In heart-pounding fashion the Falls Church News Hounds closed out the National Adult Baseball Association-DC Wood AA Championship Saturday night, rallying from a five-run deficit to edge the Virginia Rebels 9-8 and sweep the best-of-five series three games to none.
In heart-pounding fashion the Falls Church News Hounds closed out the National Adult Baseball Association-DC Wood AA Championship Saturday night, rallying from a five-run deficit to edge the Virginia Rebels 9-8 and sweep the best-of-five series three games to none.
Clinging to a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and with the bases loaded, News Hounds reliever Mike Boyle struck out the final Rebels’ batter with a 3-2 breaking ball. It was the 21st strikeout of the evening for the flame-throwing Hounds, who promptly celebrated their win at the pitcher’s mound to the applause of the sell-out crowd of 30+ fans at McLean High School.
The Hounds didn’t make it easy on themselves, spotting their opponents a 6-1 lead before rallying in the late innings. F.C.’s Jody Fellows had a two-out, bases loaded single in the top of the sixth to bring the Hounds within two.
Heading into the eighth, the Hounds trailed by three, but after a sacrifice fly by Ryan Greeney and a run-scoring single by David Acosta, the Hounds were within one. With runners at the corners, aggressive base running by Jason Hand induced a balk to push the tying run across. Drew Reid singled home the eventual game winner.
Pitching on three day’s rest, F.C. ace Acosta mowed down 16 hitters over 6 and 2/3rds innings to keep the Hounds within striking distance, before giving way to Boyle who earned the win in relief, his third in the finals. Acosta finished the series with a remarkable 40 Ks, while Boyle did not allow an earned runs in 11 innings of relief.
News Hounds catcher Greeney had a monster series, going 10-for-13 with 5 RBI in the finals to power the Hounds to their first-ever championship.
