The Braves came out firing on all cylinders in the opening game of the minis with a resounding victory over the Grasshoppers, but the team’s path to the big boy playoffs was blocked off by the Royals who walked off the Braves in game 2 to abruptly put an end to their season.

 

Minis game 1:

 

Banta’s Grasshoppers 5 @ Brumley’s Braves 22

 

The Braves ended this one quickly by scoring 8, 6, and 8 runs respectively over 3 innings while playing solid defense.  Every player on the team pitched in by contributing at least one run and/or RBI.

 

Aaron Holmes (sub): 3 for 3, 2B, 3 R

Zach San Roman: 3 for 3, 3 R

Matt Brumley: 1 for 2, 2B, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI

Tim Kaminski: 2 for 3, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI

Kevin Knox: 2 for 3, 2 R, 2 RBI

Doug Kramer: 3 for 3, 3 R, 2 RBI

Karlos Rodriguez: 1 for 2, BB, 2 R

Omar Gonzalez: 3 for 3, 3 R, 2 RBI

Gustavo Chirinos: 2 for 3, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI

Dustin Madlock: 3 for 3, 4 RBI

 

Minis game 2:

 

Brumley’s Braves 16 @ Lachman’s Royals 17

 

The Braves quickly found themselves down 11-2 after 2 innings but showed resiliency by scratching and clawing their way back to make this one a thriller against a Royals team littered with solid subs.  A Tim Kaminskigrand slam chopped the Royals lead in the 3rdbefore Matt Brumleyand Kaminskihit back to back HRs then Karlos Rodriguezhit a loud 2 run HR off the scoreboard to make it a ballgame in the 5th.  The Braves turned over the lineup in the 6thwith consecutive hits from Dustin Madlock, Jerry Rogers, and Tony Loweryand eventually took the lead on a 2 run double from Kaminski, but narrowly missed a chance at a potentially even bigger inning.  The Royals took the lead back by 1, but the Braves limited the damage and gave themselves a chance going into the final inning.  After a leadoff single in the top of the 7th by Doug Kramer, Madlockcame up huge for the team again with a clutch 2 strike, 2 out RBI base hit to tie up the ballgame. Despite the Braves’ efforts, the Royals pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the 7thfor the walkoff victory.

 

Aaron Holmes (sub): 2 for 2, 2 BB, 3 R

Zach San Roman: 2 for 4, 2 R

Matt Brumley: 2 for 3, HR, 2B, BB, 3 R, 3 RBI

Tim Kaminski: 4 for 4, 2 HR, 2B, 2 R, 8 RBI

Kevin Knox: 3 for 4, R

Karlos Rodriguez: 1 for 3, HR, BB, R, 2 RBI

Gustavo Chirinos: 2 for 4, 2B

Dustin Madlock: 2 for 3, R, RBI (including game tying RBI hit with team down to last out)

 

Minis POW: Dustin Madlock – 5 for 6, R, 5 RBI (kept team alive in elimination game with game tying single)

Minis ROW: Tim Kaminski – 6 for 7, 3 HR, 2B, 4 R, 12 RBI

 

The Braves encountered plenty of adversity this season but fought hard until the end.  I could not be more proud of my guys hanging in there and finishing strong.  After a rough 3-12 start to the season, it would have been easy for the team to lose focus, but instead the team jelled and played for each other with a common purpose.  We fell short in reaching our ultimate goal, but we showed the league what we were made of and had a fun time making things interesting.

 

Good luck to all teams remaining in the playoffs!