FINALS RECAP:
PIÈCE DE RÉSISTANCE
The 88s may have just painted their signature masterpiece with an incredible sweep of the 2025 Pelham League finals.
A NEW HOPE
Lightsaber battles waged behind their bench, making the 88s feel like a rag tag group of heroes trying to take down the Empire in game 1.
Brian Skywalker bombed triples to both sides of the field to help lead the team in runs (3) and RBI (3) from the leadoff spot.
Kylie Erso used a variety of weapons to lead the ladies in hits (3) and RBI (2) while playing great defense all over the field. She fit right in with the rock solid infield defense which was on its game all night (Jedi’s Marnie, Naomi, Jordan, Josh).
Obi-Wan Joshobi put into practice the patience Yoda taught him on Coruscant to double his career walk total (2 -> 4), which was pivotal to help along a relatively sluggish offense.
Princess Jesa used the force to throw tricky pitches for a clutch K late in the 6th without giving up a walk all game.
During the Thunders final at bats, there were 2 outs and the bases loaded with the 88s up 5. Mylesbacca made the mistake of glancing over at Hottie Row* which distracted him long enough to miss a deep fly ball in CF that cleared the bases and closed the gap to just 2 runs.
However, sporting her husband’s Weapon X jersey, Nikki Solo tapped into Jeff’s Finals magic by swooping in when victory was slipping away to save the day with a catch behind home plate for the final out.
YEEEE-WOOOOOOO!
The 88s blow up the Death Star and pull out the tight 13-11 win to go up 1-0 in the best of 5 series.
STORYBOOK ENDING
If game 1 was a fun fantasy adventure, then games 2 and 3 were an Oscar worthy, drama filled cinematic epic.
Game 2 will probably be remembered for the clutch defense in the bottom of the extra inning to hold the Thunder to 0 runs and escape with the narrow 19-18 win.
Highlighted by a fantastic double play from Jordan - Naomi - Marnie, the 88s managed to keep a team who had scored in their last 9 straight innings of the series off the board when it mattered most.
A synopsis of how we got to extras:
Josh reached base in all 5 plate appearances (4 hits + a walk)
Naomi had 3 hits + 3 runs from the leadoff spot
Myles blasted a no doubter into the right field trees
Jordan knocked in 5 RBI, answering the question of “can he hold onto his team leading RBI total” with a resounding HELL YES!
Up 18-12 in the bottom of the 6th, the Thunder had their best inning of the series when they needed it, putting up 6 runs total capped off by Will’s game tying 3 run shot off the light post in centre field.
Brian led off the top of the extra inning with a double and was later knocked in by Kylie which ended up being the winning RBI after the 88s defense did their thing in the bottom half.
Now up 2-0 in the best of 5 series, the 88s knew the close out game would be even more of a challenge and it didn’t disappoint.
Game 3 was a fitting climax to the story of the 2025 88s and a perfect example of what a positive “never say die” attitude can do.
Refusing to go quietly into the night the Thunder raged against the dying of the light with a sequence of nothing to lose swings to put the 88s in a deep 10-0 hole during the 2nd inning.
Outwardly optimistic but secretly starting to think about game 4 next week, the 88s knew it would be tough to climb out.
Luckily they had a ladder expert in firefighter Tim who showed his squad the way by getting them up onto the first rung with a 2 run liner to left field.
After quickly learning the ropes, the rest of the 88s followed his lead with a 7 hit, 5 run 3rd to continue their ascension towards freedom.
Josh and Jes swapping 3B / P positions was a plot twist that seemed to help fuel the turnaround. The opponents were given a different look which doused their inferno of an offense into a more manageable brush fire.
It took all the way until their last at bats in the bottom of the 6th for the 88s to reach the surface with 2 runs that gave them their first lead of the game.
Starting the top of the 7th up 1 run and 3 outs away from a championship, the 88s defense once again showed why it’s the backbone of the team with another 0 run effort to close things out.
The final out landed safely in Myles’ glove, kick starting the 88s celebration of back to back PSL championships and their 5th league title in a row overall.
Despite a high winning % these past few years, you can tell this team is full of individuals who have faced plenty of adversity, both on the diamond and otherwise. Their ability to handle pressure and absorb blows while time and again keeping spirits high and fighting back is a big part of the recipe that makes this group so special.
THANK YOU 88s!!
EXTRA BITS:
Hottie Row (L-R): Andrea, Linda, Lisa, James, Joce.
The total run differential between the 3 games was only 4. Can’t get much better / closer than that!
Kylie led the team in playoff hits (8). Tim led the team in playoff average (.833).
Jes gets the W in games 1 and 2. Josh gets the W in game 3.
Nikki went 3/3 + 2 RBI + 2 runs in the close out game 3. She also joined the K club on the final night of the season in game 2.
As a team the 88s walked 10 times over the 3 game series, far and away an all-time record for walks.
For the second time in her career, Joce becomes the 2025 Ironwoman.
Like Thor showing up on the Wakandan battlefield during the Infinity Wars, our bat girl Maddy made her return halfway through the final game to bring us to full strength.
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