ReMax Realty gained a measure of revenge from the 2007 George B. Kelley Federation playoffs and earned the 2008 title by edging defending champion Martin Oil in three straight games, in the best-of-five championship finals. The final nail in the coffin was a 12-9 win on Monday evening at Vets Field. Although ReMax swept Martin Oil in three straight games, it wasn’t an easy finals series by any means. ReMax won the first two games 10-9 and 5-4 and only outscored Martin Oil by a total of five runs in the three games.
Martin Oil had knocked out ReMax in the semifinals a year ago, but the Realtors outhit, out-pitched and played better defense than Martin Oil to make certain the 2008 crown was theirs.
Jeff Vaughn won his third game without a loss against Martin Oil in 2008, the other two wins 7-0 and 9-2 were played at Bellwood during the regular season. Martin Oil had the satisfaction of knocking Vaughn out of the game, but Vaughn and ReMax reliever Anthony Williams never allowed Martin Oil to come closer than one run, and each time that would happen, ReMax was able to come back with scores of their own to open up the margin a little more.
Leadoff batter Travis Hammaker was perfect for ReMax with four singles and a walk, and Williams and Vaughn, hitting in the two and three spots, each had two hits. Vaughn added four RBI, and Pat Tomassetti and Jordan Novesel each added a pair of hits and two RBI.
Martin Oil opened the game with one score. Jake Manning was safe on an error, the only miscue of the game for ReMax, stole second base and came home on a single by Chad Coho.
That would be the last time, Martin Oil would have the lead. ReMax scored in every inning, three in the first, single tallies in the second and third, three more in the fourth and two each in the fifth and sixth.
Jimmy Watters led off the top of the fourth for Martin Oil with a single, stole second and scored on a base hit by Justin Miller. Miller moved up a base on a groundout and scored on Nate Plummer’s fielder’s choice.
In the fifth, Justin Manning walked, and Jake Manning singled. Vaughn threw a wild pitch that went all the way to the backstop and Justin scored all the way from second base, and Jake ended up at third. Vaughn struckout Nate Gray and Coho, but three clutch hits and a pair of wild pitches scored three more runs. After Judd Manning scored on two wild pitches, Watters singled to drive home Jake Manning, Justin Miller got Watters home with a single, and Ian Pankoke singled to score Miller.
Finally, in the sixth, Trey Mock walked for the second time in the contest to begin the frame. Justin Manning also drew a base on balls and both came around to score on wild pitches. Gray walked but Williams, who pitched the final two and 1/3 innings struck out Coho and Watters to end the inning, and the scoring for Martin Oil.
“This was a super series, for both teams,” said Martin Oil manager Ed Davis. “It was a long hard-fought battle with the winner the one who outlasted the other. We just couldn’t get the clutch hit, the one out or the big play, and ReMax was able to. Give them credit, they were able to come back, every time we might have taken the advantage. It was so close that it could very easily have gone the other way with us winning the championship. Nothing should be taken away from the great season we had to get to the championship finals.
“Our 18-year olds, Justin Miller, Chad Coho, Justin and Jake Manning, and Alex Miller all did quite a job. They got us as far as we could possibly go. We will miss them next year-it will be hard to replace them. They have been the backbone of this team for the last two or three years, everyday starters, who have contributed in every facet of the game to get us to a championship last year, and to two finals in a row.”
ReMax Realty 12 Martin Oil 9
Martin Oil – Ju. Manning, 2b, 2-2-0; Ja. Manning, c, 4-2-2; Gray, ss, 3-0-0; C. Coho, 3b, 4-0-1; Watters, cf-rf, 4-2-2; J. Miller, rf-p, 4-2-2; A. Miller, lf, 0-0-0; , Pankoke, dh, 4-0-1; Plummer, 1b, 4-0-1; Mock, p-cf, 1-1-0; Albright, cr-p, 0-0-0; J. Coho p, 1-0-0. TOTALS 31-9-9.
ReMax Realty – Hammaker, ss, 4-3-4; Williams, 3b-p, 4-2-2; Frederick, cr, 0- 0-2; Vaughn, p-3b, 2-2-2; Gearhart, 2b, 3-0-0; Tomassetti, lf, 4-2-2; Novesel, cf, 5-1-2; Johnson, 1b, 4-1-0; Diehl, c, 3-0-1; Forcarelli, rf, 3-0-0. TOTALS 32-12-13.
Martin Oil 100 242 0 9 -9- 3.
ReMax Realty 311 322 X 12-13-1
E: Gray, C. Coho, A. Miller, Johnson.
2B: Watters, Novesel 2.
RBI: J. Miller 2, C. Coho, Watters, Pankoke, Plummer, Vaughn 4, Tomassetti 2, Hammaker, Novesel 2, Johnson.
SO: Mock 3, Albright 2, J. Miller 5, Vaughn 3, Williams 3.
BB: Mock 3, J. Coho 2, Albright 1, J. Miller 2, Vaughn 2, Williams 3.
WP: Vaughn LP: Mock
