ROSS TWP, Pa - After the Black Sox took Game One of the Championship Series 12-2, the Hurricanes breathed life back into the series with a 11-4 victory in Game 2.
Game 3 of the Championship Series tonight at John Herb Herb Field in the North Hills. The Sto-Rox Hurricanes will play host to the Brookline Black Sox with play beginning at 8:30pm.
The Black Sox took Game One 12-2 on the strength of a solid pitching performance by Pete Chaflin and a seven run fifth inning. The Hurricanes stormed back in Game Two behind the pitching of Andy Rafalski to even the series after their 11-4 win Wednesday evening.
The Hurricanes are a second-year expansion team who a year ago finished with a league worst 3-19 record. Led by first year manager Bob Holloway, shortstop Milton Joyner, and catcher Jared Krieder, the Hurricanes added a few key players to transform their team and capture their first Allegheny Division Title en route to the Championship Series.
The Hurricanes added Rafalski, outfielder Chris Wagoner, and infielder Matt Johnston along with top overall draft pick Jesse Ferko to their roster for 2009. They quickly established themselves as the team to beat in the Allegheny, and defeated last years’ division champion, the Warriors, in the Allegheny Championships last week.
The Black Sox are one of the original Pittsburgh NABA teams seeking their third Pittsburgh NABA title, after capturing their first Monongahela Division title. The Black Sox were formed in 2003 as the Stampeders, but changed their name in 2004 to the Black Sox in homage to the eight players banned from baseball due to the scandal during the 1919 World Series. They won their first title in 2004 and a second in 2006.
The Black Sox feature a lineup that remains largely unchanged from 2008 and features former league MVP’s Kenny Rayl and Matt Slavonic. Mark St. Amant, Ron Florian, Matt Klayko, and Jason Goldie provide the core of their offense. Their pitching rotation received a major overhaul in the off-season and now features Chaflin in addition to JT Slavicek, and lefty Jim Cannon.
The Black Sox defeated the Imperial Owlz last week in one of the best divisional finals in the league’s history to capture the Monongahela crown. The match up featured the two best regular season records, with the Owlz having gone an amazing 21-1 while allowing only 35 runs in those 22 games. The Owlz were the 2008 Pittsburgh NABA Champions.
