Troy Rockets repeat as MERBL Champs
By Anthony Jones
TROY — For the second consecutive season, the Metro East Recreational Baseball League World Series was a clash of Troy-based squads.
On one side of the best of three game series was the defending champion Red Rockets. The AJ Mahnesmith coached squad earned their spot in the title series as the National League champions, following an 11-1-1 regular season record.
Looking to avenge last year’s World Series loss was the American League champions Troy team coached by Brett Droy. The Blue Balls finished their regular season with an 11-2-1 mark.
The teams opened the series on July 30, meeting on Belleville’s Whitey Herzog Field.
In the top of the first inning, the American League representatives struck first. Tyler Wood provided their first runner of the game with a two-out double before scoring to take a 1-0 edge.
Starting pitcher Bryce Laycock kept their 1-0 lead intact in the bottom of the first after escaping a two-runner and one-out jam.
The bottom of the third frame proved to be a pivotal moment. With two outs and a pair of runners in scoring position, Cory Warren loaded the bases for the Rockets after reaching base via catcher’s interference.
In the subsequent at bat, Landon Zawodniak connected with a deep shot just short of the left field fence to clear the bases. His two-out double pushed the National League champions ahead 3-1.
The fifth frame saw a pair of new arms enter the game, starting with Wyatt Suter for the Rockets. He retired the first three batters he saw in the fifth.
Dane Henderson took to the mound for the blue-uniformed side in the bottom of the fifth. He surrendered one run to Albert Helmkamp who walked and then advanced across the bases via a steal and a pair of passed balls.
The Rockets extended their 4-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth, kickstarted by Warren and Zawodniak reaching base. Wyatt Suter was then hit by pitch to load the bases, setting up an RBI single from Owen Droy.
Their lead ultimately grew to 7-1, the final score of their game one victory.
With a chance to win the series later in the evening, the Rockets came out firing in game two.
Their first run came from Zawodniak, who scored via a single from Suter. Drew Twyman and Suter later found home plate to take a 3-0 lead to the bottom of the first.
Game two starting arm Ethan Stewart kept the momentum rolling, as he retired the first three batters in the bottom half of the frame.
Stewart added to his team’s lead in the second inning after walking and being driven in by a Helmkamp double. A Hayden Holthaus double plated Helmkamp and a failed pickoff later in the frame grew their lead to 6-0.
The game’s next score came in the top of the fourth, when Suter added a Rocket run off a wild pitch to move ahead 7-0.
The bottom of the fourth also featured offense, led off by a Jack Bagwell single. Brayden Riney entered in relief later in the frame and surrendered an RBI single to Koen Riney.
Suter took to the mound to close the inning with the Rockets ahead 7-1.
Coach Droy’s squad closed the deficit further in the bottom of the fifth with a pair of runs.
The first Blue Ball run came via a Laycock RBI to drive in Wood. In the following at bat, Henderson sent a pitch into right field to score another run and move within 7-3.
After a scoreless top of the sixth, the game came down to a final turn at the plate for the American League representatives.
Zawodniak took to the mound to close out the championship for the Rockets and cruised to a pair of leadoff strikeouts. The mood quickly shifted, however, as Ben Hudson and Bagwell reached base safely to put the tying run on deck.
The next at bat, which resulted in a groundout, ended their rally however and sealed a 7-3 win for the Rockets.
With two victories, Coach Mahnesmith’s squad swept the series and clinched back to back World Series crowns.
Following the victory, the champion manager reflected on the challenge of sweeping their Troy rivals, “They play us well. Even in the regular season, they played us well and we tied. It always takes a team effort to beat them–they come to play.”
Coach Mahnesmith also reflected on this year’s championship unit, “[They’re] a whole lot of fun. They brighten up the day–that’s for sure.”
The Red Rockets celebrate their championship. (Photo by Anthony Jones)
