Little League: Orioles Surging Offense Carries Them To Championship

The two teams that took the field on Wednesday night were equally matched all year long. During four regular season contests, each team won twice. This was their second meeting in the playoffs, as the Florida Marlins had handed the Baltimore Orioles a loss in the playoffs.

The Orioles won the game 9-5 in extra innings, as each team won three games, in the six games, including the playoffs. The rain-filled game was held at Signal Rock Park.

Through four innings of play, neither team had managed a run. The starting pitchers, Florida's Aaron Moody and Baltimore's Michael O'Flaherty, were both effective in shutting down the opposition's offense. O'Flaherty had a no-hitter through four innings, only surrendering two walks. Moody had seven strikeouts in the first four innings, and finished with 10 in 5 1/3 innings pitched.

"Michael O’Flaherty has been consistent for us and threw the game of his life today," Orioles coach Mike Gecawich said.

In the top of the fifth, John Cote gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead with an RBI single to left center. If they recording three outs in the bottom half, and the umpires called the game due to the heavy rain, they would advance to the championship round.

However, the Marlins refused to go down quietly. Pepper Eldred notched an RBI single to tie the game, after Tyler Hall had walked to begin the inning.

Neither team managed a run in the sixth inning, and the game would head to extra innings.

In the top of the seventh, the Orioles offense exploded, scoring eight runs. Their first run of the rally came when Marlins third baseman Greg Palumbo threw the ball over the catcher's head attempting to record an out at home.

Three more runs came in on Nolan Barry's triple to right field, extending the lead to 6-1. Their final three runs scored on wild pitches, as they led 9-1 and needed three outs to punch their ticket to the championship.

Florida mounted a rally in the bottom half, as they did not want their season to end. Caleb King and Thor Brochu eached picked up RBI singles in the inning, cutting their deficit to 9-3. Sam Cretien and Tyler Hall each grounded out, but a run scored when they were thrown out at first.

With two outs, the Orioles led 9-5 and the Marlins season was on the verge of ending. After a ground out, the Orioles were headed to the championship where they will face the top seeded Cardinals on Friday night.

"It was a wonderful victory and I am proud of my boys," Gecawich added, "Defense wins ball games and it’s what starts our rallies."