by Kevin Olivieri
(MILTON) On Saturday, June 19, the Lennon Senior Division Championship matched up the #1 Seed Diamondbacks vs. the #3 Seed Rockies. The Rockies returned to the championship for the third straight year and hoped to repeat as champions. For the Diamondbacks, this was their first appearance in the championship game. The match up featured two of the strongest pitchers in the league, and both teams felt it would come down to pitching.
2010 Sr Division Champions - Milton Diamondbacks!
The Dbacks jumped out to a 1-0 first inning lead with a two out base hit by Rebecca Olivieri and came around to score on a clutch single by Maeve Westwater. The Dbacks extended the lead to 3-0 after two innings sparked by a double by Kristina Hill. The score remained 3-0 until the 4th inning with the Rockies’ Sarah Dragon lead off with a single and came around to score after stealing third. The Dbacks defense helped keep the explosive Rockies’ offense from a big inning with two line drive catches in right center field by Maeve Westwater off the bats of sisters Shannon and Olivia FitzGerald.
The Dbacks responded in the bottom of the 4th with two runs to extend the lead to 5-1. The Rockies made some solid plays in the field including a great catch and double play by Ciara Swan to shut down the rally. The scored remained 5-1 entering the top of the 7th. Shannon FitzGerald started things off for the Rockies with a line drive single to left and advanced to second on a passed ball to move into scoring position. With one out in the seventh, Monic
a Woods scorched a line drive to right center but Maeve Westwater was in perfect position to catch the ball and step on second for the double play. Dbacks win, 5-1.
The defense on both sides was all-star quality, but the game was all about the pitching. Rockies’ Shannon FitzGerald (6IP, 5K, 5R) and Dbacks’ Rebecca Olivieri (7IP, 13K, 1R) were outstanding and kept hitters on both sides off balance all night long.
The previous night saw the top two seeds in the Junior Division face off for the 2010 Junior Division Championship. The Dodgers jumped out to an early lead by scoring 3 runs in the bottom of the first. The Pirates came right back with two runs in the 2nd inning and four runs in the 3rd inning to take a 6-3 lead. In the bottom of the 3rd, the Dodgers erupted for six runs to take the 9-6 lead.
2010 Jr Division Champions - Milton Dodgers
It was a lead the Dodgers would not give up as they added three more in the 4th and two in the 5th to take a 14-6 lead. The Pirates rallied in the top of the 6th, but an unassisted double play ended the game. The Dodgers beat the Pirates, 14-6.
Congratulations to all four teams on a great season and a well-played championship game.