Aug 18, 2009 4 min read

REPUBLIC – Just seconds after Corey Sawka made the final putout in Mario’s 10-5 victory over Blue Mountain to win the FCBLchampionship, manager Lou Pasquale joined his team in celebration. Standing next to the Mike Susa Trophy Championship and drenched with water, Pasquale said what the title meant about his team as they defeated the Copperheads in a rematch of last year’s championship series. “There are newspapers and coaches who say there are teams who play the right way in baseball,” said Pasquale. “We play the right way. We play to win whether through hitting or stealing bases. Make no mistake about it, we played hard for this title.”

Going into the bottom of the fourth inning down 4-2, Mario’s slammed by the Copperheads’ pitching in scoring seven runs.

Blue Mountain’s Derek Fritz walked Zach Patterson and beaned Sawka to start the inning with the runners advancing one base on a wild pitch.

Perry Cunningham relieved Fritz as the Copperheads’ third pitcher of the game.

An error resulted in Patterson scoring and batter Jason Greene advancing to first base.

Jeff Lapkowicz connected on his first pitch for a double to score Sawka and tie the game at four.

Stephan Hermann’s double drove in Greene to give Mario’s a 5-4 lead.

Jared Lapkowicz scored his brother Jeff with a single and both he and Hermann scored as Hermann’s brother, Mike, doubled for an 8-4 Mario’s lead.

Scott Vansickle drew a walk and later scored on Sawka’s sacrifice fly for a 9-4 advantage.

Mario’s tacked on a final run in the bottom of the sixth with Drew Denham ‘s RBI single driving in Vansickle.

Mario’s scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning when Chad Rice was hit by an Addison Scherich pitch. Rice scored on Jeff Lapkowicz’s RBI double, who was knocked in by Stephan Hermann’s RBI single.

The Copperheads rallied to tie the game at two in the top of the second inning with Jeff Thompson reaching first on an error and pinch runner Aaron Thompson scoring on Gasti’s double.

Cy Mozingo scored on Gasti’s RBI single off Joby Lapkowicz.

In the top of the fourth, Jeff Thompson smacked a Lapkowicz pitch for a single, while Gasti was hit by a pitch.

Ryan Group was walked next to load the bases with George Taylor hitting a double to score pinch runner Aaron Thompson and Gasti scored on an errant throw that went past third base to the dugout fence to give the Copperheads a 4-2 lead.

The Copperheads picked up a run in the top of the seventh with Gene Franks hitting a home run.

Joby Lapkowicz secured the win with five hits, five strikeouts and three walks, while Cunningham suffered the loss for the Copperheads.

After the game, Jeff and Joby Lapkowicz were presented with the Tom Croftcheck Trophy for series MVP.

Meanwhile, manager Richard Krause received the Bob Nichols Trophy for runner-up in a series his team once trailed 3-1.

“Since 1998, we have been in the championship and went 6-2,” said Krause. “I’m very proud of this team. We just ran out of gas and hit a brick wall in the fourth inning. No one gave us much of a chance coming in and we played hard through nine nights. Right now, we are just looking forward to next year.”

Commissioner Dan Kupets said the title series going to seven games was what any fan of baseball would hope for.

“When you have a series going to seven games it’s what you would like to see,” said Kupets. “A lot of guys don’t get to experience a championship series going to seven games and for them and the fans I think it’s exciting when that happens and great for the league.”