Tri-City ValleyCats win 2010 NYPL Championship
The ValleyCats won on the road after being rained out the first two nights in Brooklyn. Tri-City won the first game at home at a score of 5-2 on Saturday, taking a 1-0 series lead heading to Brooklyn.
The Cyclones have had the best regular season record in the NYPL. Brooklyn had won 30 of a possible 38 games at home in the regular season. The Cyclones won their two home games against the Jamestown Jammers in the semi-finals.
The starting pitcher for the ValleyCats Carlos Quevedo brought his A-game to the mound tonight against Brooklyn's ace, Yohan Almonte (Regular season ERA and WHIP leader). Quevedo struck out seven batters, allowed three hits, one walk and one run in seven innings of work tonight. His strong performance inspired the 'Cats' bats to give him some insurance and eventually the victory.
Tri-City's scoring started in the third when a two-out single by Enrique Hernandez scored Michael Kvasnicka, who reached on a leadoff single. The Cyclones answered back in the bottom of the inning, with back-to-back doubles by Darrell Ceciliani and J.B. Brown.
In the top of the fifth, Tri-City struck again, when Michael Kvasnicka reached third on a double and an error with one out. Ben Orloff (Tri-City's MVP) came to the plate with two outs and layed down a beautiful bunt along third to score Kvasnicka. Orloff moved to scoring position on a wild pitch. Enrique Hernandez singled in Orloff from third capping the 'Cats' scoreing at 2, giving them the lead, 3-1.
Tri-City hung another crooked number in the seventh. Hernandez and Austin Wates reached base on a walk and hit-by-pitch. Then an Adam Bailey double scored both base runners, giving the ValleyCats a 5-1 lead, which would remain the final.
Tri-City celebrates the first League Championship in 26 years thanks to strong pitching and a potent offense. All of the ValleyCats' five runs came with two outs.
Congratulations to the Tri-City ValleyCats, the 2010 New York-Penn League Champions!