After a near perfect season there was only one thing left for the Lenior based Carolina Freedom to do: win the AACBL championship. And they did just that with a 7-5 victory over the very talented Mooresville All Americans on Sunday afternoon.
The game was a nail biter with four lead changes before the Freedom finally pulled ahead for good in the sixth inning. Both teams demonstrated their tremendous talent on defense and offense. Mooresville first baseman Dylan Begin hit a two run home run early in the game and was then answered by the Freedom’s Ryan Byers, who hit a solo homer in the sixth inning to give the Freedom the lead.
“I was looking for a pitch to try and get on second because we had Washam coming up next and he has been on fire. But I saw a hanging curve ball and just took it out,” said Byers when asked what was going through his head during his solo home run.
In the end it was the Freedom’s stellar defensive play that proved to be too much for the All Americans. Both of these teams are finely tuned machines on offense, but Carolina proved the validity of the expression “Defense wins Championships.”
Short stop Anders Goetz came up huge for the Freedom, making several defensive stops late in the game. But the reason this Carolina team has been so strong is because every player on the team gets involved. And that is exactly what happened on Sunday, from the players on the field working together to the players in the dugout being vocal and cheering on their teammates.
“Guys stepped up and made plays when we needed it most whether it was a big pitch, a key defensive play, or a clutch hit. We put our faith in the Lord that all things are possible through Christ,” said Coach Brandon Matthews after the game.
League MVP and Home Run Derby winner Danny Rafferty started on the mound for the Freedom and gave them six solid innings giving up only five runs to one of the league’s top offenses. The All Americans scored in double digits seven times this summer so holding them to five runs is containing them.
“It’s easier to maximize you’re potential when everyone is buying in, even the guys on the bench who aren’t getting a lot of playing time,” said Rafferty. The Freedom pitcher plays for Bucknell University, which recently made a deep run in the College World Series before being eliminated by World Series finalist Virginia University. Rafferty explained that the close bond that the Freedom players experienced this summer was similar to the family like relationship he has with his Bucknell teammates.
This game was by no means an easy win for the Freedom, but in the end the qualities that separated this team from the other teams in the league, like team unity and heart, made the difference. The fans could not have asked for a more exciting final at bat as the league’s best pitcher Reggie Johnson struck out the league’s home run leader Chris Rosa.
Matthews summed up the mood and atmosphere after the conclusion to the AACBL’s season by saying “the trophies and the accolades don't come close to how proud I am of those guys. This is all about them and I am just thankful to have been part of it.
