Six says it all
Lilly Conrad captures title againBy Matt Adamiak, sports@altoonamirror.com
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During Lilly Conrad Chiroprac-tic/American Legion's first five Altoona Greater City Baseball League championships, Kip Watkins was the team's most outstanding pitcher, as well as its most consistent one.
Watkins was honored several seasons as the most valuable pitcher in the league, and pitched in at least one of the team's five deciding games in championship series.
On Thursday evening in a series-deciding third game of the best-of-five championship series against ProActive, it was the younger Watkins' turn to shine.
"It is very nice to follow in my brother's footsteps," the younger Watkins said. "I've watched him the past few seasons have all of the success he had."
Ben Watkins threw a complete-game, allowed just one run, gave up four hits, struck out three and walked just one in leading Lilly to a 5-1 win over ProActive at Vet's Field.
"He threw an awesome game," Lilly player/manager Sean Davison said. "He came out and got his curve over the plate. He was able to spot his fastball. He was in control of the game."
The victory gave Lilly a 3-0 sweep of the championship series, and its sixth consecutive title. Lilly did not have a dominant regular season like it had in past years, finishing the regular season at 16-8, which was good for a fourth-place finish in the league. The challenges Lilly faced and the obstacles it had to overcome made this championship a memorable one.
"It feels awesome," Davison said. "We had problems with consistency all season, but we were able to turn it on in the playoffs. That is an indication of just how good of a team we have."
Lilly has swept a couple of its opponents in the championship series over the previous five seasons, but this championship has to rank right up there as maybe its most impressive one. ProActive was the No. 1 seed of the playoffs, and finished with a 20-4 regular season mark. Also, Davison believes the league in general was stronger than years past.
''This was impressive, Davison said, ''The league is as good as its been over the past 10 years. Our team deserves a lot of credit.
With the six consecutive championships, Lilly has done something that it is believed that no other team has done it the history of the league. Davison thinks it will be almost impossible for another team to match Lilly's six in a row.
''It has never been done before, and it is very possible that it will never be duplicated, Davison said.
In the top of the first, Bill Colosimo hit a two-out RBI single to center to score Lucas McCoy, who was named the K.C. Smith championship series most valuable player. In the top of the third, Lilly scored three runs, courtesy of two ProActive errors, and Cliff Veverka being hit by a Brandon McNellis pitch with the bases juiced.
ProActive's offense was one again silent, and did not really even threaten to score any runs until the bottom half of the fourth. ProActive had two on with one out, but did not score. In the sixth inning, Lucas Kelleher hit a one-out single, and advanced to second on a throwing error by Veverka. Jake Hargreaves drove Kelleher home with a single to left-center. But then Watkins induced Jerrell Jackson, who was honored as the league's regular season MVP, into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
''We couldn't buy a clutch hit, ProActive player/manager Tom Smith said. ''You have to give their pitcher credit.
''ProActive had a rally going, but the double-play we turned then was just huge, Davison said. ''It pretty much ended any thoughts of them making a comeback.
In the top of the seventh, Lilly tacked on an important fifth run, thanks to a RBI single by Ryan Ickes to score his brother Brandon, who had double two batters before him.
McNellis pitched the first four innings, but was replaced by Brent Milliron in the top of the fifth. Milliron had his second strong outing in the championship series, allowing one run in three innings, giving up just two hits and not giving up a walk.
''This was Milliron's second strong game in the series, Smith said. ''He came in and kept us in the game.
Notes: Holsinger Plumbing pitcher Shane Suter won the William Schirf Most Valuable Pitcher AwardMcCoy was also given the Frank Eby Rookie of the Year AwardColosimo was the lone hitter with two hits.
LILLY (5): Matish cf 401, McCoy 3b 311, Petrowsky ss 200, B. Ickes 2b 411, Colosimo 1b 412, R. Ickes lf 411, B. Davison rf 310, Veverka c 200, Gallaher dh 301, B. Watkins p 000. Totals 29 5 7.
PROACTIVE (1): Kelleher lf 211, Hargreaves 3b 301, Jackson cf 301, Settle rf 300, Luzier 1b 301, Snyder 2b 300, McNellis p 000, Milliron p 000, Clancy dh 200, Nedimyer c 200, Barnard ss 200. Totals 23 1 4.
SCORE BY INNINGS
Lilly1030001 5 7 1
ProActive Sports0000010 1 4 3
DP Lilly 2. E McNellis, Hargreaves, Barnard, Veverka. 2b McCoy, Colosimo, B. Ickes. HBP Petrowsky 2, Davison, Veverka. RBI Colosimo, Veverka, R. Ickes. WP B. Watkins. LP McNellis. SO B. Watkins 3, McNellis 2, Milliron 1. BB B. Watkins 1, McNellis 1.
