Salem over New York (4-1):
Hero: In season 10, New York upended #1 seed Salem 3-0. In Season 11, New York upended #1 seed Salem 4-1. Finally, in season 12, Salem gets a measure of revenge, upending #1 seed New York 4-1. Salem's redemption is in large part owed to season 11's ROY Ronald Redmond. A year after opening the eyes of Ripken, Jr with 40+ homers and 140+ rbi, Redmond came back down to earth, struggling to knock out 15 long balls and 52 rbi w/ a sub .800 OPS. However, with a trip to the world series on the line, Redmond flashed the skills that made him a household name last year. Redmond hit safely in all 5 games (.421) with a homer run and 7 rbi. In game 2, Ronald drove in the game winning run in the top of the 9th to push Salem out to a 2-0 lead in the series. In game 5, Redmond's 3 run blast in the 8th, gave Salem their first lead of the game and help pave the way to a series clinching win and a chance at October Glory.
Chump: Deivi Escobar. The hall of fame hopeful, Deivi had arguably the best season of his career at the ripe age of 35. A 1.2 WHIP, 3.22 era, 18 wins vs 5 losses all look great, but history's fame is created in the postseason and Deivi came up well short in this series. Handed the ball twice in 5 games, Deivi surrendored 5 runs on 11 hits in 6 innings in game 2, and 3 runs on 6 hits over 7.1 innings in game 5. While the game 5 start was nothing to be ashamed about, on a night when New York needed him to be great, Deivi came up a third of an inning short.
Pittsburgh over Fresno (4-3)
Hero: Clyde Valent. Clyde came up big at the biggest moments each time Pittsburgh found their backs against the wall. Dispite not attempting a stolen base all season, his pressence on the base paths in game 4 caused enough distraction to allow Arthur Roberts to crush a meatball over the fences for the Pittsburgh only scoring in an important, series tying win. Several nights later, with Pittsburgh down 3-2 and facing elimination Valent cranked a walk off 2-run homer to deep RCF. One night later, Valent once again found himself at the plate with the game and series on the line. Down 1-0 entering the 7th, Pittsburgh loaded the bases with 2 outs, brining Valent to the plate. Once again Valent would crush a pitch over the RCF fence for a grand slam helping to send Pittsburgh to their first ever World Series.
Chump(s): Enrique Miro, Leon Patrick, and Jimmy Hammond. Three different times Fresno headed into the 7th inning with the lead in this series. All 3 times they'd blow a save. Hammond allowed back to back homers (a 3 run shot and a solo shot) after comming into the 8th w/ a 1 run lead. Patrick gave up 3 runs in the 9th of game #6, including Valent's walk off homer. Miro gave up Valent's granslam in the 7th of game #7. In total, this wasn't a game for either bullpen, the winning team scored late to take the game in every game of this series with the exception of Pittsburgh's 4-1 win in game #4.
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