Mathewson McCarthy 'Major East' Royals open playoffs with 22-6 win over Yankees

The Mathewson McCarthy "Major East" Royals started their defense of the "Major East" championship with a convincing 22-6 win over the Yankees.

Brenden Chambers, Tommy Weisansal and Timmy Coulter, back from injury, divided 12 RBIs equally with an awesome offensive attack while Rob Paslaqua (four strikeouts) and Richard Schwartz (five strikeouts) limited the Yankees to five hits.

The Royals jumped out to a three-run lead in the bottom of the first inning as hits from Chambers, Coulter (double), Brian Bookbinder and Matt Jungier did the damage.

The Yankees got one run back as Bailey Kish drew a walk and was knocked home by Casey Nuchereno's towering double to left center. However, the Royals came right back in their half of the inning, led by Ryan Czerwinski's single to right, Weisansal's sacrifice grounder, Schwartz's line drive single and Coulter's two-run shot to center. Jungier's single up the middle plated the Royals' final run of the inning to give them an 8-1 lead.

The Yankees got three runs back as Josh Blumberg and Alex Radice drew walks before Ryan Seyfried's smash went to the fence for a double. Kish then plated Radice and cut the lead in half.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Royals' offense exploded for 14 runs. Consecutive singles by Andrew Zgoda, Weisansal, Mike Geiger and Schwartz set the table for Chambers' bases-clearing triple down the left field line. Matt Pragel's sacrifice drove in another run. Jake Berke (single), Bookbinder (single), Czerwinski (walk), and Zgoda (walk) set the table for Weisansal's shot to the right center field fence for a two-run double. Chamber's second hit of the inning scored Weisansal with the Roylas' final run and a 22-4 lead.

The Yankees scored two more runs with Luke Galmarini and Ryan Moore doing the damage with the bats in the inning shortened game. Matt LaDuca and Jack Fitzpatrick played well defensively for the Yankees.

Paslaqua picked up his first playoff win for the Royals and was aided by a 20-hit Royal attack.

Royals 20, Brewers 5

After dropping Game 2 of the playoffs to the Cardinals, the Royals came back with a vengeance at the expense of the Brewers in a 20-5 victory.

The Royals started things off right out of the box with four runs in the top of the first inning. A Brian Bookbinder double to right center plated two of the inning's four runs. Good defense shut out the Brewers in their bottom half of the inning.

The top of the second had the Royals batting the order and scoring 10 more runs. Consecutive walks by Andrew Zgoda and Ryan Czerwinski set the table for Tommy Weisansal's RBI shot up the pipe. Jake Berke's sacrifice grounder plated two more runs as Weisansal snuck home from second base on the grounder along with Czerwinski.

When two more Royals were issued walks, Matt Jungier ripped a single to center, scoring two more Royals. After Bookbinder took one off the foot and Rob Paslaqua's grounder to second was too hot to handle, Matt Pragel sent a ball into the gap, scoring both runners and a 14-run lead.

The Brewers answered back with five runs in the bottom of the second.

Consecutive hits by Mark Cerza and Jonathan Castronova started things off until a perfect throw from center fielder Pragel and an alert tag from third baseman Jake Berke, nailed Cerza going for the three- bagger.

The inning stayed alive as Joey Coppola and Nick Eberhard drew walks before consecutive singles by Shaun Baranyi, Andrew Wishman, McQuade Milligan all plated runs and closed the gap to 14-5.

The Royals didn't let up in the top of the third as they scored six more runs.

Weisansal led off the inning with a high chopper up the gut for a single and was followed by Mike Geiger's RBI single to right and Berke's single to center. Winning pitcher Rich Schwartz then sacrificed home Geiger before Brenden Chambers' single to left plated Berke. Timmy Coulter then sent a shot to left center for a RBI double, followed by Jungier's RBI double to right center. Bookbinder's sacrifice grounder scored Jungier for the Royals' final run and a 20-5 lead.

Rob Paslaqua returned to mid-season form, striking out all six Brewers he faced to end the game while Schwartz picked up his first playoff win.

Jungier's three RBIs and Pragel's two RBIs led the Royals attack while Weisansal continued to hold the hot Royals' bat. Leo Lynet finished strong on the mound for the Brewers.

Braves 19, Yankees 4

The Braves won their 13th game capturing the National Division crown.

For the Braves, Doug Murphy, Steve Zaprowski (double), Mike Keenehan (single, double), Peter Moran, Luke May (single, double), Colin Greenway, Nate Helmick, Patrick Hann, and Adam Desimone had hits.

Zaprowski and Moran pitched strongly, allowing one run over three innings. The Yankees' Jack Fitzpatrick (single, double), Alex Radice, Ryan Seyfried (single, double), Scott Huyler, and Casey Nucereno had hits. Ryan Moore pitched well.

Braves 16, Marlins 9

The Braves' offense exploded with 10 hits to lead to the team's 12th win. Patrick Hann, Nate Helmick, Colin Greenway, Steve Campanelli, Luke May, Pete Moran (two singles), Mike Keenehan and Steve Zaprowski all had hits. Keenehan, Helmick and Zaprowski all pitched well.

The Marlins' Brian Costello (double), Tyler Utz (two singles), Matt Mangone (two singles), and Anthony Scamurra had hits. Matt Frazier and Sam Burgett drew multiple walks.