Yankees Sweep to Take League Title

Staten Island, NY - After taking the series lead with Monday's 9-2 defeat of Auburn, the Staten Island Yankees completed the sweep of the Doubledays in a 2-1 win at Richmond County Bank Ballpark in Staten Island on Tuesday night.

The sweep gives the Yankees the 2011 New York-Penn League Championship and drops Auburn to 0-2 all time in championship series against Staten Island.

Tuesday night was everything anyone could hope for in a championship series game, with both teams tangled in a pitcher's duel for the full nine innings.

Matt Tracy, after shutting out Brooklyn in the New York-Penn League semifinal round with six innings of two-hit ball, was just as dominant on Tuesday against the Auburn Doubledays.

The St. Louis native worked six shutout innings on Tuesday, giving up just three hits. He left the game with a 1-0 lead.

Auburn's starter, Nathan Karns, was effective despite not having his best stuff. Karns only lasted three innings but gave up just one run, a solo home run by Zach Wilson in the second. After the third, the Doubledays bullpen took over with Manny Rodriguez, Christian Meza, and Alex Kreis each tossing a scoreless frame.

Staten Island had the 1-0 lead when they came to the plate in the bottom of the eighth.

Against reliever Aaron Barrett, Staten Island centerfielder Mason Williams singled to center, went to third on a wild pitch that caromed off the shin guard of home plate umpire Fernando Rodriguez and scored on an RBI single by Tyler Austin.

That insurance run proved to be crucial in the top of the ninth. In Auburn's last effort to extend their season, they manufactured one run when Carlos Alvarez scored on a sac fly by Justin Miller. Unfortunately, the Doubledays couldn't generate any more offense, as Caleb Ramsey grounded out to first to end the game.

The loss ends a great season for the Auburn Doubledays that saw them advance to the league championship series for the first time since 2007. The Doubledays finished the regular season with a 45-30 record, the second best record in the league.

When all was said and done, the Auburn Doubledays had nothing to hang their heads about. Despite the loss on Tuesday, 2011 was a season of success for Auburn.