WHITECAP WINNER! West Michigan wins first title since '07
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - Just like through all of 2015, the West Michigan Whitecaps saved their best baseball for when their backs were against the wall, as they rallied to earn their sixth Midwest League Championship in team history thanks to a 3-2 victory over the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Perfect Game Field Monday night.
Cedar Rapids scored first in the contest, as they did in all five games of the championship series when Austin Diemer launched a solo home run with one out in the third, and T.J. White lined an RBI-single into centerfield to give the Kernels a 2-0 lead through four innings. In the fifth, West Michigan broke through as Francisco Contreras beat out a potential inning-ending double play by diving head-first into first base, allowing Christin Stewart to score, cutting the 'Caps deficit to 2-1. David Gonzalez, who totaled just three hits in the postseason, drilled an RBI-single to right field to tie the game. Later in the frame, Cedar Rapids reliever Luke Bard uncorked a wild pitch to score Contreras from third to give West Michigan the go-ahead run they needed. Over the games' final four innings, Whitecaps pitching made the lead stand, as starter Ross Seaton retired 11 of the last 12 batters he faced, Gerson Moreno and Adam Ravenelle navigated through 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, and Joe Jimenez came on to pitch in his fourth straight game, getting Austin Diemer to strikeout to end the contest, and give West Michigan its first Midwest League title since 2007.
Ross Seaton (1-0) rechanneled the masterful ways that allowed him the success he found with West Michigan in 2015, tossing 6.2 innings allowing the only two Kernels runs on just four hits while striking out seven; just one off his career-high to earn his first postseason victory. Cedar Rapids starter Randy LeBlanc (0-1) allowed three runs in 4.2 innings in suffering his first postseason loss. Jimenez came on to pitch in his fourth straight game, striking out the side around one walk to earn his fourth and final postseason save of 2015.
WHAT NOW?
The West Michigan Whitecaps are headed back to Fifth Third Ballpark for a championship celebration in the Pepsi Stadium Club, tentatively scheduled for 7am Tuesday morning when the team returns from Cedar Rapids. Don't forget to get yourself in 2015 West Michigan Whitecaps Championship gear, as T-shirts ($15.99), long-sleeve tees ($19.99) and hooded sweatshirts ($29.99) will be available in the Capsized shop beginning Wednesday, September 23. Championship caps from New Era will be in early next week! The Whitecaps are offering free shipping now through October 5 with any online order that includes Championship merchandise, so make sure to make your online preorders now! Get all the latest Whitecaps news, upcoming events, and the schedule for the 2016 season by visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.