MSBL of Southern Colorado

Hitmen Win the MSBL-A Championship Game 11-4 over Redbirds

The game was a classic battle between the Redbirds and the Hitmen with both teams scoring early and keeping it tight before the Hitmen defense and pitching shut down the Redbirds, while the Hitmen kept tacking on runs as the game went on.

The Rebirds Mike Guzman started off the game with a double and he was quickly sacrificed to 3rd base by Charles Milo.  After an obstruction call on Mike Coy’s at bat, Mark Hutchinson drove in the Redbirds first run.  RBI hits by Chappy Watties and John Alban gave the Redbirds a 3-0 at the end of the 1st inning.

The Hitmen struck back in the bottom of the first inning when Martin Hernandez and Glenn Pendleton worked out walks with one out.  Armando Medina Villa drove them home with a double to left field.  Craig Baker drove in Medina Villa with an infield grounder, that Medina Villa was ruled safe at home due to obstruction.  After a single and stolen base by Shawn Branstetter and a walk to Lupe Estrada, Scott Kusterer drove in Branstetter with a single to left.  The Rebirds ended the scoring getting Kele Kaono to fly out to left.  The Hitmen led 4-3.

The Redbirds pushed a run across in the second inning after 2 out, Lance Shoffner walked and stole second, and scored on Larry Pickert’s single to right, making it all even at 4-4.

After a quiet bottom of the second, and top of the 3rd, the Hitmen got back on the scoreboard with 2 more in the bottom of the third when Martin Hernandez walked and stole second, Glenn Pendleton walked and Armando Medina Villa drove in Hernandez with a single.  After Medina Villa stole second base, Craig Baker picked up his second RBI of the day driving in Pendleton with a ground out to third.  The Hitmen led after 3 innings 6-4.

The Hitmen tacked on one run in the bottom of the 4th after Lupe Estrada led off the inning with a single, and advanced to third on a stolen base and a passed ball.  Kele Kaono drove him home with a single to the outfield. 

The Hitmen added 4 more runs in the bottom of the 5th after Martin Hernandez got hit by a pitch with one out, Glenn Pendleton singled, Armando Medina Villa walked, and Craig Baker doubled to add to his RBI total.  The Hitmen led 11-4.

Kele Kaono was the starting pitcher for the Hitmen, starting his second straight playoff game on the mound.  Kaono shut down the Redbirds for the final 4 2/3 innings of the game, facing 16 batters over the final frames, only to hand the ball over to Martin Hernandez for the final out of the game.

Kaono pitched 6 2/3 innings, gave up 4 runs, scattered 7 hits, gave up 2 walks and 1 hit batsman.  He struck out 6 Redbirds.  Kele Kaono was voted playoff MVP after defeating the Redbirds in the final two games of the series.