Tainos was home for game one, and Bad Intentions jumped on them early.  They put up crooked numbers in every inning but the 7th.  After 3 innings of play, the number 1 seed held a 12-4 lead.  Bad Intentions hit the ball hard and also took advantage of the strong winds that were giving the Tainos’ outfield fits.  Both teams plated 5 over the next two innings, but this game may have been decided in that bottom of the 5th.  Going in, Bad Intentions pulled away to a 17-5 lead, with their opponent on the brink of a mercy rule defeat.  Tainos responded by quickly scoring their first 3 batters in the inning.  They would then load the bases still with none out.  This was looking to be the start of a huge inning for the underdog, but it was quickly shut down.  The Bad Intentions defense stepped up with a huge double play.  One more run would score for Tainos on a throwing error and that would be all.  What looked like it could be big troubled turned out to just cut the lead down to 17-9. 

Realizing the game may not have been as in-hand as they had previously thought, Bad Intentions followed the defensive stand with a huge offensive outburst.  Taking advantage of a leadoff error, they would plate a whopping 11 runs in the inning.  Milton Rodriguez rocked a 2-run homerun in the inning and Chris Otero ended the scoring with his own 3-run blast. 

To Tainos credit, they exhibited zero quit.  After a demoralizing inning in which they’re opponent took a 28-9 lead, they stormed right back with a 9 run bottom of the 6th to keep hope alive in the 7th.  They shut down the Bad Intentions offense in the top of the 7th, just as the doctor ordered.  However, Bad Intentions returned the favor in the bottom of the inning and closed out their game 1 victory by a score of 28-18.

            Game 2 was a wild one.  It started out close, with Tainos scoring 5 in the top of the first and Bad Intentions plating 8 in the bottom of the inning, followed by the two teams matching innings over the next three.  Bad Intentions took an 18-15 lead into the 5th.  The defense stiffened up and shut down the Tainos offense over the next two innings.  Bad Intentions took advantage with their relentless offense, who refused to let an inning go by in this one without a run, plating 5 more over those innings.  They’d take a daunting 23-15 lead into the top of the 7th, needing one more hold to secure their championship. 

But Tainos, once again with their backs against the wall, showed no quit. 

The Tainos offense broke out to the tune of 11 runs in the top of the seventh.  The scoring started with a 2 RBI single off the bat of Jesus “Gee” Almanzar, was perpetuated by a 3-run homer from Jolin “Lolin” Jiminez, and was capped off by a Rafi “Batman” Cabreja sac fly.  Tainos took complete control and was looking to steal the game, sending this one to a deciding game 3. 

Bad Intentions, however, had other ideas. 

After a leadoff out, they saw the next two batters reach base to set up a clutch, 3-run, game-tying homerun off the bat of Matt Greco in the bottom of the 7th.  Tainos buckled down to end the inning, but the damage was already done.  This one was going to extras. 

Tainos managed to score one run in the top of the 8th and left it up to the defense.  Bad Intentions had yet to score less than 2 in any inning that game, and looked to keep that trend going.  They would do so without an issue.  The first two batters reached base to set up a game-tying RBI single off the bat of Jonathan Velez, who pinch hit back in the 6th.  Two batters later and with the bases loaded, Jomar Casiano came through with the game-winning, championship clinching RBI single to end the game by a score of 28-27.

            The loss for Tainos came despite the efforts of Carmine “C-Nap” Napolitano and Rafi “Batman” Cabreja.  Carmine went 7 for 10 over the two games, including 5 runs and 8 RBI’s.  Rafi combined for 6 of 7 at the plate, including 4 runs and 7 RBI’s.  Both hit 4 doubles and 1 homerun apiece and each added a walk to their statline. 

Bad Intentions were led in their victories by game 2 hero Matt Greco and Dave Darmento.  Matt went 6 for 7 on the day with 2 homeruns, 3 walks, 7 runs, and 9 RBI’s.  Dave went a combined 5 for 8 with a double, a triple, 5 runs, 1 walk, and 6 RBI’s.  He also snagged several hard liners at third and led the defense with center fielder Milton Rodriguez.

            This was certainly a chippy one, but both teams battled hard and put their offenses on full display.  They showed off the power despite a strong headwind throughout most of the morning and early afternoon.  Congratulations to both teams for successful seasons and congratulations to the Cal Ripken Division Champs Bad Intentions!

The date for the ABL Awards Party will be announced soon, so please stay tuned!