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World Series Game 6: Maple City makes ORWBL History, Becoming the 1st Franchise to 3-Peat
LA PORTE- In one of, if not the most intense, competitive World Series in ORWBL history, the Maple City Magic became the 1st ORWBL franchise to 3-peat as World Series Champions.
Playing against their rival New Carlisle Newts for the title for the 3rd time in 4 years and 4th overall, both teams were extra hungry to capture another Championship. Heading into this series, the Newts had won 2 of the 3 previous World Series matchups.
The Newts captured their first ORWBL Championship in 2013 against the Magic while after 7 years in the league, Maple City won their 1st title against the Newts in 2017.
New Carlisle was looking to capture a league best 4th World Series while Maple City had their eyes set on tying the Newts with 3 as well as becoming the 1st team to complete a 3-peat.
With so much on the line and so much talent and depth on both rosters, this series was filled with drama, intense moments, clutch hitting, managing strategies, comebacks, and close games.
Game 6 picked up right where the rest of the series left off as it was a back and forth battle all game long. Garrett Curless led things off for New Carlisle with a Home Run as the Newts built a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the 1st.
Maple City quickly answered back as Caleb Jonkman hit a leadoff Home Run while Shane Anderson brought in Jeremy Ratajczyk with a Home Run to tie the game at 3.
In the 2nd, the Newts tallied 1 run before Jared Jonkman tied the game at 4 with a solo shot. Anderson then put the Magic up 5-4 with his 2nd Home Run of the game.
In the 3rd, Ryan Galiher reached base which ended up leading to a sac fly. During this inning, 2018 AL MVP Caleb Jonkman appeared to suffer a serious groin injury which added even more drama to the dramatic series. Jonkman tried to walk it off but had to end up leaving the game and going to the hospital.
With the Magic's star player out, the rest of the guys had to step up or else New Carlisle would certainly take advantage of the injury. Jared Jonkman started things off with his 2nd HR of the game to put the Magic up 6-5.
One of the key players here in the postseason for the Magic was Jeremy Ratajczyk who added another Home Run to make it 7-5. Shane Anderson stayed red hot, hitting his 3rd Home Run of the game as the Magic took an 8-5 lead.
Despite a surprise return from Maple City's Wes Ellis upon his 3rd inning arrival, the Magic decided to keep the veteran pitcher Anderson on the mound while Ellis took right field.
In the top of the 4th, Ryan Galiher put one over the fence to make it 8-6. After a Matt Soos single, Garrett Curless had a chance to tie things up at 8 but hit the ball just a couple feet short as Wes Ellis made the catch at the fence to end the inning.
Ratajczyk got the Magic going in the 4th with another Home Run before Jared Jonkman belted his 3rd Homer of the game. After a Drew Luther single, Jeremy Ratajczyk hit a rare ORWBL triple. Shane Anderson then capped off a huge inning for the Magic as he hit his 4th Home Run of the game, proving that Anderson is one of the best big game players in the league.
Trailing 12-6 heading into the 5th, Ryan Galiher hit another Home Run to cut the lead to 5 but New Carlisle could not capture any more runs in the inning. Galiher, who was really stroking the ball was seen encouraging his teammates that this ballgame was far from over as they headed out into the field in the Bottom of the 5th.
Garrett Curless and the Newts defense held their ground, only giving up a solo shot to Jeremy Ratajczyk which was his 3rd of the game. At the time, who would have thought just how important that Home Run would be.
Trailing 13-7 heading into the top of the 6th, Anderson continued to dominate on the mound as he and Drew Luther had the flip game on point all game long. Anderson recorded the first 2 outs of the inning as Maple City was just 1 more out away from winning the World Series.
After Danny Hernandez, Garrett Curless, and Noah Shail singles, Zarek Finley had a chance to cut the lead to 2 with a rare ORWBL Grand Slam. Despite the intense moment, Finley stayed poised and crushed a Grand Slam to left field to make it a 13-11 game.
After starting the at bat left handed, Ryan Galiher appeared to sense a chance in the wind as he switched back to the right side where he is known for hitting his Home Runs. After a long at bat, Galiher kept New Carlisle's hopes alive, hitting a solo Home Run to cut the Magic lead to 13-12 with 2 outs.
With 2 outs, the Magic lead went from 6 to 1 as the Newts fought back like no other, showing their never quit mentality. Danny Hernandez then came to the plate looking to tie things up. At the WWBC, Hernandez hit the Game winning Home Run to help Cult West capture their 4th straight World Wiffleball Championship.
Unfortunately for the Newts, the script flipped this time around as Hernandez hit a grounder to Wes Ellis who made a tough sliding play before flipping the ball to Shane Anderson to seal the deal.
The Magic prevailed with a 13-12 Game 6 win as they became the 1st team in ORWBL history to 3-peat as ORWBL World Series Champions. This is the Magic's 3rd Championship as they are tied with the Newts for the most in ORWBL history.
After losing Caleb Jonkman in the 3rd inning due to his injury, the rest of the Magic stepped up which is exactly what they needed. ORWBL vet Shane Anderson stated after the game that he knew the rest of the guys just needed to step up and that he has pitched plenty before.
With Anderson's pitching, defense, and 4 Home Runs, it was arguably one of the greatest single game performances in World Series history as well as one of Anderson's best games in his long ORWBL career.
For the 1st time in their 3 year stretch, the Magic got to celebrate their World Series Championship at their home park in front of their home fans.
During the celebration, Maple City's Jared Jonkman was named the 2019 ORWBL World Series MVP. This series lived up to the hype and much more as 5 out of the 6 games were decided by 3 runs or less with 2 of them being 1 run games.
What a game, what a series, and what a season. That is a wrap for 2019. We will see you back in 2020 for the 14th season of ORWBL Wiffleball!
(Pictured above: 2019 ORWBL World Series Most Valuable Player: Maple City's, Jared Jonkman)
