KLL crowns Marlins champs

The Marlins edged the Cardinals 8-7 in the third and deciding game of the Kingsbridge Little League Minor Division championship series at Cooney Grauer Field on June 23. 

The Cards started the scoring with 2 runs in the top half of the first inning. Brandon Fernandez, who reached on a hit earlier in the inning, scored on a wild pitch. Brad Rowe caught the Marlins sleeping and scored from third when the ball was lobbed back to the pitcher.

After a scoreless first inning the Marlins were looking to get on board at the start of the second inning. They scored 5 runs on several walks and some defensive blunders by the Cards.

After two hitters walked, Bryan Hullica brought them in with a triple to left. He later scored by stealing home. 

Cards’ pitcher Alec Ducasse struck out the next hitter, but then Marlin Brently Nivar walked. Nivar scored on a single by Michael Franco and Lucas Feliz scored the final run of the inning on an error. 

The Marlins’ big inning quieted the Cardinals’ dugout, but coach Carlos Correa encouraged his team to keep fighting.

Coach Correa’s speech proved to be the spark the Cards needed as they struck back for 2 runs. 

Rowe doubled to left and brought in Fernandez. Rowe later scored on a bases loaded walk.

In the bottom half of the inning, Hullica’s solid hitting continued as he knocked in another run to make the score 6-4 Marlins after three innings. 

But the Cards tied it all up in the fourth inning with a big hit by Fernandez that brought in 2 runs.

The Cards scored another run in the fifth on a error, bringing in Rowe, to give the team a 7-6 lead after five.

A pitching change for the Cards earlier in the game helped slow down the hitting by the Marlins, as the Cards had a pair of 1-2-3 innings leading up to the sixth inning. They seemed to be in a good position heading into the final inning.

After Riollano flew out to begin the inning, Marlins fans and players were getting anxious, but Hullica came through in the clutch with a single to get their first runner on base. Miguel Garcia was then hit by a pitch, which put the winning run on base.