2008 Milwaukee Baseball League Championship

The 2008 MBL Championship Game featured #1 seeded perennial powerhouse Johnny V's versus upstart expansion team and #6 seed PJ's Tigers.  Johnny V's featuring multiple Greenfield High School Varsity alum would have to play without ace starter Mike Gramarosa on the hill, who pitched the semi-final the day before.  PJ's, helped by several Ripon College alum players, did start their Saturday pitcher, Andy Monigal on 18 hours rest.  

In the top of the first inning for PJ's, Jason Maaske drew a two out walk to extend the inning.  Cory McEwen then followed by crushing a shot off of Johnny V's starter Dan Goral into a Zablocki Golf Course fairway well beyond the right field fence at Harden Field to give PJ's the quick 2-0 lead.  The scored remained 2-0 until the top of the third, when PJ's exploded for eight runs, chasing V's starter Goral and relief pitcher Steve Murphy during the inning. Cory McEwen's single with two on, brought in Eric Cluppert to start the scoring. Scott Rappl then followed with a hit to drive in another, making it 4-0.  Matt duranso then walked with still only one out loading the bases for manager Steve Rappl. On the first pitch, Rappl lined a double down the left field line driving in two runs and beginning to break the game open. Victor Helin then followed with a double also driving in two.  Finally, Cluppert singled into left field scoring Helin and Andy Monigal to make it 10-0.

...Johnny V's would not go down without a fight as Eric Lubarsky hit a 2 RBI double to the left center field gap making the score 10-2 after 4 Innings.  V's relief pitcher Rob Weist kept the game within shouting range by pitching 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.  Johnny V's would finally score 2 more runs in the 7th Inning off of another Eric Lubarsky RBI hit.  However, V's could not muster enough offense after the huge PJ's third to save losing pitcher Daniel Goral who gave up 6 earned runs in 2 Innings.   Dan Marx had 3 hits along with a RBI single as Johnny V's never gave up. 

PJ's starting pitcher Andy Monigal did his best Bob Gibson / Iron Man Joe McGinnity impersonations going  the distance again to get the win. In pitching 7 Innings for the second straight day, Monigal only gave up 3 earned runs while striking out 7 batters.  On the weekend Monigal threw all 14 Innings for the Tigers going 2-0 on the mound to improve his pitching record to 7-1 overall on the season, while beating the #1 & #2 seeds of the MBL Tournament.  The performance was enough to easily earn him Playoff Most Valuable Pitcher and to get by Cory McEwen and Eric Cluppert for Playoff Most Valuable Player.

The Tigers defense was fantastic while turning double plays & not committing any errors in support of Monigal.  At one point mid game, with runners on first and second, PJ's third baseman Matt Duranso made a great grab, got to third and wheeled a throw to first where Cory McEwen made one of his several stretches taking a step away from the runner to finish the double play and squash Johnny V's hope of a big inning.  In the sixth, PJ's shortstop Eric Cluppert got to a ball which is normally a hit in the hole, and picked it while sliding to his knees to make a back handed grab and then threw the batter out when Cory McEwen made another long stretch and grab. 

PJ's Tigers take the 2008 MBL Championship beating Johnny V's 10-4 .  PJ's Tigers finished the season with a 15-7 overall record and on a 7 game winning streak getting hot at the right time. This was a great team win for the hardworking Tigers who regularly could be found on the practice field or in batting cages on their way to the 2008 MBL Championship. Team Members for the 2008 PJ's Tigers include: Andy Monigal, Cory McEwen, Eric Cluppert, Jason Maaske, Scott Rappl, Manager/Player Steve Rappl, Vic Helin, Matt Duranso, Ricky Pease, Kevin Tapper, Joe Gottardo, Corey Sumner, Nick Lagermaier & Steven DaPonte.

The MBL will be showing the Championship game on a big screen at Long Wongs at our Awards Banquet on November 2 at Long Wongs at 5pm.  Please come.  $10 for food and beer until 9pm.

Semi-finals
Johnny V's 9 Club Paragon 0
Johnny V's beat Club Pargon 9-0 behind the solid pitching of Mike Gramarossa. Gramarossa took a no-hitter into the 7th and settled with a 2-hit complete game shutout, striking out five.  An 8-run 3rd inning opened up a close game for V's. Dan Marx had 3 hits and Jeff Kustermann and Tony Jones each had 2 hits. Eric Lubarsky and Dan Marx had 2 RBI's.  Johnny V's returns to the Championship game to try to lay claim to a title they have had a couple near misses at in recent years.

PJ's Tigers 5 Allstar Sportswear 4
Andy Monigal set the stage on the first at bat of the day, taking a 3-2 pitch over the wall in the left field alley giving PJ's a lead they would never give up.  PJ's eventually got out to a 5-1 lead, but Allstar Sportswear would not go quietly as they defended their 2006 and 2007 back to back titles.  Allstar rallied in the sixth to pull to within 5-4, but could not get over the hump and take the lead.  Andy Monigal got the win going seven strong innings.  PJ's Tigers in their first year in the league advance to the Championship Sunday at Harden Field to play perennial powerhouse Johnny V's.

Quarterfinals
Allstar Sportswear 9 Long Wongs 4
Tony Landgraf placed his fastballs well while mixing in a handful of offspeed pitches to keep the Long Wongs' hitters off balance to get the complete game victory.  Long Wongs did draw first blood however scoring three runs in the first.  John Kuhn put runners at the corners hitting a hard grounder to right when Joe Brand who had singled went on the hit and run.  Greg Ketz continued his hot hitting driving in Brand with a hard single, and was followed by veteran Tom Mortonson's double to center driving in two.  The entire Allstar line-up contributed, keying rallies in the first and fifth to account for seven of their runs.  In the first, Rich Galewski's walk on a pitch Long Wongs battery thought was a third strike, put runners on first and second with one out, which set up Sam Schaus' first RBI hit of the day.   Allstar Sportswear catcher / manager Matt Mundt walked, and was followed by a Greg Zedonis single to drive in two runs.  Mundt ultimately scored on an extremely close play at the plate on a passed ball.  In the fifth Allstar Sportswear put the game away with a three run rally when Schaus led off with a single.  Zedonis and Mundt followed with doubles to drive in runs, and Mundt later scored on a double steal with runners on the corners.  For Long Wongs, Joe Brand, Tom Mortonson and Evan Paydon had two hits apiece.  For Allstar Sportswear, Sam Schaus had three hits, Brian Curran and Greg Zedonis two hits, and Rich Galewski and Matt Mundt got on three times each with a hit and two walks.  Allstar Sportswear moves on to the Semi-Finals in their quest to "Threepeat" playing Saturday August 23rd at 2:30 at Harden Field in the Semi-finals.

PJ's Tigers 17 Steakout 8

PJ's Tigers never looked back in this game as they took the lead in the 1st Inning on Cory McEwen RBI triple scoring Andy Monigal after he had a lead off double to start the game. PJ's scored another run in the 2nd Inning to make it 2-0 in favor of the Tigers. In the 3rd Inning PJ's blew the game wide open scoring 7 runs to make the score 9-1. In the 5th Inning the Tigers tallied 5 more runs making it 14-4. Winning Pitcher Ricky Pease worked a solid 4 Innings while giving up 3 earned runs. Pease improved his overall pitching record to 6-0 overall on the season now. Andy Monigal came in & received a 3 Inning Save for the Tigers. Losing pitcher for Steakout was Chad Torn.  Leading the way batting for the Tigers 13 hit attack was Andy Monigal going 3-5 with a double, 2 Stolen Bases, 3 Runs Scored & 2 RBI.  Also helping out hitting was Vic Helin who was 2-2 with 1 RBI, 2 Runs Scored & 1 BB, Steve Rappl who was 2-5 with 2 Runs Scored, 1 double & 1 RBI. Pease went 2-3 with 1 Run Scored & 1 RBI to support his cause, Cory McEwen was 1-3 with 1 triple, 2 BB, 2 RBI & 2 Runs Scored. Jason Maaske was 2-4 with 2 Runs Scored & 1 RBI, Kevin Tapper was 1-2 with 1 double & 1 RBI. This victory sets up a battle in the semi-finals vs. 2006 & 2007 defending MBL Champions All-Star Sportswear (11-4 overall record) on August 23rd @ 2:30 PM @ Harden Field with the winner advancing to the Championship game. PJ's Tigers improved to a 13-7 overall record on the season & are currently on a 5 game winning streak.

Johnny V's 9 Jimmy B's 5

Johnny V's scored 7 runs in the 1st inning and held on to beat Jimmy B's 9-5. Jimmy B's battled back and stranded runners on base every inning except for 1. The game ended with the tying run at the plate. Mike Gramarossa pitched the complete game by scattering 15 hits while giving up 4 earned runs. Tony and Eric Lubarsky and Tony Jones each had 2 hits while Jones and Rob Weist had 2 RBI's. Dallas Hacker (best playoff name so far) had 3 hits for Jimmy B's.  Johnny V's plays in the Semi-finals on Saturday, August 23rd at 5:30pm at Harden Field.

Long Wongs 4 Varsity Club 3
Mike Schroeder pitched the complete game victory giving up only six hits while striking out five.  Entering the bottom of the seventh tied, Adam Graves led off for Long Wongs by getting on base for the fourth time of the day.  Pinch runner Jon Wade then took second on a third strike passed ball.  Greg Ketz got the walk off single lining one to right center to score Wade.

Town and Lake Realty Braves 13 Leff's 5
Both teams fought hard for the win, but in the end the Braves were just too much for Leff's. It was 5-5 in the 5th inning when the Braves took a 8-5 lead and then added 5 more in the 6th. Paul Mallas started and gave way to the eventual winning pitcher Nick Voltner. The Braves move on in the playoffs to play Club Paragon on Sunday. Earlier this year these 2 teams had a battle, it should be a good one Sunday.

PJ's Pub 5 O'Brien's 4