BB: LL: Liberty League

[Heat23]

Ithica is going to lay a stinker. MTclair st will be wipping their tears away as keystone goes ya ya

[IC798891]

Congrats to Ithaca on the Liberty League championship.  Kind of unfortunate that Rochester's pitching was so tired in that last game.  Hopefully that won't hurt them too much in terms of getting an at large selection.

Yeah, the Bombers being able to cut down the lead run at the plate in the 9th inning of the previous game — leading to the win and Rochester having to play again that night — was really the key.

D3 staffs just aren't that deep. Having to play that extra game kills most teams

[BomberJeff]

That was a tense ride of a game between Ithaca and Montclair, but the Bombers got there 8-5.  Great job on the complete game by Kyle Lambert (123 pitches though... ouch) and good job getting that chain together in the 9th to put it away.

Keystone tomorrow, winner advances to championship Monday while loser plays Immaculata for the same.  Hopefully Keystone having an extra day of rest won't be the difference.

[IC798891]

Keystone stuns Immaculata for the second time.

After coming back from a 5-2, 7th inning deficit in the opener, they eliminate the Mighty Macs on a 2-out error that plates two runs. Keystone trailed 4-0 heading to the bottom of the 4.

Now the real challenge begins, as it does for any team coming from the losers' bracket who has to play that extra game. What doomed Rochester in the LL tournament was that they just...ran out of guys to get outs. IC has only used three pitchers thus far in the regional. Keystone has had to go deeper into their staff

Anything can happen, of course. But the Bombers are basically where you want to be. Needing just 1 win with a relatively rested staff

[stlawus]

Pretty disappointed with Rochester's performance in the tournament the last 2 season.   Back to back great regular seasons but they went 0-4 in the regionals.   Their offense looked unstoppable for both seasons and this year had a lot of veteran leadership.  They still bring back Whitley and a decent core but lose some significant production.  Just goes to show that it doesn't really matter much if you don't have the pitching.   Skidmore learned that this year as well. 

[Caz Bombers]

Keystone stuns Immaculata for the second time.

After coming back from a 5-2, 7th inning deficit in the opener, they eliminate the Mighty Macs on a 2-out error that plates two runs. Keystone trailed 4-0 heading to the bottom of the 4.

Now the real challenge begins, as it does for any team coming from the losers' bracket who has to play that extra game. What doomed Rochester in the LL tournament was that they just...ran out of guys to get outs. IC has only used three pitchers thus far in the regional. Keystone has had to go deeper into their staff

Anything can happen, of course. But the Bombers are basically where you want to be. Needing just 1 win with a relatively rested staff

already 6-0 good guys, bottom 2. Keystone has left its starter in there to get splattered. Not sure what they have in the pen.

[Caz Bombers]

UPDATE: Keystone, in fact, had absolutely nothing in the bullpen as Ithaca ended up demolishing them 17-2.

I wonder if the Ithaca - Catholic super regional will be in DC or at the friendly confines of Freeman Field.

[BomberJeff]

Both were respective 3 seeds in their regional, so that doesn't help.  I hate to say I suspect Ithaca simply because you try to house a baseball team in DC on Memorial Day weekend, but that is entirely possible.

[IC798891]

already 6-0 good guys, bottom 2. Keystone has left its starter in there to get splattered. Not sure what they have in the pen.

Much like Rochester in the LL Tournament, Keystone just ran out of arms.

Their starter came into the day with a 9.51 ERA in 29.1 innings. The Bombers scored 4 in the first, and at that point, Keystone's only hope was to turn it into a slugfest, but even that was a long shot. The staff just wasn't able to get outs. An error that scored two runs in the third was really the backbreaker. Made it 8-0, and IC just kept tacking on runs.

Keystone showed fight though, scoring a run in the 9th and getting a few guys on.

What an amazing run by the Bombers though. Facing elimination in the LL crossover tournament, and giving up a quick 2 runs in the top of the first, IC rallies, takes the game, pounds Union in the nightcap, and then sweeps the LL Tournament and the Regional.

It looked like it was going to be a disappointing end to the season, as Union came into the crossover series 15-16 to Ithaca's 25-11. But the Bombers saved their season, and are on to the Super Regional

[BomberJeff]

And indeed, Ithaca will be hosting the Super Regional. First game Friday, second and third (if necessary) Saturday.

[BomberJeff]

Start time for the first game between Ithaca and Catholic is now listed for 2:50 PM.

[BomberJeff]

Ithaca with the 4-0 shutout to move within a game of going to Cedar Rapids. Kyle Lambert going 8 innings and Garrett Bell coming in to seal the deal in the 9th. Big day by Buzz Shirley at the plate, providing most of the offense: 2 for 3 with a double and homer, an intentional walk, 1 RBI and touched home twice.

Big day to be a Bomber tomorrow.

[IC798891]

Ithaca with the 4-0 shutout to move within a game of going to Cedar Rapids. Kyle Lambert going 8 innings and Garrett Bell coming in to seal the deal in the 9th. Big day by Buzz Shirley at the plate, providing most of the offense: 2 for 3 with a double and homer, an intentional walk, 1 RBI and touched home twice.

Big day to be a Bomber tomorrow.

Sort of an odd game. Teams combined for 6 errors. Bombers made a mental error on the bases where a runner left early on a fly out, and was called out, turning a 2nd/3rd one out situation into a 2nd and two outs.

But Kyle Lambert picked a great day to have his most dominant outing of the season. Buzz Shirley continues to show he's one of the best hitters in the country.

I thought Catholic's best chance to win was to have Alch steal this one. But Shirley won those showdowns and the Bombers tacked on two against the bullpen.

The curious thing I noticed: Alch was pulled after just 74 pitches. He'd thrown 122 vs. Susquehanna on the 1st and 120 against Stevens on May 20. He wasn't great today, but he wasn't bad either. (Nothing wrong with struggling to get Shirley out).

Based on what we saw in the regionals and conference tournament, they'll probably go with Zaffiro and Fitzgerald tomorrow. I wonder if they decided to pull Alch early in case they need him tomorrow out of the bullpen.

[BomberJeff]

That was a rough ending.  Lose 2 games, both times not even getting back to a tie after 0-0.  Catholic just showed up today and Ithaca didn't.

Great season, showing good progress.  Hopefully there's more to come.

[stlawus]

Not sure if Rochester is in at large contention, but they just got eliminated by RIT in the LL tournament.  Same story every season come playoffs, they have the hitting but run out of pitching pretty quick.