The playoff final didn't start well for the Barry Yip RE/MAX Shooters Gladiators. But, after three consecutive blowout victories, they had reason to celebrate.
Tuesday night at Citizen Field, the Gladiators beat the Inland Control & Services Tigers 6-0 and clinched the playoff championship in the Shooters Bar & Grill P.G. Senior Baseball League. The Gladiators won the best-of-five affair in four games.
The series started with a 5-3 comeback win for the Tigers. That night, the Gladiators surrendered four runs in the top of the seventh inning.
But, after that, it was all Glads. In Game 2, they pounded out a 13-5 victory and that was followed by a 9-2 decision in Game 3. Including Tuesday's result, the Gladiators outscored the Tigers 28-7 in the last three games.
During the regular season, the Gladiators placed third in the five-team league with a 10-10 record. In the playoffs, they went 6-2.
Chris Allard of the Gladiators was chosen as the playoff MVP. Two of Allard's teammates -- Terry Bonnar and Connor Whitely -- were recognized as top hitter and top pitcher respectively.
Regular-season awards were also handed out on Tuesday, and Brandon Hunter took the top honour. Hunter, a centrefielder for the Queensway Auto World Red Sox, was named MVP for a season in which he proved himself to be the league's top defensive player. Offensively, he was also a standout, as indicated by his 26 hits and .510 batting average.
Other awards, and their winners, were: most dedicated -- umpire Terry Shaw; stolen base champion -- Mark Mosure; top fielder -- Lyle Boutin; home run king -- Adam Norn; rookie of the year -- Tyler Rochon; top hitter -- Jay Cook; top pitcher -- Jesse Dill.
Members of the league all-star team were: catcher, Bucky Schmidt; first baseman, Jody Hannon; second baseman, Kalen Kirkpatrick; third baseman, Brandon Graham; shortstop, Cook; outfielders, Hunter, Angelo Desantis and Chris Clark; starting pitcher, Dill; and designated hitter, Norn.
