Vienna Senators win 2007 Jacobs Cup with 6-2 victory over Fairfax Nationals

Coach Harry Marshall “Jake” Jacobs would have been proud.

The Fairfax Nationals and the Vienna Senators played a close and competitive contest in the championship game of the inaugural Jacobs Cup post-season tournament. Both teams played with the passion and competitive spirit that Coach Jacobs was known for when he was a coach at Bishop Denis O’Connell High School and the Clark Griffith League. Though he passed away several years ago, his memory and legacy will be a strong part of Clark Griffith League and Washington, D.C. baseball lore, and the Clark Griffith League is proud to honor Coach Jacobs by naming its annual post-season tournament after him. Congressman Tom Davis was on hand to throw out the first ball to open the game.

Before coming to Denis O’Connell High School, Jacobs coached at St. John’s College High School in the 1960s. Jacobs first started managing the baseball team at Denis O’Connell High School in 1978. In fact, the baseball field at O’Connell High is now named after him. The field was dedicated on May 11, 1991. One of his key abilities as a coach was recognizing fundamentals and helping athletes learn them. One of his favorite teaching tools was telling anecdotes of past players. His passion for the game made him very competitive and willing to fight for the win in every game. Players remember him for his hustle out to the coach’s box on the field and for encouraging them to play with fire. Jacob’s longstanding work with baseball at every level of play from sandlot ball to national summer collegiate baseball tournaments has allowed him to touch the lives and careers of countless baseball players. Before he passed away in 2003, he was inducted into the All-American Amateur Baseball Association Hall of Fame for his work with baseball.

Game summaries and boxscores for each game of the tournament follow below.

Semi-Final Round (Friday July 27, 2007 at 4:00pm)

Game 1: Nationals over Grays; 9-7 (at Paul VI Catholic HS)

After squandering a 4-0 lead, the Nationals rebounded to defeat the Grays by a final score of 9-7.

After three scoreless innings, the Nationals drew first blood in their half of the fourth. Third baseman Alex Gregory walked after catcher Ty Boyles had reached on an error, and designated hitter Rob Lamas slugged a 3-run homer to left center. The Nationals then added another run to take a 4-0 lead.

With two outs in the top of the fifth, an error opened the floodgates for the Grays. After being held hitless by Nationals starter Gabe Rios up to that point, the Grays exploded for 7 runs. First baseman Dean Johnson doubled down the right field line to score shortstop Jacob Tomb with the first Grays run of the day. Two walks, a hit batter, and a single produced 2 more runs, and Jack Zeltner came on to face left fielder John Barrett. Barrett greeted Zeltner with a grand slam homerun into the left field stands, capping the 7 run inning.

The Nationals bounced right back with three more runs in their half of the inning to tie the game at 7 each after 5 complete, and took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth. Third baseman Alex Gregory opened the inning with a sharp single to left field. Right fielder Zach Costello replaced Gregory at first base via a fielder's choice, then stole second and moved to third as the throw went into center field. Rob Lamas then hit his second sacrifice fly of the day to score Costello, giving the Nationals designated hitter 5 RBI for the day. The Nats added one more in the seventh to complete the scoring and claim a 9-7 victory.

After Barrett's grand slam, Jack Zeltner pitched 3.1 scoreless innings to earn the win for the Nationals. Nick Schreiber, the league's saves leader with 11, came on to nail down the win.

Second baseman Matt Rizzuto and shortstop Eric Skinner had multi-hit games for the Nationals. Rizzuto went 3-for-4 and Skinner was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI and a stolen base, to join Lamas (HR-5 RBI) as the offensive standouts for Nats. For the Grays, Juan Majica went 2-for-4 with an RBI to join with Barrett (HR-4 RBI) as top offensive performers for the Grays.

Click below for box score and complete play by play.

Box Score & Play by Play for Game 1 - Nationals over Grays; 9-7

Game 2: Senators over Blue Caps; 11-1 (at Waters Field)

Scoring in each of the 1st three innings, including a 5 spot in the 3rd, the Vienna Senators jumped to an early 9-1 lead over the the Bethesda Blue Caps, and finished the game with an 11-1 victory. Senators starting pitcher Billy Tinsley threw six strong innings, striking out eight to earn the win. Bryce Mendonca, Steven Gauthe & Drew Allain each had 2 hits for the Seantors, and Mendonca also had a 3 RBI on a bases clearing double in the third inning. Will Cooper went 2-for-3 for the Blue caps, with Kyle Kretchmer (Senators) Max Eckert (Blue Caps) hitting solo home runs.

In the bottom of the third inning, a major rain storm swept through the Vienna area and the game was held up for more than an hour because of a rain delay. The game was called by mutual agreement after the top of the seventh so that the Jacobs Cup Championship game could begin promptly at 8:30 pm.

Click below for box score and complete play by play.

Box Score & Play by Play for Game 2 - Senators over Blue Caps; 11-1

Championship Game (Friday July 27, 2007 at Waters Field - 8:30 pm)

Senators over Nationals; 6-2

Entering the bottom of the eighth down 2-1, the league champion Senators rallied for five runs to win by a final score of 6-2. Mason Griffin, last season’s league Most Outstanding Pitcher relieved John Zorich in the seventh and picked up the win after shutting down Fairfax the rest of the way. The Nationals Grant Dayton had a strong start, working six innings and striking out six before leaving with a 2-1 lead.

The Nationals struck first in the second inning when center felder Will Naylor hit an RBI single to score catcher Robert Lamas. The Senators responded in the bottom of the second as catcher Cody Lassley scored the first Vienna run on an RBI single by rigt fielder Drew Allain to tie the game, 1-1. Nationals pulled ahead with two out in the sixth as first baseman Curtis Eward beat out an infield hit to score left fielder Zach Costello from third, who had opened the inning with a line single to left center.

The Senators five-run rally in the eighth sealed the victory for Vienna. With one out, third baseman Nick Wheeler singled to right to score feft fielder Bryce Mendonca who had opened the inning with a bunt-single, and moved into scoing position on second baseman Matt Gaski's sacrifice bunt. The Nationals brought on Jason Kennell, and began a series of mistakes that proved to be their undoing. Kennell caught Wheeler off 1st base, but the Vienna third baseman beat the throw to 2nd base for a steal, and then went to third on a wild pitch. Following two intentional walks, Nick Schreiber came on to pitch for the Nationals. Two infield errors, a walk and a balk led to 4 more Senators runs without another base hit. The Senators then sealed the win with solid pitching and defense in the top of the ninth.

Will Naylor, Curtis Eward, Eric Skinner all had multi-hit games for the Nationals. Naylor went 3-for-4 and Eward was 2-for-4. Each drove in 1 run, while Skinnner was 2-for-5. For the Senators, Nick Wheeler went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Drew Allain had 2 RBI on a 1-for-2 performance.

Click below for box score and complete play by play.

Box Score & Play by Play for Championship Game - Senators over Nationals; 6-2