Severn vs. Kentucky - MWBL World Series
(Played live via logmein on 10/09/09)

TWO LONG TIME MANAGERS HOOK UP IN THE 2009 MWBL WORLD SERIES, ONE COMES OUT WITH A FOUR GAME TO TWO WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP.

Game 1
SEV 4 7 1
KEN 5 8 0
W: Balfour (1-0)
L: Broxton (0-1)
Sv: none
HR: Ludwick (1), Choo (1), Rollins (1), D. Lee (1)
In the opening game of the 2009 MWBL World Series, Ryan Ludwick takes Derek Lowe deep in the top of the 3rd inning scoring 3 runs. Brandon Webb was flawless through 4 innings, until Jimmy Rollins takes him deep. After 5 innings, Severn leads 3-1. In the bottom of the 6th, Kentucky finally gets to Webb. Bradley hits an RBI double, followed by a two-run homer by Choo. Kentucky now leads 4-3, and it stays this way until the top of the 9th. With two outs, Clint Barmes hits an infield single off of Russ Springer. The Head Hunters bring in closer Grant Balfour, and Severn brings in Ryan Spilborghs who promptly triples to score Barmes. The Express tie the game at 4-4. Jonathan Broxton starts the 9th for Severn, and Derrek Lee hits a walk-off home run to win the game! Kentucky is up 1-0 in the series.

Game 2
SEV 3 7 0
KEN 4 10 1
W: Springer (1-0)
L: R. Ramirez (0-1)
Sv: Balfour (1)
HR: Holliday (1), Ludwick (2), DeRosa (1), Rollins (2), D. Lee (2)
Tim Hudson, the first pick of the 2000 MWBL draft (taken by Kentucky), starts for Severn against AJ Burnett. Severn Express again takes a 3-0 lead, by scoring 1 run in three of the first four innings. Jimmy Rollins hits a two-run homer in the bottom of the 4th, followed by a solo shot by Derrek Lee. Tie ball game at 3-3. It stays that way until Mark DeRosa hits a solo homerun off of Ramirez in the bottom of the 8th. Joe Nelson and Balfour pitch a scoreless 9th for Kentucky. The Head Hunters are up 2-0 in the series, both wins coming from behind after 3-0 leads from Severn.

Game 3
KEN 3 7 0
SEV 4 7 1
W: M. Rivera (1-0)
L: Balfour (1-1)
Sv: none
HR: M. Cabrera 2 (1, 2)

The series shifts to Severn for game 3. With the DH in effect, Miggy Cabrera starts his first game of the series for the Express. Kentucky takes a 3-1 lead in the 7th inning off of a two-run Ichiro double. Miggy Cabrera goes deep in the bottom of the 7th to pull within 3-2. The bottom of the 9th follows the same pattern as Game 1, with Russ Springer allowing a base runner. Then, with 0 outs and Grant Balfour in to pitch, Cabrera hits a two-run bomb for the walk-off win. It’s the second walk-off homer of the series and all three games feature come from behind wins. Balfour has a win, a loss, a save and two blown saves in just 3 games. Kentucky still leads 2-1 in the series.

Game 4
KEN 1 2 1
SEV 2 6 0
W: Webb (1-0)
L: Lowe (0-1)
Sv: M. Rivera (1)
HR: A. Rodriguez (1)
With Justin Morneau on base in the bottom of the first, Alex Rodriguez goes deep off of Kentucky starter Derek Lowe. Severn takes a 2-0 lead that they would not relinquish – the first lead to hold up in the series. Kentucky only manages two hits off of Severn, and one run. Brandon Webb pitches 7 strong innings and the Severn bullpen does its job. Severn ties the series at 2-2.


Game 5
KE N 4 8 0
SEV 0 2 1
W: Burnett (1-0)
L: Litsch (0-1)
Sv: none
HR: Bradley (1), H. Matsui (1)

A true pitcher’s duel, with the game tied 0-0 after 6 innings. Milton Bradley hits a three-run homer off of Jonathan Broxton (two of those runs belong to Litsch). Kentucky’s Matsui hits a solo homer in the 8th, to take a 4-0 lead. Burnett was brilliant in 6.2 innings, giving up one hit and striking out 11 Severn batters. Kentucky takes a 3-2 lead.

Game 6
SEV 3 6 1
KEN 4 10 0
W: Nelson (1-0)
L: Hudson (0-1)
Sv: Springer (1)
HR: M. Cabrera (3), A. Rodriquez (2), Glaus (1), Posada (1)
Former Head Hunter Tim Hudson surrenders a first inning run, Kentucky is up 1-0. Severn evens it at 1-1 after a McCann RBI double in the 4th. After pitching the last out of the 5th inning, Micah Owings leads off the inning with a single. Kentucky loads the bases, and pinch runner Kaz Matsui scores on a sacrifice fly by Mark DeRosa. Kentucky now leads 2-1 after 5 innings. Severn will not go quietly, and takes a 3-2 lead in the next inning thanks to solo homers by Miggy Cabrera and Alex Rodriguez. Both teams continue to come from behind throughout the series. In the bottom of the same inning, Troy Glaus ties the game 3-3 with a solo home run. And then Tim Hudson faces former teammate and pinch hitter Jorge Posada. The long-time Head Hunter, Posada hits a pinch hit solo homer for a 4-3 Kentucky lead. The 6th inning has two lead changes, and four solo home runs. Five Kentucky pitchers get the final 9 outs and the Head Hunters win the 2009 MWBL World Series 4-2 over the Severn Express.

2009 WORLD SERIES MVP
A.J. Burnett

AJ Burnett, 2 games started (1-0), with 13.1 innings pitched and only 7 hits & 2 walks, and 14 strike outs. Burnett won the game 5 shutout, and pitched such quality innings that Kentucky could aggressively use the bullpen throughout the series.