NCLL Indians Clinch Majors Baseball Crown With Grand Slam

The Indians defeated the Tigers with a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth to win the New City Little League Majors baseball championship at Zukor Park in New City.

Coming into the game with the series tied 1-1, both teams knew that everything was on the line.  They played an exciting game, battling back and forth for the lead until the walk-off grand slam from #00 Austin Priesel in the bottom of the sixth. 

The Indians move onto the Tournament of Champions with their hard-earned NCLL Majors championship title.

Starting pitchers for the Indians and Tigers were #13 Steven Rosato and #4 Eric Lasky, respectively.  Both pitched a great game against dangerous lineups. 

The Indians scored two runs to start off the game in the bottom of the first.  The Tigers retaliated in the top of the third, after the Indians walked four to bring home a run and load the bases.  #25 Eric Lorenzo came up with a clutch two RBI single with two outs to put the Tigers in the lead.

The Tigers were unable to hold on to the lead when the Indians put the pressure on to load the bases in the bottom of the third with solid hitting.  With a full count and two outs, Lasky walked #7 Jason Trent to bring home Rosato and tie the game.  They then got out of the inning by catching a foul pop.

With the game tied and one out in the top of the fourth, #10 Noah Parks came in to relieve Rosato.  He walked one and got one out to bring up #0 Justin Rosenberg.  After stealing his way to third, #11 Scott Weiner stole home with a spectacular sliding finish on a pitch in the dirt to put the Tigers in the lead. 

Rosenberg then hit a home run over the center field wall to bring the score to 5-3.  It was then #6 Nick Sassano's turn to hit a single and bring home the final run of the inning.

With the score still 6-3 in the bottom of the fifth, the Indians fought back with a home run from Rosato over the right field wall.  #3 Joey Maraia then brought the score to 6-5 with an RBI double.  The Tigers buckled down after this to get the next two batters out and hold onto the lead.

With #00 Austin Priesel now pitching for the Indians, the Tigers extended their lead off an RBI from #15 John Michael Regan.  Priesel walked one and then struck out one to get out of the inning.

With #5 Brian Lander pitching for the Tigers in the bottom of the sixth, they had the championship in their grasp when he struck out two to start the inning.  He then ran into a bit of trouble as he walked one, allowed one hit and walked the next batter to load the bases. 

With everything on the line, Priesel came up to bat. The pressure mounting, he took one ball and one strike to start his at bat.  He then connected to hit a grand slam over the center field wall to win the game and crown the Indians NCLL Majors champions.

Both teams played an excellent championship series that couldn't have been a closer and more exciting contest.  As the Indians move on to the Tournament of Champions, the Tigers end a great season with a superb performance in the finals.  Though a heartbreaking loss for the Tigers, they can go home with their heads held high as they put up their best effort and very nearly won it all.

"They never gave up," says Indians head coach John Santana of his team. "They didn't give up until the sixth and that's when they won it."