2025 NSL SEASON PLAYOFF REPORTS
FIRST ROUND
ALBANY and CROSSTOWN
Game 1 at Albany
This was a show down of Rookie of the year candidate Paul Skeens and Cy Young candidate Corbin Burnes. The offense started off early by the Dales Greene hitting a 2 out solo homer to get them off to a early 1-0 lead. Albany would bounce back in the bottom half of the inning with Pavin Smith launching a solo homer of himself to tie things up at 1-1. The Dales would bounce back on the attack in the top of the third as Cowser would hit a two run double to give them a 3-1 lead. Albany would be held quiet until the bottom of the 5th when Renfroe steps up to the plate and provides a RBI ground out to bring the Cats to within 1 run. Albany would be back at it again in the 6th with one out and a runner on as Contreras steps up to the plate and launches a 2 run homer to give the Cats a 3-4 lead and end Skeens day. Albany would tack on another run in the 7th with a RBI single by Rosario to give the Cats a 3-5 lead and turn it over to the closer Yates to bring it home.
Game 2 at Albany
Game 2 would be a pitchers dual early by the Dales Hunter Greene and the Cats big offseason pick up Justin Steele. This game would remain 0-0 until the bottom of the 5th when Albany would take the lead on a RBI single by Rosario to drive in Marte. The Dales would bounce right back in the top of the 6th with a solo shot by Barger to tie the game up at 1-1. The Cats would be back at it in the 7th thanks to an error by the pitcher Adam as Albany makes them pay by a sac fly by Rosario and RBI double by Pavin Smith. Albany would take game 2 by a final 1-3 and a 2 game lead in the series heading to Crosstown.
Game 3 at Crosstown
Crosstown hoping for some home field magic sends out Zack Eflin to face Ranger Suarez. Albany would take the early lead in the top of the 2nd by a little more small ball by a RBI groundout by Nico Hoerner to take the early 1-0 lead. Albany would tack on another run in the bottom of the 3rd with a RBI single by Pavin Smith to drive in Rosario to extend the lead to 2-0. The Dales would bounce back in the bottom of the 4th by adding a solo shot by Diaz. Albany would add another run in the top of the 7th on a RBI single by Renfroe to make it 3-1. Crosstown would add another run on the board in the bottom of the 8th on a Cowser solo homer which would end the day for Suarez but would also be the end of the offense for the Dales. Albany takes a 3-0 lead in the series.
Game 4 at Crosstown
This would be another showdown of the aces for each team as Burnes heads out to close out the series and Skeens hopes for the Dales to see another day. Crosstown would jump on the board early as Cowser hits a 2 RBI double in the bottom of the 1st to give them a 0-2 lead in the game. Albany wouldn’t take long to respond as Jose Alutve ties things up on a 2 run homer in the top of the 2nd. The flood gates would open in the top of the 5th by some clutch hitting by Albany starting off with a RBI double by Yelich RBI single by Hoerner, and 2 RBI single by Altuve to give the Cats a 6-2 lead. The Dales would bounce right back in the bottom half of the inning on a solo shot by Stephenson. They would then follow up that inning by some traffic on the bases which would lead Albany to bring in their closer in the 6th to keep them at bay. Yates would be able to strand the runners and eventually turn it over to Faucher to close out the series.
The series definitely lacked offense as both teams could only muster 8 extra base hits per team. A big thanks for Crossie coming over to play and also congrats on a good year for the Dales.
CREEKSIDE and KEYSTONE
Keystone and Creekside faced off in the first round of the 2025 playoffs.
Here are the game highlights.
Game 1
Visiting Creekside handed the ball to Cody Bradford, while Keystone went with their ace Trevor Williams. The Creekside bats were ice cold, early, as they went 3 up and 3 down the first three innings. Keystone knocked on the door in the 2nd inning. James Wood banged a one out double, George Springer followed with a BB. After a fly out, Anthony Rizzo reached on Xavier Edward's first of FIVE errors for the series, to load the bases. Bradford got Brice Turang to bounce out third to first to end the threat. In the 4th, Creekside had an opportunity, as Edwards singled with one out, Yordan Alvarez was hit by the pitch and Tyler O'Neill drew a BB to load the bases with one out. Williams buckled down and struck out Ivan Herrera and got Jarren Duran to fly out. This was just a sign of things to come as both teams wasted opportunities, not only in this game but thru out the series.
Keystone broke the ice in the 4th as Springer homered.
Creekside fired back in the 5th, as Eugenio Suarez drew a lead off BB. Rhys Hoskins followed with a 2 run blast to give the Crushers a 2-1 lead, thru 5 innings.
Keystone had a golden opportunity in the 6th, with a lead off single by Lourdes Gurriel, a 1 out single and SB by Geraldo Perdomo put Comanche runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. James Wood hit a rocket up the middle that Edwards actually caught and turned into a DP.
In the 7th, it was Creeksides turn to botch an opportunity. With Hoskins on second and Anthony Volpe on first, the idiot Creekside manager decided to not pinch run for Hoskins, who promptly got thrown out at the plate when Juan Soto singled to left and Gurriel threw home to easily nail Hoskins.
In the 8th, Gurriel homered off Salazar to knot the score at 2.
Keystone was in position to win the all important first game in the bottom of the 9th. Springer led off with a double down the line, he was sac'd to 3rd by Austin Wells, but Jake Cousins came thru with back to back strike outs to send the game to extra innings.
Creekside was next to screw up, in the 10th, Hoskins reached on an error by Perdomo, this time Hoskins was pinch run for with Daulton Varsho. Volpe singled and stole second, putting Creekside runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs. With the infield in, Soto hit a one hopper to Turang who threw home in time to nail Varsho. Now with the lead run at third with one out, Collin Snider worked out of the jam, getting to harmless fly balls to the outfield.
With the score tied 2-2 after 10 innings, Bryan Hudson was sent out to pitch the 11th and 12th innings for Keystone, and he did so masterfully, as did Carlos Estevez for Creekside. The great pitching continued in the 13th, as Bibee set down Creekside and Robertson set down Keystone one, two, three. It was beginning to look like neither side was gonna be able to muster a run.
Finally, in the 14th, Suarez found a gap for a double and scored on a clutch base hit by Jeimer Candelario who came in for Hoskins, putting Creekside up 3-2.
Bryan Abreu was called on to lock it down, which he did. WHAT A MARATHON !!
Creekside 3-8-1
Keystone 2-8-1
WP: D Robertson
LP: T Bibee
Sv: B Abreu
HRs; Crk - Hoskins
Key - Springer, Gurriel
Game 2
Starters were Eric Fedde for Creekside and Bryan Woo for Keystone
Creekside struck first, scoring in the 1st when Yordan Alvares singled and scored on a 2 out double by Tyler O'Neill.
The 1-0 Creekside lead held up until the 5th when Keystone tied it when Brice Turang scored on a Teoscar Hernandez base hit.
The botched opportunities continue as Creekside wasted a lead off double by Ivan Herrera in the 6th, and a lead off triple in the 9th by Jarren Duran.
Meanwhile Keystone took the lead in the 8th on a one out HR by Teoscar Hernandez who drove in both the Keystone runs in this game.
Both starters pitched great and Raisel Iglesias picked up the save when he worked around the aforementioned lead off triple by Duran in the 9th.
Series tied at 1-1
Creekside 1-9-0
Keystone 2-7-0
WP: Woo
LP: Fedde
Sv: Iglesias
HRs
Key - Hernandez
Game 3
Aaron Nola for Keystone vs Merrill Kelly for Creekside
Series shifts to Creekside, and Keystone got on the board first with a solo HR by Austin Wells in the top of the 3rd.
Creekside evened things in the bottom of the 4th with a Tyler O'Neill HR.
In the 5th, Keystone got a lead off double by the hot hitting Wells. He scored on a single by Justin Turner.
Turner, then went deep in the 7th to finally give a team more than a 1 run lead.
Bottom of the 7th saw Hoskins reach on a Turner error and score on a Volpe triple;
Surprise, back to a 1 run game
Keystone hung on as Iglesias nailed it down, again, and they took a 2-1 lead in the series.
Keystone 3-7-1
Creekside 2-6-0
WP: Nola
LP: Kelly
Sv: Iglesias
HRs
Key - Wells, Turner
Crk - O'Neill
Game 4
Game 1 starters take the hill. Williams for Keystone and Bradford for Creekside
Creekside struck in the 1st, as O'Neill knocked in Soto who drew a lead off BB. That lead didn't last long as Keystone erupted in the 3rd and 4th, helped out by some shoddy fielding by Creekside.
Springer got on, courtesy of another Edwards error, Wells moved him to second with an infield hit. Rizzo loaded the bases when his chopper off the plate was misplayed by Herrera. Turang scored Springer with a sac fly, then Turner cleared the bases with his second HR in two games. More Keystone damage in the 4th, TJ Friedl doubled followed by a Springer BB and a Wells infield hit, loaded the bases. Turang cashed em all in with a grand slam to make this one look like a laugher. Keystone led was 8-1 after 4.
To Creeksides credit, they didn't roll over. In the 6th Duran hit a 2 run shot and in the 7th, Soto did the same. In the 8th, Creekside edge even closer on a Tyler O'Neill solo HR, making it 8-6 Keystone after 8
keystone picked up an insurance run in the top of the 9th, when Rizzo went deep to close out the scoring at 9-6 and putting Keystone up 3 games to 1 in the series.
Keystone 9-8-0
Creekside 6-7-3
WP: Williams
LP: Bradford
Sv: Iglesias
HR:
Key - Turner, Turang, Rizzo
Crk - Duran, Soto, O'Neill
Game 5
Bryan Woo for Keystone and Creekside needing a home win to extend their season sends out Eric Fedde.
This one was an old fashioned pitchers dual as both starters pitched gems.
Woo went the distance, giving up only 4 hits.
Fedde also pitched a complete game and gave up only 3 hits.
Of the seven hits in the game, six of them were singles. The difference in the game was a Yordan Alvarez HR in the 6th, giving Crkside the win they needed to stay alive in the series.
Keystone 0-3-0
Creekside 1-4-0
WP: Fedde
LP: Woo
HRs:
Crk - Alvarez
Game 6
Series heads back to Comanche field, Creekside goes with Merrill Kelly and Keystone send out Aaron Nola
Creekside struck first in another win or go home game. In the 3rd, Hoskins came thru with a lead off double, Soto drew a one out BB, after a strike out by Edwards, Alvarez legged out an infield hit to load the sacks. O'Neill came up big with a bases clearing double to give the Crushers a 3-0 lead'
Keystone came back in the bottom of the 5th, with three of their own. Friedl and Springer singled and when Springer stole second, Keystone had runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Rizzo responded with a crucial one out single, driving in two runs. Turner then tied it up with a two out single, scoring Rizzo.
It remained 3-3 until the 8th, when Creekside got to Collin Snider. A lead off BB to Edwards, followed by a one out single by O'Neill, who then stole second, putting Creekside runners on 2nd and 3rd. Herrera picked up the go ahead RBI on a tough grounder in the hole and Turang's only play was at first. Duran was issued an intentional BB, but it back fired this time as Eugenio Suarez hit a no doubter 3 run HR, closing out the scoring and evening the series at 3 games each.
Creekside 7-7-2
Keystone 3-8-0
WP: Estevez
LP: Snider
HRs
Crk- Suarez
Game 7
Winner take all, Creekside goes to Cody Bradford and Keystone counters with Trevor Williams
As it turned out, this was actually an unfortunate game 7, if there is such a thing. Unfortunate, in that each game to this point was a nail biter. This one, not so much.
Creekside knocked Williams around for 3 HRs. One each by O'Neill, Duran and Suarez. Soto also hit one in the 7th off of Justin Slaten.
But the story of the game was Cody Bradford, who hurled a complete game NO HITTER.
Creekside wins the series 4-3
Creekside 8-8-0
Keystone 0-0-0
WP: Bradford
LP: Williams
HRs
Crk - O'Neill, Duran, Suarez, Soto
This was certainly an exciting seven game series, which included four 1 run games It was a true toss up. It could easily have gone the other way. As I mentioned earlier, there was a multitude of botched opportunities by both teams, had one of those opportunities been cashed in, Keystone would be the team advancing.
Congrats to JB on an awesome regular season, and a hard fought playoff series.
Team Stats
Keystone
.170 BA
3.68 ERA
19 Runs
41 Hits
8 HRs
14 Xtra base hits
Creekside
.200 BA
2.28 ERA
28 Runs
49 Hits
11 HRs
26 Xtra base hits
Individual
Keystone
Springer .286
Gurriel .276
Turner 2 HRs, 6 RBIs
Creekside
O'Neill .346, 3 HRs, 9 RBIs
Duran .240, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HRs
Volpe .259
Series MVP - Tyler O'Neill
VERMONT and COASTAL
Game #1
Tarik Skubal (24-4, 1.93 ERA) vs Tanner Houck (15-5, 2.83 ERA)
Not a lot of scoring as a classic pitchers duel ensued. Tanner Houck outdueled Tarik Skubal and thanks to Jurickson Profar’s solo shot in the 7th, Vermont gains a 1-0 game advantage.
Game #2
Cole Ragans (13-11,4.39 ERA) vs Seth Lugo (12-6, 2.92 ERA)
In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Jurickson Profars’s 2nd homer of the series, a two run shot to LF put the ‘Chucks up 2-0. In the top of the 6th inning, Sal Frelick starts off with a base hit, the Bulldogs 1st hit. Frelick moves to 2nd on a Garcia FC. Then back to back doubles, by Betts, De La Cruz and Ramirez made the score 3-2 Bulldogs, Lugo was done for the day. Carpenter facing Munoz and hits a deep fly to CF as Carroll catches the ball, but hits the wall and allows Ramirez to score from 2B. After Trea Turner’s throwing error, Coastal adds a single run to make it 5-2. After the 4 run 8th, featuring a Profar dropped fly, Cody Bellinger’s 3 run HRcaps the Coastal scoring. Series tied 1-1.
Game #3
Jameson Taillon (14-9, 3.25 ERA) vs Yoshindu Yamamoto (7-2, 3.50 ERA)
As the series shifted to Home Run Alley, surprising starter Yamamoto summoned to the hill for the Woodchucks. All good until Vermont breaks through for 4 runs in the 5th inning. After a Carroll solo shot and a couple of run scoring singles, Profar plates the 4th run of the inning. Coastal counters in the bottomof the inning for 2 runs on a Jose Ramirez HR. All quiet until the bottom of the 9th, as Bellinger scores on a Josh Bell double, but Gaddis closes the door for the save.
Game #4
Tarik Skubal (24-4, 1.93 ERA) vs Tanner Houck (15-5, 2.83 ERA)
This was Skubal’s game from the beginning as he bounces back with 8-2/3 innings of SHO ball striking out 12 ‘Chucks. Single runs in the 4th inn (Ramirez 2nd HR of series),5th inn.(Frelick RBI single)and 8th inn (Ramirez SF scoring De La Cruz) capped the scoring for Coastal. Series knotted 2-2
Game #5
Cole Ragans (13-11,4.39 ERA) vs Seth Lugo (12-6, 2.92 ERA)
Vermont opens game 5 with a bang, scoring 5 runs off Ragans. Ohtani opens with a walk, Iglesias singles him to 3rd. Turner walks to load the bases, and Profar Sf scoring 1. Lowe base hit scoring Iglesias. McNeil hits a bases clearing double and Conner Wongs caps the scoring with a single. 5-0 Vermont No more scoring until a solo shot by Sal Perez in the 7th, ending Lugo’s day. Coastal ends the scoring with a solo shot by De La Cruz in the 8th. Gaddis the save… Vermont 3-2 series lead.
Game #6
Jameson Taillon (14-9, 3.25 ERA) vs Yoshindu Yamamoto (7-2, 3.50 ERA)
On an Iglesias double, Vermont takes a 1-0 lead after 1 inning. Top of the 2nd, Coastal ties it up on a Josh Bell FC, scoring Sal Perez. Bottom half, Carroll, with 2 out, hits his 2nd HR of the series. VT2 COA2. In the top of 4th, Coastal scores 2 on josh bell single scoring Carpenter and Bellinger on Wong’s throwing error. Coastal scores 2 more in the top of the 5th, Betts doubles, ending Yamamoto’s day. After an intentional walk to Ramirez, Carpenter singles home Betts and Ramirez holds at 3rd. After an IW to Perez, to load them up, Bellinger hits a wall climber, but Carroll gets it, and Ramirez scores on SF. Josh Bell ends the inning, by grounding out to Lowe, and after Jax covers, Bell and he collide, knocking both out of the game.
Vermont scores in the bottom of the 6th, but cannot crack the relief corps of Coastal….Coastal ties the series 3-3.
Game #7
Tarik Skubal (24-4, 1.93 ERA) vs Tanner Houck (15-5, 2.83 ERA)
Coastal, with “potential” Nolan Ryan Award winner, Skubal on the mound, Mgr. Jones of Coastal was in a comfortable space.Coastal jumps out to a 2-0lead in the 1st inning, De La Cruz scores on a Kerry Carpenter SF. Betts scores on a single to LF by Perez. In the bottom of the 2nd, with 2 out, McNeil starts things off with a double, Wong on a 1st pitch fastball singles and scores McNeil. Corbin Carroll drills a 2 out fastball to deep center for a 2 run HR. Moreno follows with a solo shot of his own. End of 2nd VT 4 COA 2
Bellinger leads off the 4th with a solo shot to make it 4-3. In the bottom half of the 4th, Vermont gets their 4th run off Skubal, on a SF by Carroll to give Vermont a 2 run lead. Sal Frelick starts the top of the 9th with a solo blast to bring Coastal within 1 run. Vermont goes to 50 save RP, Gaddis to secure the save and the win…
Series stats Very close
COA Batting
Team Avg .223
COA Pitching
ERA 2.95
VER Batting
Team Avg .206
VER Pitching
ERA 2.76
Congratulations to Bob on a great season and a well played series… It was a “nail” biter for sure…
EAST YORK and FRANKFORT
Game #1 - Game 1 saw C Sale go up against T Myers and it was
all C Sale in game #1. Sale pitched a complete game 3 hit shutout. The game
started out a pitchers duel as the score stood 0-0 thru 4 inn. In the top of
the 5th Rutschman led off with a walk. C Santana then doubled to put runners on
2nd & 3rd with no outs. Arozarena then struck out but C Mullins was up next
and delivered a 3 run bomb to put EY up 3-0. One out later Grichuk hit a solo
shot to put EY up 4-0. From the 6th inn on all Frankfort could manage was 1
walk and Sale closed things out striking out 12.
EY - 4-7-0.
Frank. 0-3-0
WP - Sale. LP - T Myers’s
Game #2 - M King vs G Kirby in this one.
Frankforts bats remained cold as they scored their first run of the series with
a solo home run by M Busch in the bottom of the 9th inning. E Y won game 2 by a
score of 6-1. Marte and Benson each hit home runs and knocked in 2 runs each.
EY - 6-8-0.
WP - G Kirby
Frank - 1-6-1.
LP- M King.
Game #3 - Frankfort sends out F Peralta to
try and get back in series while EY sends J Ryan to the mound. East York starts
the scoring in the bottom of the first with back to back singles and sb by
Arozarena and Mullins and a sac fly by Grichuk to make it 2-0 EY. Frankfort
plated a solo run in the 2nd on a solo shot by Higashioka to cut the lead to
2-1. EY plated one run in the 3rd and 2 more in the 6th to make it 5-1 and
Frankfort could only manage 1 more run in the 7th.
EY - 5-9-0.
WP - J Ryan. LP- F Peralta. Save -
Kerkering.
Frank - 2-5-1
Game # 4. - Back to game 1 starters Sale
vs Myers. Frankfort jumps out to a 2 run lead in thr first inning on a 2 run
shot by Santander. EY comes right back with a single run in the bottom of the
1st on a single - sb by Arozarena and a 2 out double by Grichuk. EY grabs
the lead in the bottom of the 3rd on a 2 run double by Marte and a single by
Seager. Score was 4-2 EY going to the 7th and in the home half EY scores 4 more
runs to pretty much end things. A 2 run homer by Marte and a 2 run homer by
Benson plated all the runs and give EY a 9-2 lead. Frankfort did fight back to
score 2 runs on a Bregman 2 run shot in the top of the 8th but that was it and
EY advances.
EY - 9-11-0. WP - Sale
Frank - 4-3-1. LP- T Myers.
EY hit .267 and a 1.67 ERA.
Frankfort hit .140 with a 5.82 era. EY out homered Frankfort 8-4.
Congrats on a fine season by Tim and enjoyed the
chit chat with him while we played the series.
2025 Cooper Conference Championship Series
CREEKSIDE and EAST YORK
Game 1 - Starting Pitchers Cody Bradford for Creekside vs Chris Sale for EYork
Didn't take long for the 66ers to get on the board. In the 1st, Cedric Mullins drew a 1-out walk. He moved up on an infield ground out and scored on an error by Juan Soto.
Creekside tied it in the 2nd on an RBI base hit by Ivan Herrera
EYork broke it open with two runs in the 5th. Carlos Santana reached on Xavier Edwards' first of three errors THIS GAME and 8th error of these playoffs (yes that's 8 errors in 7 games to this point). Corey Seager knocked in both runs with a clutch 2-out hit, making the final score 4-1 EYork.
Creekside 1-5-4
EYork 4-5-0
WP: Sale
LP: Bradford
Game 2 - Eric Fedde for Creekside vs George Kirby for EYork
Rhys Hoskins began the scoring by drilling a 2-run homer in the 2nd for Creekside.
In the 3rd, Edwards did some damage with his bat for a change and not the damage he's been doing with his glove, as he doubled to lead off the inning. He scored on a Tyler Oneill single.
The story of the game, however, was Eric Fedde's performance. Thru 8 2/3 he had a no-hitter going, but it was not to be as Jordan Westburg sliced a base hit to center. After his second walk of the inning loaded the bases and brought the winning run to the plate, Fedde was lifted for Carlos Estevez, who nailed down the save and tied the series 1-1.
Creekside 3-10-3
EYork 0-1-1
WP: Fedde
LP: Kirby
SV: Estevez
HR: (Crk) Hoskins
Game 3
Series shifted to Creekside's home field. Ryan got the start for EYork, and Merrill Kelly for Creekside.
Creekside got on the board in the 1st. After a single and steal by Xavier Edwards, Tyler O'Neill drilled one into the seats for a Creekside 2-0 lead.
EYork bounced right back in the 2nd with a run thanks to another Edwards error (his 4th in this series) and a sac fly by Carlos Santana.
Both pitchers put up zeros for several innings and then Creekside got two runs in the 6th on back-to-back HRs by Yordan Alvarez and a second one by Tyler O'Neill.
EYork made it close in the 9th, when Adley Rutchman went deep to close out the scoring.
Both bullpens got the night off, as the starters went the distance in this one.
4-2 Creekside final.
EYork 2-5-0
Creekside 4-7-1
WP: MKelly
LP: JRyan
HRs: EYork - ARutchman
Crkside - TO'Neill (2), YAlvarez
Game 4
Chris Sale for EYork vs Cody Bradford for Creekside
Another gem pitched in these 2025 Playoffs, as EYorks Chris Sale hurls a no hitter.
Creekside could only muster three baserunners, all via BBs.
The Creekside hitting coach is definitely on the hot seat.
EYork got all they needed in the 2nd inning as Corey Seager homered.
They got two insurance runs in the 8th on a Ketel Marte 2 run HR.
In the 9th EYork rounded out the scoring when Jordan Westburg scored on a wild pitch.
4-0 EYork final
EYork 4-5-0
Creekside 0-0-1
WP: CSale
LP: CBradford
HRs: EYork - CSeager, KMarte
Game 5 - Series tied at 2.
EYork hands the ball to George Kirby and Crkside goes with Eric Fedde
EYork strikes first, scoring four runs in the 3rd. Lead off 2B by Adley Rutchman followed by a one out BB to Randy Arozarena, an RBI 1B by Cedric Mullins, a sac fly by Ketel Marte and then a 2 run HR by Randy Grichuk, adds up to 4 big runs.
Crkside bounces back to get 3 runs in the bottom of the 3rd. With two outs, consecutive 1Bs by Xavier Edwards, Yordan Alvarez, and Tyler O'Neill followed by a 2 run 2B by Jarren Duran makes the score 4-3 EY.
Strange thing in the 4th, Rhys Hoskins draws a lead off BB, goes to third on a 1B and steal by Anthony Volpe. With runners on second and third with no outs, it looked like a productive inning for Crkside developing. But no, Juan Soto hits into a 9-4-5 triple play.
How is that even possible? The Crkside 3B coach was immediately relieved of his duties.
Crkside managed to knot the score in the 5th, on a sac fly by Duran.
At this point, the pitchers took over, as six innings of zeros went up on the board
Finally, in the top of the 12th, EY scored the winning run when Bryan Abreu walked Carlos Santana (Oye Como Va). Josh Lowe came in to run for the great guitarist, and promptly scored on Arozarena's 2B.
Tyler Rogers slammed the door in the 12th, to give EY a 3 games to 2 advantage.
EY 5 - 10 - 0
Crk 4 - 12 - 0
WP: Chris Martin
LP: Bryan Abreu
Sv: Tyler Rogers
HR: EY - Grichuk
Game 6
Merrill Kelly for Crk vs Joe Ryan for EY
With two outs in the 1st, EYork grabbed the lead on 1Bs by Marte and Grichuk followed by a 2B by Corey Seager. 2-0 EY
Joe Ryan only gave up one measly Crkside 1B thru 5 innings and the fat lady was warming up her vocal chords.
In the 6th inning, Crkside got on the board with a Jordan Alvarez HR. 2-1 EY
Score stayed 2-1 EY thru 8 innings.
EY's Eli Morgan came on for EY. Xavier Edwards drew a lead off BB, putting the tie run on base for Crkside. After a fly out, Dalton Varsho and Jarren Duran legged out infield hits to load the bases with one out. Ivan Herrera followed with his biggest hit of the year as he put one in the seats, and handing Crkside a 5-2 lead. Adam Frazier knocked in an insurance run with a 3B, to complete the scoring.
Crk 6-6-1
EY 2-5-0
WP: Carlos Estevez
LP: Eli Morgan
HR: Crk - Alvarez, Herrera
Game 7
Cody Bradford for Crk vs Chris Sale for EY
Interesting pitching matchup between guys who each threw a no-hitter during these 2025 playoffs.
Top of the 2nd inning Crk took advantage of a Jordan Westburg error, to score Tyler O'Neill who drew a lead off BB. 1-0 Crk
EY responded in the bottom of the 2nd on a Westburg 1B and an RBI 2B by Will Benson tying the score at 1-1.
Both pitchers owned the next three innings, setting up a big finish.
EY got to Bradford in the 6th as Mullins and Grichuk cracked solo HRs, putting EY in front 3-1.
Top of the 7th, Crk evened it again on a Eugenio Suarez solo HR and a RBI 3B by Juan Soto. All tied 3-3
Sale seemed to be tiring but the competitor that he is, made it worth the gamble to send him out for the 8th inning. However,
with one out Ivan Herrera doubled and Suarez hit his second HR in two innings, putting Crk in front 5-3.
Bradford was pulled, in favor of Carlos Estevez for the bottom of the 8th. He gave up a one out BB to Arozarena but was able to work out of it.
Yordan Alvarez tacked on an insurance run in the 9th with a solo HR.
Estevez worked a perfect 9th, to close the deal.
Creekside advances, winning the series 4 games to 3.
For a series that didn't have much offense, it was an epic series simply because of the back and forth excitement.
Great season by Mick and his 66ers. He probably deserved better.
Crk 6-10-0
EY 3-5-1
WP: Cody Bradford
LP: Chris Sale
Sv: Carlos Estevez
HRs: Crk - Suarez (2), Alvarez
EY - Mullins, Grichuk
Co MVPs - Ivan Herrera
Carlos Estevez
SCHMIDT CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
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4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Albany |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
0 |
|
|
Vermont |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
|
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WP- J. Steele (1-0) SV-Yates (1) |
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LP- H. Gaddis (0-1) |
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Justin Steele vs Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Vermont opens the scoring in the 2nd inning. Back to back doubles by McNeil and Wong garner 1 run and Corbin Carrol’s base hit scores Wong. Yamamoto was cruising along until the 7th inning. Matt Wallner leads off with a double to right, followed by a Yamamoto throwing error to 1st, plates the Wildcats first run. After Yamamoto walks the bases loaded, Jax comes on and Ty France flies out to CF. To the top of the 9th. Hunter Gaddis, trying for the save, gives up a leadoff single to Rosario and he scores on a double from Yelich. Tie game…Pavin Smith and W. Contreras both walk to load the bases. Gaddis strikes out Ty France for the 1st out. Nico Hoerner hits into a FC, scoring Yelich. 3-2 Wildcats. Kirby Yates on for the save in the 9th.
Albany 3 Vermont 2
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GM 2 |
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Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
R |
H |
E |
|
|
Albany |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
||
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Vermont |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
X |
5 |
4 |
1 |
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WP-Houck (1-0) HR-Ohtani (1), Carroll (1) and Wong (1) LP-Burnes (0-1) |
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Corbin Burnes vs Tanner Houck
Top of the 2nd inning, Albany gets to Houck, Altuve on a two out error on Iglesias. Altuve steals 3rd base and Matt Wallner delivers a two out single to left scoring Altuve. Renfroe K’s to end the inning. Bottom of the 3rd, Vermont gets 3 runs on Conner Wongs solo shot and Shoei Ohtani’s 2 run homer. Bottom half of 4th inning, Vermont adds 1 more run, on a Corbin Carroll solo shot. Vermont 4-1. The ‘Chucks add 1 in the bottom of the 7th as David Hamilton steals 2nd and scores on a Jeff McNeil double to end the scoring. Vermont 5 Albany 1
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GM 3 |
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Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
R |
H |
E |
|
|
Vermont |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
||
|
Albany |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
X |
3 |
6 |
1 |
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WP- R. Suarez HR- C. Yelich (1) LP- S. Lugo |
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Ranger Suarez vs Seth Lugo
Back to Albany for game #3. Between Ranger Suarez, Kirby Yates and Jared Koenig they pitch a combined shutout. Ahmed Rosario leads off with a base hit, but comes up limping. Albany PR Hoerner for Rosario and he steals 2b on 1st pitch. On Christian Yelich’s drag bunt all runners are safe. Josh Naylor hits into a 6-4-3 DP, but Hoerner scores. Pavin Smith K’s to end the inning. Albany 1 VT 0. Bottom of the 4th Christian Yelich goes deep to CF giving the Wildcats a 2-0 lead. After a Matt Wallner HBP, Albany PR Wallner with S. Marte and he promptly steals 2B. Marte to 3rd on a W. Contreras FC. H. Renfoes singles home Marte to end the scoring.
Albany 3 Vermont 0
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GM 4 |
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Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
R |
H |
E |
|
|
Vermont |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
8 |
1 |
||
|
Albany |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
||
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WP-Yamamoto (1-0) HR- Turner (1) LP Steele (1-1) |
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Justin Steele vs Yoshinobu Yamamoto
In the top of the 3rd inning, Vermont scores 1 as Ohtani draws a walk and Iglesias hits a single on a H&R. 1st and 3rd, none out. Fleet footed Turner grounds into a 4-6-3 DP, but Ohtani scores. Profar K’s to end the inning. Bottom of the 3rd, Albany plates one as Contreras singles, and Garrett Stubbs to PR for Contreras. Stubbs to 2nd on a J. Smith FC. Nico Hoerner grounds out for the 2nd out. This brings up A. Rosario and he hits a flyball to LF and Profar misjudges it and drops it for an error, scoring Stubbs. Rosario thrown out attempting to steal second base to end the inning. Vermont 1 Albany 1
In the 6th inning, Vermont plates 1 after a Profar double and a Corbin Carroll single. Vermont 2 Albany 1
Top of the 7th, Vermont adds 2 more to their lead on a 2 run homer by Turner with Ohtani on 2nd base. Vermont 4 Albany 1
Bottom of the 7th, Albany chipping away with a Pavin Smith solo adds 1 run to make it Vermont 4 Albany 2.
In the 8th, after Adell reaches 1b on a Garrett Stubbs error, he scores on a double by McNeil to end all scoring
Vermont 5 Albany 2
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GM 5 |
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Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
R |
H |
E |
|
|
Vermont |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
7 |
0 |
||
|
Albany |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
||
|
WP – Houck (2-0) HR-N. Lowe (1) LP – Burnes (0-2) HR – Pavin Smith (2), A. Rosario |
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Tanner Houck vs Corbin Burnes
Vermont strikes early in the 2nd inning. After a leadoff single by Profar, he moves to 2nd base on a WP, Nathan Lowe goes downtown to put Vermont on the board. Wong doubles to CF and scores on Gabriel Moreno’s double. In the home half of the 4th inning, Pavin Smith hits his 2nd homer of the series. Top of the 5th, Vermont gets a single run on a McNeil walk and Christian Yelich fielding error on Corbin Carroll’s warning track flyball. (Second costly error for Albany) In the bottom of the 5th, Albany gets a run back on A. Rosario’s solo blast. Vermont 4 Albany 2 That ends the scoring as both bullpens quiet the bats.
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GM 6 |
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Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
R |
H |
E |
|
|
Albany |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
7 |
0 |
||
|
Vermont |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
X |
4 |
7 |
1 |
||
|
WP – A. Munoz (1-0) HR: J. McNEIL (1), R. McMAHON (1) LP – R. Suarez (1-1) HR: C. YELICH (2) |
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Ranger Suarez vs Seth Lugo
Back to the Talc Mines for Game #6. At game time the windchill was -14 degrees. Beer was staying pretty cold. Vermont on the board early in the 1st inning, Jeff McNeil takes Suarez deep to LF for a 1-0 advantage. Top of the 4th, Albany ties the game, Pavin Smith singles and is PR for by Garrett Stubbs. On a H&R Yelich singles to Rf, scoring Stubbs, but is thrown out at 2b trying to stretch it into a double. Matt Wallner singles and is thrown out by Profar…Twice in the same inning Profar threw out baserunners. Bottom half of the 4th, Vermont picks up a single run on a controversial Profar HBP. Vermont manager wanted Suarez thrown out of the game to no avail. Profar is “fired” up and steals 2nd base and scores on Nathan Lowe’s liner to RF. Vermont 2 Albany 1 Pesky Albany gets another run in 6th on Christian Yelich’s 2nd HR of the series. In the top of the 7th inning, Albany goes ahead by J. Smith walk and steal of 2B, but he is PR for by S. Marte. Marte quickly steals 3rd base. Nico Hoerner is called to PH for JD Martinez and hits a flyball to Profar (Already 2 thrown out this game), but Marte is just too fast and he scores the go ahead run. Albany 3 Vermont 2 Ryan McMahon’s solo shot in the bottom of the 7th ties the game once more. Albany 3 Vermont 3 In the top of the 8th, with one out, Christian Yelich walks and is thrown out trying to steal 2B. In the bottom half of the 8th, the shenanigan’s started. Suarez HBP to McNeil gets him tossed. Albany brings on their stopper, Kirby Yates… Trea Turner H&R gets McNeil to 3rd base. Men on 1st and 3rd, no out…..Corbin Carroll hits a deep fly to Marte in LF and McNeil scores easily. Turner on 2B 1 out. End of 8 innings. Vermont 4 Albany 3 Top of the 9th, on comes newly assigned closer Griffin Jax. Matt Wallner leading off gets HBP by Jax and Jax is ejected. Vermont brings on 50 save leader, Hunter Gaddis, who blew the save in GM #1. Renfroe PR for Wallner and gets to 2nd base on a FC. Brings up Contreras, who lines a bullet to a diving McNeil, who steps on 2B for a game ending, series ending double play. What a Championship series!! Congratulations to Nate and the Albany Wildcats on a great season…. You are a tough competitor!!
Series Stats
Vermont Team Batting .182 15 Doubles 7 HR 4 SB 1 CS
Albany Team Batting .164 5 Doubles 5 HR 6 SB 4 CS
Vermont Pitching 1.70 ERA 17 BB 46 SO
Albany Pitching 3.12 ERA 11 BB 38 SO
Championship Series MVP
Jeff McNeil 6G .308 BA 13 AB 5 Runs 4 Hits 3 Doubles 1 HR 3 RBI 4 BB