sitting out. MacInnis brought some youth and speed to improved the Bomber offense and defense.
The Northside Brewers are obviously disappointed with the outcome but take pride on a year of success. Some ball players that had their best year ever were Brodie Connolly, Garrett VanDiepen, Colin MacEwan, and Peter MacLeod. They are still relatively young and can easily be back in the finals next year. Teenager Taylor Larkin who pitched a super game on Sunday is a solid prospect and has the potential to be one of the best pitchers of the future. Jason MacLean is a young veteran and will continue to be this teams leader for years to come. DJ Dunn and Jed MacEwan may have to acquire another pitcher to help out MacLean and Larkin. It can be a safe bet that Northside will be back next year ready to take the next step to the top.
Another year is over in the Kings County Baseball League and thanks to all teams that participated in the league this year. The league continues to grow and seems to be getting more stronger each year. The players can take much credit for this league success and a lot of credit must also be giving to the dedicated duo of president Aquinas Ryan and secretary-treasurer, Ken Dunn. These two fine gentleman have to be admired for their love of this fine league. To all teams, executive and umpires, hope to see you again next May.
One last Trivia answer ... Who was the first KCBL winner of league MVP honors back in 1991?
I guess it may be fitting that the answer is father of Dustin and granddaddy of Taylor Larkin ... Daniel”Boone” Larkin.