City Tap House takes care of business in a 13 - 7 game one victory. Southside B scrambled to field a team of nine, with coach Sean Morgan gamely taking the mound in place of the top two starters who no-showed. Tap took an 8 - 0 lead after two with home runs by Will Brennan and Chris Boyd leading the way. Boyd's was his eighth of these playoffs, in six games, and he also struck out three on his way to a playoff pitching mark of 6 - 0. Billy Beresniewicz and Brennan led all Tap batters with four RBI each, with Beresniewicz going 4-for-4 and scoring all four times he reached. For the losing cause, Rob Lerro had a grand slam and five RBI, while Mike Mercier had four hits from the leadoff spot.

Game 2: Wednesday, September 5th @ 8:30 PM
City Tap 21 - Southside B 10

Southside B had City Tap House for a while, but Tap poured it on late and came away with a 21 - 10 win. The B Team scored nine in the fourth - the biggest output against Chris Boyd in any inning this year, by far - and overcame Tap's early 5 - 0 lead. Rob Lerro homered for three and Mark Lopez had a bases-clearing double for three more. After holding Tap to one in the fifth, keeping a 9 - 6 lead, Southside was rocked for 10 runs in the top of the sixth. The first 10 Tap hitters reached and scored. Chris Boyd had an odd home run in the inning when his solid single took a bizarre bounce in center field, allowing him to come all the way around. When you're hot, you're hot. Tap plated another five in the top of the seventh and it was over for all intents and purposes. Aside from Boyd's home run and five RBI, City Tap enjoyed a 6-for-6 from leadoff man Dave Corcoran and a 5-for-5 (and HR) from Brendan Kelly. Every batter on tap had at least one RBI and scored at least one. The final carnage included 34 hits. 2 - 0, City Tap, and they now have a chance to wrap up a championship tomorrow at 8:30.

Southside B came out strong, with longtime M Street vet Billy McDougal tripling home a run in the first and then red hot Rob Lerro (in the series, 3 HR and 10 RBI) putting one out of the park to make it 3 - 0. Will Brennan (also hot, with 2 HR and 7 RBI for the series) got two back in the bottom half when his homer scored both he and Billy Bereszniewicz, for a score of 3 - 2, Southside, after one.

Both pitchers - Chris Boyd for Tap, Jonny Brooks for Southside - put up zeroes in the second and third. In the top of the fourth, B lengthened their lead to 4 - 2 when Eddie Murphy, who had singled to lead off, hustled all the way around on a throwing error that allowed Anthony Raddatz to reach. Boyd eventually stranded Raddatz at third and then Tap went back to work with the bats. Chris Loehr led off with a double. With one out, Matt Harrison's single drove in Loehr, making it 4 - 3. Another out followed, but then Dave Corcoran singled, Billy Bereszniewicz beat out an infield hit - loading the bases - and Boyd singled in Harrison with the tying run. Corcoran also scored, on a throw, to give Tap the lead, 5 - 4, Brennan up. An error allowed Bereszniewicz to score and it was now 6 - 4, Tap, after four complete.

In the fifth, Scott Tarentino doubled to lead off for Southside B, but Boyd got a strikeout and a ground out, Tarentino to third with two out. Jonny Brooks helped his own cause, singling in Tarentino, now 6 - 5, Tap. But that was the end of the scoring for the night. Both pitchers again put up zeroes the rest of the way. Brooks was back on his game after Tap's explosive game two, but his teammates couldn't get the equalizer against Boyd.

Chris Boyd was an easy choice for MVP. While a couple of others - Will Brennan and Billy Bereszniewicz - merited consideration, Boyd had one of the best playoff runs ever seen at M Street. He won every game he pitched - which was all of Tap's games - for an 8 - 0 mark with a 4.20 ERA. In those 8 games, he had 9 home runs, 32 runs batted in, and hit an astounding .733 (OB % of .778). He fielded his position beautifully, too (in tonight's clincher, he took a line drive off his body in the third inning, with a man on and one out. Most guys would have been checking themselves for damage, but Boyd had the presence of mind to realize the ball had rebounded off him up in the air and he immediately turned to his infielders and yelled, "Somebody catch it!", which shortstop Brennan did, for one out, and then it became an easy double play with a throw back to the vacated first base.) Folks who saw this run by Boyd will compare future MVP runs to it for a long time to come.

Congratulations to City Tap House, Champions of the "B" (Feeney) Division for 2018!

Chris Boyd is a man absolutely on fire in these playoffs. Tonight he continued his machine-like hitting (2-for-2, walk, double, home run, 2 RBI) and his two-run homer in the first was all he needed for run support as he pitched a five hitter. City Tap wins game one, 4-1. Boyd now has five home runs in his last three games, all in the playoffs. Tough luck loser was Bret Handell of Backyard Betty's. His three-earned-run performance would win 19 times out of 20, but not tonight when his teammates could only muster one run (a fourth inning solo shot by Tim Stoops.)

After a Brendan Kelly three-run fifth-inning homer, City Tap held an 8 - 0 lead. Backyard Betty's finally showed some offensive life, with home runs in the sixth and seventh, but too little too late. Final score: 8-4, Tap.

There is nobody on the planet hotter than City Tap's Chris Boyd. Another two home runs tonight, one of them a grand slam, and seven RBI. Boyd is now 12-for-17 (.706, plus six walks, for an OB% of .783) in five playoff games, 7 home runs and 22 RBI. Brutal. Oh, and he's also 5-0 pitching. City Tap takes down Backyard Betty's, 18-9, and wins the series, 3-0. They will now face the winner of Handdukies vs. Southside B.

City Tap wins series 3-0

The story in this game was control - or lack of it. Southside B patiently grabbed 15 bases on balls and came from behind to beat Handdukies, 16-11, to take a 1-0 lead in the best of five semi-finals. The Dukies held a 6-1 advantage after three complete, but Southside B waited out pitcher Brian Walsh in the bottom of the fourth to walk six times. Three singles mixed in and the game was now 9-6 in favor of Southside. Walsh got through the fifth unscathed and his teammates scored four times in the top of the sixth to regain the lead, 10-9. However, a couple more walks in the bottom of the sixth, then home runs by Anthony Raddatz and Rob Lerro, helped propel Southside B back into the lead and they held on for the 16-11 final.

Handdukies even up the series with a win over Southside B. Facing a 5-0 deficit, and a possible 2-0 hole in the series, the boys from Dorchester rally to take one. The Dukies took advantage of errors in the fifth (three straight to open the inning) and score five, for an 8-5 lead. Pitcher Brian Walsh was more in control tonight, limiting Southside to 5 hits and 2 walks over the final five innings. Nice defense from the Dukies outfield; two runners cut down on throws, one at the plate. Series resumes Wednesday, at 9pm.

Game 3: Wednesday, August 29th @ 9pm
Southside B 9 - Handdukies 6

Southside B scores three times in the bottom of the sixth, breaking a 6-6 tie, and they beat Handdukies, 9-6, for a 2 games to 1 series lead. Play resumes tomorrow night at 8:30 for the possible finale.

Southside B walked around the bases tonight. Despite being outhit by the Handdukies, 20 to 10, they walked 19 times and took a 15 - 11 series-clincher. Shane Knowles and Zack Manning led with three RBI each, none of them coming on hits. Southside B will face City Tap House in the finals.

Southside B wins series 3-1

It was Citys Tap's Chris Boyd’s world and we were all just living in it. Boyd threw shutout ball for five innings, homered three times, drove in six, and… well, that’s enough. The Broadway Bombers showed some life in the top of the sixth, scoring five times (one earned against Boyd) but City Tap House scored seven in the bottom of the inning to end it on a mercy, the game-winner coming on Boyd’s third homer of the evening, a three-run shot to left.

Game 2 - Monday, August 20th @ 6:00 PM
City Tap 18 - Broadway Bombers 7

City Tap House scored 11 times in the top of the first and held serve after that for the win, 18 - 7. It was an impressive victory for the top seed - they played with just nine players all night to ten for the Broadway Bombers. Matt Harrison homered and drove in four, while Chris Boyd continued his torrid hitting in the playoffs - 3-for-3, three walks, double, home run, six RBI, and for his pitching line just three earned.

City Tap wins series 2-0

Despite holding a 4 - 2 lead when play was suspended due to rain, Locker Room Talk (LRT) forfeits game one by failing to field a team for the continuation. Will they have a team for game two? Time will tell.

Game 2 - Thursday, August 16th @ 6:00 PM
Southside B 7 - Locker Room Talk 0

Less than 24 hours later it's another forfeit as LRT is unable to field a team...in the playoffs!

Southside B wins series 2-0

The first game of the playoffs did not yet go to completion as the Handdukies and VMT played five of the slowest innings of the year. VMT led, 12 – 10, after five innings. Play was suspended for the night and the two teams will resume battle prior to their scheduled game two on Thursday. After resuming play, VMT scored 11 times in the top of the sixth to take game one against Handdukies, 23 - 10

Game 2 - Thursday, August 9th @ 9:00 PM
Handdukies 19 - VMT 5

Kevin Moran drives in four as Handdukies turns the tables on VMT with a 19 -5 rout and forces a series deciding game three.

Game 3 - Wednesday, August 15th @ 9:00 PM
VMT 7 - Handdukies 13

VMT jumped out, 4-0, in the top of the first, and held a 6-2 lead after 3-1/2. However, Handdukies outscores VMT, 11-1, the rest of the way and takes the deciding game, 13-7, becoming the first team to secure a berth in the semi-finals. Pat O'Sullivan homers, while Kevin "K-Mo" Morn doubles, triples, and drives in three.

Handdukies wins series 2-1

A pair of Larry Longo homeruns put Fat Baby up 4–0 in the top of the third. Betty’s cut the lead in half in the fourth, 4-2. However, Betty’s left the bases loaded and the score stood at 4 – 2, Fat Baby. It remained that way until the bottom of the seventh, last call for Betty’s. After one out, Nick Sours and Tim Stoops singled. An infield fly left those two on with two out. Alberto Vasquez singled to score Sours, 4 – 3, and Andrew Grant singled to score Stoops, tie game at 4 – 4, two on, two out. Fat Baby pitcher Gil Ward got a fly ball to end the inning and send it into extras. Fat Baby’s Dave Piccirilli walked to lead off, but none of the batters following him could produce anything. On to the bottom of the eighth. Betty pitcher Brett Handell singled. Phil Allen doubled to put runners on second and third, nobody out. Fat Baby decided to issue an intentional walk, loading the bases and putting on a force all around. However, Sam Klefstad walked on a 3 – 1 pitch and that was it. Bettys’ wins one of the best games of the season 5-4 in extra innings.

Game 2 - Wednesday, August 15th @ 6:00 PM
Fat Baby 19 - Backyard Betty's 7

Fat Baby jumps out to an 8 - 0 lead after two innings and wins going away, 19-7, to force a third and deciding game. Pitcher Gil Ward scatters nine hits (all singles) and gives up only three earned.

Game 3 - Tuesday, August 21st @ 6:30 PM
Backyard Betty's 9 - Fat Baby 6

A first inning three-run homer by Tim Stoops gave Betty's the lead, then a three-run shot by Alberto Vasquez in the fourth lengthened that lead. Backyard Betty's never trails in a 9-6 series-clinching victory. Fat Baby flashed some good leather to stay close, but never got over the hump. Betty's wins the series, 2-1, and moves on to face top seeded City Tap House in the semi-finals.

Backyard Betty's wins series 2-1