The MABL Summer 2020 playoffs got underway last weekend with two close match-ups that went down to the wire.
In the 10:00am game, the Central Rays defeated the Lahaina Warriors by a final of 6-2. The Rays’ Bryant Sparkman earned the win by allowing only 2 runs (1 earned) over 6 innings, with Kory Takamura holding the Warriors for the final 3 innings to record the save. The Rays will advance to face the Makena Royals in a best-of-three game series beginning at 1:15pm on November 8 at Kalama Park. Both teams will be trying to make their first Championship Series appearance since 2017.
The first round match-up between the West Maui Brewers and the Upcountry Dirtbags took 12 innings to decide a winner, with the Dirtbags prevailing by a score of 8-7 on a Joe Smith walk-off double. Tim Luft and Aaron Hornostaj threw 6 innings each to help the Dirtbags advance to a second round match-up with the La Perouse Pirates, which begins at 10:00am on November 8. The Pirates are coming off of 3 straight Championship Series appearances, winning the previous one in December 2019. The Dirtbags are looking to play for their first MABL title since Summer 2017.
Come out and catch the action this Sunday at Kalama Park in Kihei, and check the league website to stay up-to-date on game results and locations throughout the playoffs.