On Saturday August 22 to the surprise of everyone with the effects of Hurricane Bill wreaking havoc we were able to play Game 4 of the Championship Series. Nicky "Brews" Lamalfa got to the field extra early Saturday morning and put in work to the get the field in playing condition. Jeremiah St. Louis took the mound for the first time since beating the Canes in Game 1. St. Louis would have little trouble with the Canes this day as The X-Tribe provided him with more than enough run support. Canes Veteran took the mound for The Canes and struggled. 

Matt Ferro got things started in the first with a 2 rbi double to left that scored Caufield and Rader with 2 outs. In the bottom of the 2nd Joe Slater and Cullen Vumbacco would single before Kody Caufield was able to unload the loaded bases with a Grand Slam over the right field fence. But The Tribe was not done yet. Scott Rader would double to left and come all the way around to score, then on the very next pitch Matt Ferro would send a shot over the centerfield fence to make the score 8-2. 

St Louis would continue to cruise as the sky opened up and for the first time all day the sun would shine through. In the bottom of the 5th with a score of 9-2 and the 10 run rule in effect, the Tribe would look to put the Canes out of their misery. In a last ditch effort with the bases loaded and an already 3 for 3 Scotty “BallGame“ Rader at the plate, the Canes would go to their stud Tyler Travis. Travis who “owned” Scott in Game 2 would not have the same luck as Scotty BallGame hit an absolute bomb to left field for a 3-run shot that sealed the fate of the championship series. 

The X-Tribe after 6 seasons and not even a championship birth, had done it...2009 Champions.

The Canes had a ridiculously talented squad all around and it wasn’t easy, but we prevailed. Hats off to the Canes and Mark Lemorta for a great series and year. 

Championship Stand-Outs: 

Jeremiah St. Louis - Who won Game 1 beating an unbeatable Nate Novak and also had 3 big hits in that 7-2 victory. Played a great thirdbase in game 2 and 3, then came back in game 4 to win the Championship for the Tribe

Shawn Kennedy - Turned a lot of heads and came up big for the Tribe. In the first inning of Game 1 Shawn made an outstanding play at third diving on a hard hit ground ball off the bat of Josh Keane and got up with enough sense to go to second base to roll a double play. He also had a couple of big hits that game and 3 rbis. In Game 2 with the X-Tribe pitching staff looking tired and Tim BirdMan Gilroy without his best stuff, Shawn came in shut down a hungry Canes lineup. He only let up 1 run keeping the score at 3-0 until Tribe was able to generate some life and ultimately win the game 7-4. 

Scotty "BallGame" Rader - 4-4 in the final game of the playoffs with a double, and a game ending 3 run homerun to give him a total of 5 rbis on the day. Scott was invaluable throughout the year behind the plate and in this series. Scott’s hose behind the plate kept every runner close to whatever base they happened to be on. 

Kody Caufield - The biggest hit of the series a 3-run triple to give us the lead in the bottom of the 5th of Game 2. And a Grand Slam in Game 4.

In General: Thanks to Joey “X-Tribe” Slater, Nicky Brews Lamalfa, Matt “the Great” Ferro and Coach Isopo who have been there since the start through the good and the bad. Joe Slater who probably has more career wins than anyone in the league, he’s been a leader and the main source of motivation for everyone on the team for 6 years. Nicky “Brews” Lamalfa who undoubtedly contributed to the success of the Tribe over the years with his clutch hits flawless play at second base and enthusiasm. Matt Ferro who has always stepped up in big games with big power numbers. 

Thanks to Nicky Demidio for pitching filthy all year this wouldn’t have been possible without you kid. Thanks to BirdMan for turning this season around with a win that sent the Tribe on its never ending winning streak back in the end of June. Thanks to Greg Andriano for stepping up and doing a job coming from a non starter to the starting short stop on the championship team is a huge step. Bobby Gregware for his role playing that silently dirty right field. Kody Caufield has always been a huge part of our lineup and that huge hit in game 2 kid. Cullen Vumbacco for doing a job at that leadoff spot and giving us some much needed speed. Scott Rader your man, hands down the best catcher in the league. St Louis on the mound, in the field, and at the plate...Filthy. Shawn Kennedy the best utility guy a coach could ask for. Thanks to everyone else over the years. A special thanks to Coach Isopo would volunteered his time and expertise over the years.

We did it!

X-Tribe ’09: Earned It

‘The Fairwell Tour’

I would like to take this opportunity to formally retire. Best of luck to everyone. Be good.

-Coach Walsh