Kinnelon D'Backs Win Minor League Baseball Title

After each winning two playoff games, the Diamondbacks faced the Mets in the 2012 Kinnelon Minor League Recreation Championship game Thursday night. The Mets came to the championship game with a 12-4 record, while the D'Backs were 10-3. Both teams brought that winning attitude onto the diamond Thursday night.

Jonah Berman took the mound for the D'Backs to start the game. The Mets put three men on base, but only scored one run before Jonah ended the upper half of the inning with his second strikeout. Neither team would score any more runs for the next four innings.

Joseph Grippo was the starting pitcher for the Mets, and had seven strikeouts over the three innings he pitched. In the bottom of the fifth, the D'Backs' Logan Buck led off with a double down the third-base line. Nicky Giantonio then grounded out, sending Logan to third base. Willy Castel then hit a single, sending Logan Buck home to tie the game.

The Mets were unable to put any runs on the board in the top of the sixth and final inning of regulation play. Going into the bottom of that inning, the D'Backs second batter Anthony Giacoio was hit by a pitch and sent to first base. The next batter, John Ramirez, was also hit by a pitch, putting runners at first and second. Giacoio thereafter stole third.

Thomas Grippo was brought in to pitch after those batters were on base, and struck out the first batter he faced. However, the next batter, Carter Lasarski, got on base with a walk, loading the bases for the D'Backs with two outs. It was the proverbial bottom of the last inning, bases loaded, two outs, tie score.

Grippo quickly got two strikes against the next batter, Louis Coppa. Grippo's third pitch was was low and outside for a ball. However,the next pitch was right down the middle, and Coppa drove the ball hard, past the pitcher and between the second baseman and second base, on the ground into the outfield, sending Giacoio home for the winning run. The final score was 2-1.

It was an exciting game all around. Both teams played masterfully, hitting, pitching and fielding better than anyone could expect. It was a true pitcher's dual.

After the game, D'Back's head coach Kevin Lasarski said "both teams should feel proud for the way the played the game." All in attendance agreed it was probably the most exciting game of the season.

This was the second championship for the D'Backs in as many years. League President Mike Airey said the D'Backs are the first repeat Minor League Champions in Kinnelon baseball history.