Championship Final Series: Tritons Sweep Sunsets

              While nothing has officially been announced yet, Game 3 of the Championship Final Series was to be the final game of Eric Silverberg's career, it was certainly a memorable one. Silverberg delivered the game tying hit in the bottom of of the ninth and then struck the game winning single in the 11th as the Tri-Cities Tritons defeated the Sunrise Sunsets, 6-5, completing a three game sweep. The Water Dwellers have won two consecutive titles, and five of the last six.
              John Hardardt started the game for the Sons of Poseidon against Damian Boyum for the Twilighters, but neither pitcher factored in the decision. Tommy Tritz was supposed to start Game 3 for the Sunsets, but was scratched due to a death in his family. 
              The Tritons opened the scoring in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by Magdiel Sanchez, but the Sunsets responded with four runs in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead. Boyum led off with a double and scored on an RBI double by Ryan Thompson. After a single by George Negron moved to Thompson to third, shortstop Jay Warman mishandled Nick Arata's grounder and both runners scored. Arata went all the way to third on the miscue and scored on a wild pitch. 
              In the bottom of the fourth, an RBI single by Agner Martinez scored Adrian Roznowski as the Tritons cut the gap to 4-2.
              The teams traded runs in the sixth. An RBI single by Anthony Garcilazo put the Twilighters ahead, 5-2, but in the bottom of the inning, Warman tripled home Martinez.
              The Tritons crept to within 5-4 when Zac Miller led of the seventh with a home run. 
              In the bottom of the ninth, Warman coaxed a leadoff walk from reliever Jimmy Schariest. Chris Marrero followed with a single, but Schariest bounced back to retire Miller and Mike LaManna. Jayven Miller kept the Water Dwellers alive by drawing a walk to load the bases before Silverberg slapped a single to left to score Warman with the tying run. Left fielder Garcilazo threw out Marrero at the plate to send the game into extra innings.
              With Tritons' reliever Matt Arlick shutting down the Sunsets, Miller led off the bottom of the 11th with a double and the 'Sets chose to walk LaManna intentionally. The Tritons sent up Donny Gagliano to pinch hit and he waorked out a walk to load the bases. 
              With the championship run just 90 feet away, Silverberg slapped another single to left, scoring Miller and giving the Tritons the crown. 
              Arlick pitched six strong innings, permitting one run on three hits. Arick walked none and struck out five. Schariest allowed four runs on nine hits in eight innings of relief. 
              Miller's three hits led the Tritons. Garcilazo, Boyum, and Negron had two hits a piece for the 'Sets.  
              Besides losing Tritz, the Twilighters were without several key players who were injured.
              After the game, the editors of South Florida Baseball Report named the Tritons' Calvin Rayburn as the Most Valuable Player of the playoffs. Rayburn pitched in five post season games and got the win in all five.
              Game 2 Recap-Tritons Top Twilighters in Ten: It wasn't easy. Maybe, not as easy as it should have been, but the Tri-Cities Tritons edged the Sunrise Sunsets, 9-8 in 10 innings, in Game 2 of the Championship Final Series, taking a two games to none lead in the best of five series.
              The Sunsets, despite suffering mid-game injuries to their starting pitcher, one of their most productive hitters, and their ace reliever, still managed to mount a late rally to tie the game. 
              Zac Miller's RBI double in the top of the tenth scored Chris Marrero with the go ahead run. 
              The Twilighters had tied the score in the bottom of the ninth when Brandon Hull cracked a two out double off of reliever Calvin Rayburn to bring in Ted Maceda with the tying run, capping a two run rally in the frame.
              Rayburn, who allowed three runs on four hits in five innings of relief, earned his fifth win of the post season. Rayburn walked one, hit two, and struck out eight. Brant Spring, who took the loss as the starter in Game 1, was charged with two earned runs on seven hits in five innings, and absorbed another defeat.
              Just as in the first game of the series, the teams scored early and often. After the Tritons took a 4-2 lead in the third, the 'Sets rallied for a 5-4 advantage in the home half of the inning. The Water Dwellers went ahead 6-5 in the fifth and brought an 8-6 lead into the bottom of the ninth. 
              Down to their last out, Anthony Garcilazo kept the Twilighters alive with a single and went to second when Maceda was hit by a pitch. After a passed ball allowed both runners to move up, Garcilazo scored when Rayburn uncorked a wild pitch. Still facing their last out, Brandon Hull doubled to left center to score Maceda with the tying run. 
              However, Marrero led off the top of the tenth with a single off of Spring and then came all the way around on Miller's double. 
              In the bottom of the tenth, Ronnie Rocca led off and reached base when a Rayburn pitch struck him on the helmet. Rayburn fanned the next two batters before retiring the hot hitting Nick Arata on a comebacker, ending the game. 
              Jayven Miller started for the Tritons, but exited in the third inning, after permitting five runs on five hits, due to a hamstring strain. Enders Vargas started for the Sunsets and had to be replaced after collapsing with a knee injury while warming up before the fourth inning. Damian Boyum tossed one inning of relief for the 'Sets, but also suffered a leg injury. 
              Sunsets' slugger Chris Price was hobbled by a leg injury after scoring in the third inning.  
              Miller had three hits and two RBI to pace the Tritons. Arata and Garcilazo had two hits each to lead the Twilighters.
              John Hardardt, who received a no decision in the series opener, is expected to head to the hill for the Tritons in Game 3, while Tommy Tritz is tabbed to start for the Twilighters.
              The Tritons will be looking to complete the sweep and capture their fifth championship in the last six seasons when the series continues with Game 3 on Saturday.
              Game 1 Highlights-Tritons Trip Sunsets: While it was far from an artistic success, for the Tri-Cities Tritons, Game 1 of the best of five Championship Final Series, it was still a success. The Water Dwellers squeezed past the Sunrise Sunsets, 11-10 in the first game of the series.
              A seeing eye single through the right side by Mike LaManna scored Zac Miller with, what proved to be, the winning run in the bottom of the eighth. Calvin Rayburn, working his second inning of relief on just one day of rest, pitched out of a jam in the top of the ninth to preserve the win. 
              John Hardardt started for the Tritons against Brant Spring of the Sunsets. Neither ace appeared to have their best stuff. 
              Hardardt left with two out in the fifth, having surrendered 10 runs on 12 hits. Spring was tagged for eight earned runs on 11 hits in six innings. Uncharacteristically, Spring walked four and hit two batters.
              The Twilighters picked up two runs in the top of the first as Hardardt struggled with his control. Chris Price and Hairold Salce both had RBI singles.
              In the bottom of the first, the Tritons responded with three runs on their own. LaManna and Adrian Roznowski both had RBI hits that failed to leave the infield, and John Haritan drew a bases loaded walk. 
              The 'Sets took a 4-3 lead in the top of the second when Tommy Tritz drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Price doubled in a run. The Twilighters squandered an opportunity for a bigger inning when Nick Arata was out at the plate, trying to also score on Price's double.  
              In the bottom of the first, the Tritons tied the score on another RBI single by LaManna. The Sons of Poseidon surged ahead 6-4 in the third as the 'Sets committed a pair of throwing errors. 
              In the fourth, the Twilighters took an 8-6 lead, scoring four runs. Tritz had an RBI single and Price followed with a three run home run. 
              After another Sunsets' error allowed the Tritons to pull to within 8-7, the 'Sets built a 10-7 advantage in the fifth on a two run home run by Arata. 
              Eric Silverberg was summoned to relieve Hardardt and responded with two and a third scoreless innings.  
              Meanwhile, the Water Dwellers tied the score in the sixth on a two run double by LaManna and an RBI single by Silverberg. Spring had thought he had caught Silverberg looking for the third out on the previous pitch, but home plate umpire ruled the Spring's offering has missed the corner. One pitch later, Silverberg swatted a soft liner to left that tied the score.
              In the bottom of the eighth, Zac Miller led off with a base hit off of reliever Jason Van Tol and went all the way to third on a wild pickoff attempt. LaManna then bounced a base hit to right that scored Miller with the go ahead run.
              In the top of the ninth, Salce led off with a base hit and moved to second on a wild pitch, but Rayburn ended the game by retiring the next three batters without issue, securing the win. 
              Rayburn pitched two scoreless frames and earned his fourth win of the post season. Van Tol took the loss, permitting one run on two hits in two innings. 
              LaManna led the Tritons with four hits and five RBI. Price had three hits and five RBI for the Twilighters.
              The series will continue with Game 2, scheduled for Thursday. Neither team has named a starter as of yet.

            
              
                   
                

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