NALB - 2023 League 2 Series

K. Fields
2023-09-16T14:20:03-04:00
Baseball

2023 League 2 Series - Key West Corals (83-79) vs. Vancouver Wild (98-64)

Game 1: Key West 3, Vancouver 0
Game 2: Key West 6, Vancouver 2
Game 3: Vancouver 8, Key West 3
Game 4: Vancouver 2, Key West 1
Game 5: Vancouver 2, Key West 0
Game 6: Vancouver 3, Key West 1

After a dominant playoff run from 2012 to 2017, the Key West Corals hadn't been to the postseason since 2019. That year the Corals won 100 games but this year's team snuck into the playoffs with a mere 83 wins. For the Vancouver Wild, they returned to the postseason after losing to the underdog Stade Maples last year. The 2023 Wild won an impressive 98 games, which was the most in franchise history.

The opening game featured starters Cary Hash (11-11, 3.22 ERA) vs. Miguel Vela (8-8, 2.61 ERA) for the Corals and Wild, respectively. Key West prevailed in a low-scoring duel of fine pitching. The Corals won on the road 3-0.

In game two, the Corals sent veteran Charlie Revels (8-14, 4.77 ERA) to the mound against the Wild's Rey Alvarado (23-4, 1.87 ERA). Revels had a tough season while Alvarado put up one of the most dominating pitching seasons in league history. After seven shutout innings, Alvarado left the game with a 2-0 lead. Joe Farrell blew the lead, however. The Corals struck for six runs (five unearned) in the eighth inning, helped by a pair of Vancouver errors. The home crowd was stunned by the 6-2 loss.

The series shifted to Key West for game three. Anastasio Urbáez (13-15, 3.22 ERA) got the start for the Corals. The Wild countered with starter Catón Huincho (13-9, 3.57 ERA). Vancouver's bats were hot. The Wild's twelve hits translated to eight runs, including four in the sixth inning. Vancouver looked impressive in the 8-3 win.

Vancouver's Rudolph Carpoza (14-9, 3.71 ERA) and Key West's Danny Ruíz (8-13, 3.83 ERA) were named the game four starters. It was another pitcher's duel. Despite outhitting the Corals 10-5, the Wild managed a narrow 2-1 victory.

Game five, the final game in Key West was a rematch between game one starters Miguel Vela and Cary Hash. Both were outstanding. Vela hurled seven shutout innings while Hash pitched a two-hit shutout into the eighth. The game was still scoreless when it went into extra innings. In the top of the 11th inning, hits by Laton, Chira, Brown, and James led to two runs off of reliever Ximien Palmeiro. The Wild closed out the 2-0 shutout for the win.

Back in Vancouver, the Wild had to love their chances with Rey Alvarado on the mound again. They were not disappointed. The Corals' Charlie Revels couldn't match Alvarado's mastery. Alvarado pitched seven innings with no walks and six strikeouts. He only gave up a single run. A three-run homer by left-fielder Pedro Castro in the third was all the offense that the Wild needed. A 3-1 outcome made the Vancouver Wild League 2 champions.

Wild first baseman Codie Laton was named the series MVP. In the series, he hit .360 (9 for 25).