Central Amherst Orioles beat Phillies for 'Majors' title

The Orioles defeated the Phillies, 10-8, to win the Central Amherst "Majors" title. Members of the team, pictured from left, are: first row - Michael Spina, Eric Ruh, Nick Hillebrand, Colin Gibson, George Zimmerman; second row - John Barden, Airic Thornton, Andrew Pierino, Tom Springer, C.J. Westcott; third row - assistant coach Dennis Ruh, coach Jim Pierino and assistant coach Dave Westcott.

The Central Amherst "Majors" Orioles and Phillies met in a very evenly matched championship game. The Orioles came out on top, 10-8.

The high-powered Orioles came out swinging in the top of the first inning on consecutive singles by CJ Westcott, Andrew Pierino, Nick Hillebrand and Michael Spina but were only able to plate one run across. The equally strong Phillies answered in their half of the inning with four runs on hits by Ryan Frys, Joe Ortolani and Joe Comer (triple) to take a 4-1 lead.

The Orioles were able to cut the lead to 4-3 on doubles by Tom Springer and Eric Ruh coupled with singles by Westcott and Hillebrand. Further damage was prevented in the inning by two defensive gems by shortstop Comer and pitcher Ortolani. Ortolani made an unbelievable backhand catch in foul territory off the bat of Colin Gibson.

Not to be out done, Comer ranged into short left field and made a diving grab to take away what looked like a sure base hit off the bat of Pierino. A leadoff single and aggressive base running by the Orioles' Airic Thornton, who stole home, along with Gibson, who also stole home later in the third inning, gave the Orioles a 5-4 lead.

With the Orioles up 6-4 in the bottom of the fourth, the Phillies were able to knot the score at 6-6 on hits by Patrick Gramza, Ortolani, Comer (triple) and Patrick McIntyre (double).

The Orioles went back on top 8-6 in the top of the fifth on hits by Thornton, Springer, Ruh (double) and Westcott. Orioles closer Ruh then struck out the side in the Phillies half of the fifth (five strikeouts in three innings of pitching). With the tension mounting, the Orioles' Pierino drew a leadoff walk and hits by Hillebrand (double) and John Barden gave the Orioles the insurance runs they would need.

With the Orioles holding to a 10-6 lead, the ever tough Phillies would not go quietly. Leadoff singles by Frys and Ortolani were able to score on a clutch two-out double by McIntyre. With McIntyre at second and the tying run at the plate, Ruh reared back and fired a strikeout to give the Orioles a 10-8 championship victory.

Spina was solid in the field and added a base hit for the Orioles. The Orioles' Westcott and Hillebrand were offensive powers with three hits each. Ruh, Thornton and Springer contributed two hits apiece.

The Phillies' Ortolani was a perfect 4 for 4 from the plate and was strong in the field. Comer added two triples and McIntyre added two doubles.

Gramza and Frys did a solid job catching behind the plate while Nick Boccio did a great job at second base preventing several potential Oriole runs. Gabriel Lopez was also aggressive and exciting to watch on the base paths. AAA call-ups Nick and Emily Foster played like veterans in their "Majors" debut.

The Orioles' complete team effort capped off a 15-4 season, including several times coming back and never quitting in the tough "Majors" division.

The Orioles' George Zimmermann, who had been solid at the plate and in the field, was not available for the championship game.