AAA TIGERS PLAYOFF HIGHLIGHTS (PROVIDED BY MANAGER):
Game #1: Sat., June 4, 2016: (10:30) Nationals (#4 seed) vs. Cardinals (#5) - CARDINALS, 3-2 (Pitching- Cards: Riordan, 62; K O'B, 32; Nats: McNally, 72; Nezaj, 32)
Game #2: Sat., June 4: (2:30) Brewers (#3) vs. Royals (#6) BREWERS, 12-4 (4 inn) Eamon O. (Brewers), 70 pitches; Royals: C.J. Ritchie (65); Timmy G (14). Eamon O'Meara was a one-man wrecking crew leading the way for the Brew Crew hurling a shortened complete game yielding just 2 hits in 4 solid innings of work. O'Meara also led the offense going 2-2 with a triple and long inside the park home run, scoring 3 times and driving in two. The consistent AJ Franzese went 3 for 3 with 3 runs scored and 3 RBI and Kevin Galligan had a solid game at the dish going 2-3 with 2 RBI. Hot hitting leadoff hitter Ryan Fowler began the game with a hard single to right field and scored twice including the game's first run. James Keane went 1-2 with a run and 2 RBI and ran the bases aggressively. Despite the outcome, CJ Ritchie pitched well for the Royals a.nd Ryan Albin drove in Timmy Gorham, who singled, with a long triple to right center.
Game #3: Mon., June 6 (6:00) Tigers (#1) vs. (Winner Game #1 - Cardinals) - TIGERS, 3-2 (Tigers: Michael Rayward, 62; Mike Carlacci, 21; Cards: Kyle O, 34; Leon N, 56). Leon Nezaj and Kyle Okeefe pitched great for the Cardinals. Tigers' Ryan Cowie had 2 hits and scored the winning run in the bottom of the sixth. Mikey Mccrory was on base all three times. Cards played one of their best games of the year and took a 2-2 tie into the bottom 6th, when Tigers won a nail-biter.
Game #4: Tue., June 7 (6:00) Orioles (#2) vs. (Winner Game #2 - Brewers) - ORIOLES, 5-4 (7 INN.) (Orioles: Barresi, 54; Veirun, 46; Brewers: Timmy O., 56; Ryan F, 56; AJ F., 37). In a hard fought, extra inning game the Orioles outlasted the Brewers behind ace pitching from Michael Barresi and Aedan Veirun. Strong pitching outings from Ryan Fowler and AJ Franzese kept the Brewers alive. Barresi added 2 doubles and 2 walks, along with two hits from Sean Devaney to keep the Orioles tied up. Timely doubles from Patrick Basler and Joe McCusker sent the game into the 7th, where Aedan Veirun hit a game winning triple.
Game #5: Wed., June 8 (6:00) (Losers of Games # 2 {Royals} & #3 {Cardinals}) - ROYALS, 6-4 (Royals: Timmy Gorham, 75; CJ Richie, 24; Cards: O'Keefe, 37; Skeith, 33; Rinaldi, 57) Timmy Gorham threw a gem striking out 10 batters in 5 2/3 innings of work. CJ Richie came in as relief striking out 3 batters in 1 1/3 innings of work. Ryan Albin led the offense going 3 for 3 and scoring 2 runs, and Danny Hooker battled to draw 2 walks and scoring 2 runs and Matthew Treanor drove in a run. Anthony Leggio had a solid game Defensively at catcher. The Royals tip their hats to the Cardinals for a hard fought game in which each team rallied in the 4th and 5th innings in an exciting game.
Game #6: Thur., June 9 (6:00) (Losers of Games #1 {Nationals} & #4 {Brewers}) - BREWERS, 16-8 (Brewers Pitching: Eamon O. 75(2), Johnny C. 24, Gavin M. 23). The Brew Crew offense was firing on all cylinders with the heart of the order leading the way. Eamon O'Meara was on base all four times (2 for 2 2 walks) scoring three runs and driving in two. AJ Franzese stayed hot going 3 for 4 with 5 RBI and cleanup hitter Johnny Costello was on base and scored all three times he came to the plate. Timmy O'Brien had an excellent day with the bat going 2 for 3 with 3 RBI while Jon Bow also went 2 for 3 with an RBI for the victors. Kevin Galligan was on base all three times including a long clutch double to left-center driving in two important runs at the time. Dependable and versatile Gavin McHugh was solid behind the dish and threw a solid inning of relief for the Brewers. Ryan Fowler flashed the leather in centerfield with a highlight reel sliding catch to stunt a Nats rally. Michael Squillini was solid for the Nationals going 3-3 with 3 runs scored and Liam Brown and Mark Pozzuto both had solid games at the plate hitting the ball well.
Game #7: Sat., June 11 (2:30) (Winners of Games #3 {Tigers} and #4 {Orioles}) UPPER BRACKET FINAL -- TIGERS, 6 - 0. (Michael R, 54). Michael Carlacci, Michael Reyward and Aiden McCahey all had two hits each.
Game #8: Sat., June 11 (10:30) (Winners of Games #5 {Royals} and #6 {Brewers}) -- BREWERS, 12-4. (Brewers, Ryan F 64, Johnny C, 34, Timmy O, 20). The Brewers offense continued to roll, banging out 12 runs on 12 hits. Johnny Costello led the way for the Crew, going 3 for 3 with a double and five runs batted in, including a long blast to left center in the first inning, after A J Franzese's two run single, staking the team to a lead they would not relinquish. Eamon O'Meara continued his torrid streak, going 2 for 3 with a double and two runs scored, making him 8 for 10 in the playoffs. Joe Bow had two clutch hits, driving in two important runs, and Kevin Galligan, Rory Keane and Peter Reynolds all had timely hits for the Brewers. Ryan Fowler gutted his way through 3 1/3 innings, yielding just two hits, and Costello and Timmy O'Brien closed the game out. C.J. Ritchie pitched his heart out and kept the Royals in the game, while Ryan Albin once again was a thorn in the Brewers side, smacking two doubles to power the Royal offense. Daniel Wynne had a solid game as a stalwart behind the dish for the Royals.
Game #9: Mon, June 13 (6:00) (Loser Game #7 (Orioles) vs. Winner Game #8 (Brewers) LOWER BRACKET FINAL - BREWERS, 6-5 (Brewers: Timmy O. - 75(2); A.J. F. - 27; ) This nail biter came down to the final out as the Brewers fended off a furious rally from a game Orioles team. After a sloppy first inning from the defense, Timmy O'Brien put his team on his back and completed 4 2/3 innings of masterful pitching. The Brewers fought back from a 3-0 deficit with 2 runs in the 2nd on a single by O'Brien to help his cause. The offense followed suit in the 3rd with 3 more runs on a two run single by Costello (2 for 3 2R 2RBI) and an RBI single by Jon Bow. The Brewers defense rose to the challenge highlighted by AJ Franzese's diving catch in centerfield after a rocket off the bat of Aiden Veirun (1 for 2 2R). The Brewers' 5-3 lead stood into the 6th when Franzese led off the inning with a single and later scored on a towering double off the bat of Bow (2 for 3 2RBI) to push the lead to 6-3. The Orioles were not done yet however, evidenced by an RBI triple by Veirun who would score on an errant throw to cut the lead to one. The Orioles put the tying run on 3rd and winning run on second before the Brewers closed the game out. James Keane, Kevin Galligan and Eamon O'Meara also contributed to the Brewers offense. Danny Halpin played exceptional defense and Riley Brooks pitched well for an Orioles team that had a terrific season.
Game #10: Wed., June 15 (6:00) (Winners Games #7 (Tigers) and #9 (Brewers) CHAMPIONSHIP - TIGERS, 7-0 (Tigers: Michael R., 64). Michael Rayward pitched 5 scoreless innings in another great pitching performance. Colin McNulty had a big 2 RBI double to get the Tigers started with a three run top of the first. Max Prunty started another 3 run rally in the top of the third by lining a double down the left field line. Michael Carlacci added two hits for the Tigers who finished 18-1 and now move on to the minors tournament of champions. The Brewers had a great postseason run and were led today by Jonathan Bow who had two hits including a double.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2016 PRLL AAA CHAMPIONS, THE TIGERS.
TIGERS T.O.C. HIGHLIGHTS:
June 17: Pearl River Tigers. 10 - Haverstraw Braves. 2 (Michael Carlacci. 75 pitches; Aidan McCahey, 20; Mikey McCrory, 10). Michael Carlacci pitched 4 and 2/3 great innings striking out 12. He also had a long double to the base of the fence in left center. Michael Rayward was 3-3 with a double and a triple leading a well balanced offense . Ryan Cowie and Colin Mcnulty each scored 2 runs . The Tigers play the Ramapo Reds in the quarterfinals.
Pearl River Tigers, 9 - Ramapo Reds, 7 (Michael Rayward, 75 pitches; Mikey McCrory, 21). The Tigers won their second consecutive game and move into the semifinals Tuesday night against Nanuet. Ramapo took an early 7-1 lead after three innings, thanks to two long home runs by Jaydin Franco. The Tigers kept battling and had a dramatic 8 run top of the fifth to take the lead, scoring 6 runs after two were out. Colin McNulty was 3-3, Michael Carlacci had two hits and Aidan McCahey, Brendan McGrath and Max Prunty had big hits in the fifth inning. Mikey McCrory came on to get the last five outs and will get the start Tuesday .
June 21: Pearl River Tigers, 20 - Nanuet, 6 (Mikey McCrory, 75), Aidan McCahey, 19): The Tigers advance to Friday nights championship game against Suffern. The Tigers had an eleven run second inning to get out to a big lead. The offensive outburst was highlighted by a max prunty home run. Aidan McCahey had two hits including a long triple, Shane Mulvey had 3 hits and Brendan McGrath had 2 hits. Owen Caputo made a huge catch with the bases loaded in right field to end the second inning and stop a Nanuet rally, and Ryan Cowie made three good defensive plays at first base.
June 24, 2016: Pearl River Tigers, 3 - Suffern, 2 (Michael Carlacci, 52; Michael Rayward, 28): The Tigers become the second Pearl River team to win the Minors TOC in the 16 year history of the tournament, joining the 2013 Pearl River Royals. The Tigers were outhit 9-2 by a powerful suffern team, but they used great defense and base running to pull out the win. The Tigers scored 2 in the top of the first on a Michael Carlacci single, a Michael Rayward walk, with both scoring on aggressive base running. Suffern used 4 singles to score 2 in the bottom of the first to tie the game. The Tigers then used some sparkling defense to hold Suffern scoreless the rest of the game. Colin McNulty made a running catch in deep center in the bottom of the third. Carlacci was relieved by Rayward with one out in the fourth and immediately threw a Suffern runner out at home on a perfect relay from shallow left field on a play that Mikey McCrory made an amazing play at catcher to catch the ball and apply the tag to the would be go ahead runner. In the bottom of the fifth McNulty again shined, cutting off a ball in deep right center and throwing a strike to Carlacci to get the runner out trying to stretch it into a double . The Tigers finally pulled back ahead in the top of the sixth. Carlacci led off with a single and again used great aggressive base running to score the go ahead run without any more hits. Carlacci had both Tigers hits in the game, threw a runner out at home and pitched well and was named the tournament MVP. Suffern wasn't done though, as they started the bottom of the sixth with consecutive singles . Rayward then made the play of the game, snaring a line drive over his head that would have tied the game and firing to first to double off one of the runners. He then struck out the next batter to complete the Tigers 22-1 season.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2106 MINORS (MICHAEL MacROBBIE MEMORIAL) TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS WINNERS, THE PEARL RIVER TIGERS.