San Jose, CA.  If the Orioles were going to repeat as Champions in 2011,they would have to do so by going through the Yankees.  While the O’s won their two battles against Mariners to advance, the Yankees powered their way to the Championship by flattening the Pirates to the tune of 30 – 8 over their two games.

In the series’ opener, a determined Yankees team jumped out ahead and never looked back. The Yankee runs came early and often, and this time there would be no miracle comeback for the O’s, as the Yankees went on to stun the Orioles winGame One 13 – 5.  Game one highlights include a deep drive to center field by Andrew Sheehan.

With their backs against the wall, and facing elimination,the Orioles needed a win to keep their hopes of repeating alive.   Brian Siefert took the mound and managed to keep the Yankee offense contained.  This time it was the Yankees that struggled to get key hits,with runners in scoring position. The Orioles were able to come out with a 12 – 5 win to force Game Three.  Chris Cooper provided the long fly in the afternoon game with a deep drive to left field.

Game three was played a week later and turned out to be atrue slugfest.  The Orioles managed to open an early 10 – 3 lead. A lead-off home run to center field by Chris Rains, his tenth of the year, got sparked a five-run rally for the O's in the fifth inning.  However, in the top of the 6th inning O’s starter, Brian Siefert, hit his third batter and needed to be relieved on the mound.  Like they have all season long, the Orioles turned to their steady reliever Steve Chase to keep the Yankees’ offense under control; but the Yankee hitters were not having any of it. Over the next two innings, the Yankees came all the way back and tied the game at 10.

With the score tied at 10 – 10, and the Yankees threatening to take the lead, the Orioles turned to Chris Rains to take over the mound duties.  Rains was not only pitch the O’s out of the sixth inning, he was also able to strand runners in the seventh and eighth innings.   The O’s offense finally exploded in the bottom of the eighth inning scoring a total of six runs to take a commanding 16– 10 lead.  The inning was highlighted by two massive home runs by Joe Newman and Andrew Sheehan.  Rains pitched a scoreless ninth tosecure the win and the O’s second Championship.

The 2011 Season was without doubt, the most successfulseason the O’s have enjoyed.  This was a true team effort; everyone in the O’s roster made major contributions to the team’s success.  Steve Chase, Andrew Sheehan, Chris Cooper, Mark Brouse, Chris Rains, and Brian Siefert all pitched vital innings.  A total of 7 different players combined to hit 22 home runs.  The Orioles also got major contributions from the rest of their roster: Chris Conroy, John Siefert, Sal Sanchez, Brian Brouse, Joe Newman, Matt O’Brien.  Angelo Cordero continued to provide the good looks.

When the Orioles first joined the San Jose MSBL as an expansion team in 2004, they had a miserable season losing all twenty games.  In contrast the 2011 version of the Orioles won a total of 20 games in 2011 (including the post-season).  The Orioles have traveled a long road since their early 0 – 20 days. Over the past four years the Orioles have finished first three times; made three straight Championship Series appearances; and won the last two American Division Championships. The O’s are looking forward to bringing everyone back, and making another Championship run in 2012.

Back Row: Mark Brouse, Andrew Sheehan, Joe Newman, Angelo Cordero (manager), Brian Siefert, Chris Cooper; Front Row: Steve Chase, Chris "Bam Bam" Conroy, Elisa (team hitting coach), Chris Rains, Sebastian Cordero (ball boy), Adrian Cordero (ball boy), Matt O'Brien, Brian Brouse, Nathaniel Brouse, Michelle (O's General Manager), John Siefert, Kiki (O's Marketing Manager)

Gilroy, CA.  The Orioles opened their 2011 playoff run against the Mariners this past Sunday (11-Sep-2011).  After a moment of remembrance for the victims of September 11, 2001, both teams got down to business of playing hard.  Even though the M's have been winless in four tries against the O's in 2011, they have managed to give the Orioles fits all season.

As has usually been the case this season, the O's jumped out to an early lead, only to have their bats lulled to sleep, while the Mariners slowly chipped away at the lead.

The O's were able to convert a lead-off walk by Chris Rains into a run in the first, added a second run in the second.  After the M's responded with a run of their own in the third, the O's answered with three more in their half of the third and four additional runs in the fourth.  That's when the M's crafty pitcher, Madden, put the breaks on the O's offense, and kept the O's from adding to their lead.

However, Andrew Sheehan, was able to match also keep the M's under control until the very late innings.  With the score 9-3 headed into the ninth the M's managed to mount a rally that brought them to within one run of the O's.  The biggest blow came from Neil Homer who launched a two-run homer to bring the score to 9-8.  However, the rally fell short as Steve Chase managed get the strike out for the final out of the inning.

The Second game was a tight game as the O's sent Mark Brouse to the mound to make his playoff pitching debut.  Through 5 innings the Mariners were only able to score two unearned runs off of Brouse.

Going into the top half of the ninth inning the O's had a 6 - 2 lead, that's when the O's mounted a four-run rally.  The rally was highlighted by a two-run homer to left field.  The four runs in the ninth proved to be large, as the Mariners had still another rally left in them.  Before the O's could record the final out, the Mariners had scored four runs to bring the final score to 10 - 6.

With the two wins the Orioles advanced to their third straight Championship Series. They will be looking for repeat as Champions of the American Division.  Championship Series starts on 18-Sep. with a double header at Challenger Field.

	American Divison Standings
	W	L	T	PTS	PCT
1 - Orioles	16	3	1	33	.800
2 - Pirates	8	12	0	16	.400
3 - Yankees	8	12	0	16	.400
4 - Mariners	7	11	2	16	.350
5 - Rays	2	18	0	4	.100

Number indicates playoff seeding.

Top four team advance to Playoffs.  Rays are eliminated from playoff contention 

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