The Webster Warthogs closed out 10 years of playing together with a dramatic five-run seventh inning to edge the Irondequoit Bay Bombers, 8-7, and claim the Babe Ruth Senior League championship on Saturday afternoon at Webster Thomas High School.
Kevin Johnson pitched the Hogs to a 10-0, six-inning, mercy rule victory in the first game of the double-elimination tournament in a must-win situation. He struck out eight over five innings as Alex Beyea closed out the game in the bottom of the sixth.
Johnson then came back in the second game and threw three more innings with the Hogs trailing 6-3. He gave up one run, but then shut down the Bombers as he again fanned eight over the final three frames.
"My arm is going to hurt tomorrow," Johnson said with a smile. "It feels good, another win playing with these guys. It's my last year playing with these guys, so felt good to get a last win."
Irondequoit starter Hector Mitaynes was pitching a strong game entering the bottom of the seventh, after coming on in relief in the first contest as he threw the final 2 2/3 innings.
Mitaynes had a five-hitter going before the error, walk, and two-run double by Beyea chased him from the mound for coach Mike D'Augustino, who directed the Bombers over the Hogs a year ago in the identical situation.
D'Augustino originally planned to retire from coaching, since he had been doing it since 1991, but his core players wanted him back for this season, so he relented as they found themselves playing for the championship once again.
"The players came over to my house and talked me into it," the coach said. "I really planned to retire from coaching last year, but they wanted me back."
It appeared the Bombers were going to repeat last year's performance when they lost the first game, but then won the deciding contest to claim the title.
However, an error and walk put runners Greg Koopman and Mike Paratore, respectively, on first and second for Webster. Beyea delivered a two-run double to left that energized the Warthogs bench.
With one out, Chris Johnson drew a walk and Dave Foos found a hole through the right side of the infield to score Beyea. Kevin Johnson lofted a sacrifice fly to left to plate Chris Johnson with the tying run.
"I was just trying to get the bat on the ball and get it to the outfield to score him," Kevin Johnson said. "Then Chris Doyle came through with the winning hit, so it worked out."
Doyle slapped a hit down the line past a diving Irondequoit first baseman Casey Stackwick to score Foos with the game-winning run -- and then the celebration began.
"It felt great when I first hit it," Doyle said. "I wasn't quite sure it was going to happen because I hit it off the end of the bat. I think I hit it hard enough for the run to score from second."
The Hogs were in control in game one as they tallied two in the first, and added three in the third, two on a clutch single by Stephen Muoio.
Webster took advantage of three Bomber miscues in the fourth for four more runs. Paratore's RBI single scored Steve DiNicola with the 10th run in the top of the sixth.
"We felt great the first game because our team was just smashing the ball," Doyle said. "But our attitudes kind of fell in the second game as we were a little too cocky.
"By the end we got our spirits back up. We started being loud in the dugout again like we usually are."
The Bombers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first in the championship game on a three-run homer by Rick Lair off Paratore. The visitors tacked on two runs in the second before Beyea took over on the mound in the third for the Hogs.
"We tried starting Mike on one-day's rest because his pitch count was low in Thursday's win," said Warthogs head coach Brian Johnson, "but he just didn't quite have it."
The Hogs got on the scoreboard in the second on a leadoff homer by Doyle.
The Bombers added solo runs in the fourth and sixth innings.
In the home fourth, a leadoff double by Foos and a bunt single by Kevin Johnson put two runners on base. Doyle lofted a sacrifice fly, and DiNicola double home Johnson.
That set up the dramatic final frame.
"I had my doubts when we went out there for the seventh," Coach Johnson said. "We were in the bottom half of our order, but the kids never gave up. This probably was the best comeback I've been a part of.
"I've been coaching a lot of these kids since they were nine years old. For a lot of them it's their last year. I really wanted them to make it to the championship game this year. Just getting here was great."
The coach continued, "When we won that first game by 10-0, I thought we were in good shape, but four runs down in the bottom of the seventh I kind of had my doubts."
For the bulk of the Warthogs lineup, it marked the final time they will play together as a team.
"Most of us have been playing for 10 years together," Doyle said. "These are my best friends. I'm really happy to share this championship win with all of them."
Craig Potter can be reached at (585) 394-0770, Ext. 351, or e-mail: cpotter@messengerpostmedia.com
