Huskies Capture MMDA Championship

Congratulations to the Northeast Huskies, who capped a six-year run of regular-season domination with a championship, topping the Northwest Stars in seven games to capture the MMDA World Series.

Huskies DH David Oritz blasted the World Series-winning
home run in the 17th inning of Game Seven

John Tresca's club led the league with 115 wins during the regular season, landing in a familiar place: atop the Northeast Division (named for its geographic location, though it could just as well be in honor of its dominant team). That marked six consecutive seasons in which the Huskies have either won the division outright or tied for first.

Since bringing up the rear with a 54-108 record in 2007, the Huskies have gone 659-313, good for a .678 winning percentage. During that span they posted the best record in the league three times (2009, 2012, 2013). For all that dominance, however, there is one thing that eluded them: a title.

In five years the Huskies have advanced to the final series only once, falling to the Bulldogs in seven games in 2009. But this year they rolled through, topping the West Side Bluejays in five games in the first round of the playoffs, then withstanding the defending champion Goldenrod Gators in six games in the semi-finals.

The Stars, however, took the Huskies to the brink with a seven-game challenge. The final game was an epic affair in which the home club won in the 17th inning on a two-run shot by DH David Ortiz.

World Series: Northeast 4, Northwest 3

Game recaps from the Strat-generated box scores. In the World Series, the No. 1 Northeast Huskies (115-47) had home-field advantage versus the No. 7 Northwest Stars (90-72). 

Game One 
Stars 6, Huskies 5

First baseman Carlos Santana had 2 base hits as the Northwest Stars topped the Northeast Huskies by a score of 6 to 5 at Huskie Park.

Northwest took the lead off Adam Wainwright in the first inning scoring one runner. After two outs Jason Heyward single-handedly provided the offense with a solo home run. Adam Jones was next to bat, but he was a strikeout victim.  Northeast made it exciting in the 9th, but they were unable to push the needed runs across. 

Madison Bumgarner (3-0) allowed 2 runs in 5 innings, and picked up the victory. Rafael Soriano earned the save, his 1st. Wainwright (2-1) was charged with the loss. He pitched 7 1/3 innings allowing 5 hits and 3 walks.

Round Two: Northeast 4, Goldenrod 2

Game recaps from the Strat-generated box scores. In this series, the No. 1 Northeast Huskies (115-47) had home-field advantage versus the No. 4 Goldenrod Gators (94-68).

Game One 
Huskies 7, Gators 4

In a good matchup it was the Northeast Huskies 7, the Goldenrod Gators 4 at Huskie Park.

Northeast tallied 3 runs in the 4th inning when they came up with 3 base hits. It was enough scoring to earn the victory. Northeast banged out 9 hits on the night. 

The win went to Adam Wainwright (2-0) who allowed 4 runs in 6 2/3 innings. Wilton Lopez earned the save, his 1st. Jeff Samardzija (1-1) ended up with the loss. He pitched 7 2/3 innings giving up 9 hits and 4 walks.

Round Two: Northwest 4, Mohawk Valley 3

Game recaps from the Strat-generated box scores. In this series, the No. 3 Mohawk Valley Crimson Lions (98-64) had home-field advantage versus the No. 7 Northwest Stars (90-72).

Game One
Stars 3, Lions 1

Doug Fister (2-1) and David Price (1-2) treated the Mohawk Valley fans to a fine pitching duel at Van Slyke Field. The Northwest Stars eventually emerged as victors over the Mohawk Valley Crimson Lions by the score of 3 to 1.

Fister looked very much in control throughout the night. He allowed only 4 hits and 3 walks in 7 2/3 innings seeing his ERA drop from 4.70 to 3.52 for the playoffs. Craig Kimbrel earned the save with a perfect ninth, his 4th save.

Round One: Goldenrod 4, St. Louis 2

Game recaps from the Strat-generated box scores. In this series, the No. 4 Goldenrod Gators (94-68) had home-field advantage versus the No. 5 St. Louis Maulers (92-70).

Game One
Maulers 3, Gators 2

Zack Greinke racked up an impressive total of 12 strikeouts as the St. Louis Maulers topped the Goldenrod Gators by a score of 3 to 2 at Gator Grounds.

Greinke (1-0) pitched a solid game. He surrendered only 6 hits and no walks in 8 innings. Goldenrod made it exciting in the 9th, but they were unable to push the needed runs across. 

Matt Thornton earned his 1st save. David Phelps (0-1) was the losing pitcher. He pitched 5 innings and surrendered 5 hits and no walks.

'I had my good stuff tonight.' Greinke said. 'As the game went along I started to get the feeling that I was going to strike out a bunch of hitters.'

Roune One: Northeast 4, West Side 1

Game recaps from the Strat-generated box scores. In this series, the No. 1 Northeast Huskies (115-47) had home-field advantage versus the No. 8 West Side Bluejays (87-75).

Game One
Huskies 6, Bluejays 4

Salvador Perez hit one over the fence and had 3 RBI as the Northeast Huskies outscored the West Side Bluejays 6 to 4.

In the bottom of the 6th inning Northeast scored 5 runs when they came up with 5 base hits. The crucial at-bat was provided by Perez who made the home-town crowd a happy bunch when he doubled scoring two baserunners.  Casey Janssen relieved and was untouched by West Side as he recorded the save, his 1st.

Adam Wainwright (1-0) got the win allowing 4 runs in 7 innings. Chris Sale (0-1) was charged with the loss. Northeast scored big getting 6 runs off him in 5 2/3 innings.

Round One: Mohawk Valley 4, Spokane 2

Game recaps from the Strat-generated box scores. In this series, the No. 3 Mohawk Valley Crimson Lions (98-64) had home-field advantage versus the No. 6 Spokane Hooded Crows (90-72).

Game One
Crows 6, Lions 1

The Spokane Hooded Crows put 4 runs on the scoreboard in the 6th inning and easily topped the Mohawk Valley Crimson Lions; the final score was 6 to 1.

Clayton Kershaw (1-0) earned his pay with a solid performance for Spokane. He allowed 10 hits and no walks in 8 innings. Spokane totaled 8 hits on the night.

David Price (0-1) was the losing pitcher. Despite taking the loss, he whiffed 9 batters in 6 innings.

Round One: Northwest 4, Wilmington 3

Game recaps from the Strat-generated box scores. In this series, the No. 2 Wilmington Razorbacks (112-50) had home-field advantage versus the No. 7 Northwest Stars (90-72).

Game One
Stars 4, Razorbacks 2

Right fielder Jason Heyward had 2 base hits and 2 RBI at The Razordome as the Northwest Stars beat the Wilmington Razorbacks 4 to 2.

Northwest took the lead for good in the top of the 5th inning plating an isolated run using 2 hits. Northwest and Wilmington each finished the night with 9 hits. 

Doug Fister (1-0) allowed 2 runs in 7 1/3 innings, and picked up the victory. Craig Kimbrel was credited with his 1st save. The losing pitcher was Felix Hernandez (0-1).