Yankees crowned Mathewson McCarthy 'Senior West' champs

The Yankees were recently crowned Mathewson McCarthy "Senior West" champs. Members of the team, pictured from left, are: first row - Evan Martone, Evan Knoer, Jared Shatkin; back row - assistant coach Bob Knoer, Alex Whiting, Christian Tuhulski, Ashley Mohr, Jamale Vaughn, coach Bob DiVita, Buddy Ammerman, Sammy DiVita, Mark Eberhard, Alex Seward, assistant coaches Tom Tuhulski and Bob Seward; missing from photo - Andrew Mohr.

The Mathewson McCarthy Yankees, who finished with the league's best record at 14-3-1, defeated the Cardinals, 9-6, in the final playoff game to win the "Seniors West" championship.

The Yankees were undefeated going into the finals and had to be beaten twice to lose the title.

The Cardinals came out smoking, having played three games in the last four days. The Cardinals, coached by Pete Fiorella, jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. Ivan Tso, Pete Fiorella and Nate Joseph had key hits for the Cardinals.

The Yankees responded back on key hits from Buddy Ammerman, Evan Martone, Mark Eberhard, Alex Seward and Evan Knoer.

The Yankees jumped into the lead, 4-3, at the end of the third inning. The Cardinals then exploded for eight runs over the next two innings to go ahead, 10-4. Brian Cutting, Tanner Kish, Joseph, Tso, Fiorella and TJ Scamurra all contributed for the Cardinals.

The Cardinals went on to win 12-5, forcing a final game after lunch.

In the final game for the championship, the Yankees' Knoer and the Cardinals' Fiorella squared off as the starting pitchers.

The Yankees jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. In the second, the Cardinals struck back for two runs. The Cardinals scored another run in the third and fourth innings. The Cardinals led 4-1 in the bottom of the fourth.

The Yankees, with their backs against the wall, rallied for three runs to tie the game at 4-4. Jamale Vaughn, Martone and Sammy Di- Vita all scored for the Yankees. Seward brought in DiVita with a key hit.

The Yankees, with great pitching from Knoer, fired up his teammates by setting down the Cardinals in the top of the fifth.

The Yankees then loaded up the bases in the fifth inning. Christian Tuhulski, Alex Whiting and Ashley Mohr all reached base. With the bases loaded, coach Bob DiVita had Martone lay down a beautiful bunt, scoring Tuhulski on a very close play at home. This opened the flood gates for the Yankees as Eberhard, DiVita, Knoer and Ammerman all contributed with key hits to put the Yankees up 9-4 at the end of five innings.

In the top of the sixth, DiVita retired the side for the Yankees. The Yankees were holding on to a 9-6 lead in the seventh inning with runners on second and third. DiVita pitched then struck out the last two batters to end the game, 9-6.

The Yankees defeated a very tough and pesky Cardinals team. The Yankees won the division and playoffs with a 17-4-1 record. The team started 0-2-1.

In the semifinal, the Yankees faced a determined Braves team under the lights at the Pepsi Center.

Each team scored a run in the first and second innings. The Yankees exploded with four runs to take a commanding 5-1 lead. Jared Shatkin, Tuhulski, Ashley Mohr, Whiting, Andrew Mohr and Vaughn all contributed to the Yankee rally.

In the fourth inning, key hits by Divita and Eberhard produced another three runs. Excellent pitching again from Knoer, Eberhard and DiVita sealed the 16-6 victory.

In the second round, the Yankees faced the red-hot Brewers.

The Brewers took an early 2-1 lead and went up 5-1 in the third inning. The Yankees came back on key hits from Vaughn, Martone, and Eberhard to cut the Brewers' lead to 5-4.

In the very next inning, the Yankees exploded for four more runs to take a commanding 8-5 lead. The Yankees received excellent pitching from DiVita, Eberhard and Knoer, who stuck out the last three batters to seal the 9-5 win.

The Yankees received a bye in the first round because they were the No. 1 seed.