NALB 2020 Playoffs - League 1 Series

K. Fields
2020-12-13T18:28:49-05:00
Baseball

2020 League 1 Series - Dayton Grizzlies (93-69) vs. Luisville Beasts (97-65)

Game 1: Dayton 5, Luisville 4
Game 2: Dayton 6, Luisville 1
Game 3: Dayton 9, Luisville 6
Game 4: Luisville 13, Dayton 12
Game 5: Dayton 9, Luisville 2

Series MVP: Bubba Webb (Dayton Grizzlies)

With four straight division titles, the Luisville Beasts were no strangers to the League 1 Series. The difference this year was the absence of the Brooklyn Knights. Instead, the Dayton Grizzlies made their first playoff appearance. Both teams were very solid with great hitting and pitching.

The game one opener in Luisville was a competitive contest. The Grizzlies had starter Rey Alvarado (20-5, 2.36 ERA) matched up against rookie sensation Paco Rivera (15-9, 3.46 ERA) for the Beasts. Dayton scored in each of the first three innings and built a 4-0 lead. Luisville tied the game 4-4 in the bottom of the third, however. Third baseman Quilvio Martinez hit an RBI double in the fifth inning to give the Grizzlies a 5-4 win.

Game two was a classic pitchers' duel with Dayton's Jake Pradia vs. Luisville's Cory Gregory. After four innings, the game was tied at one run apiece. Both bullpens kept things in check as the game was still 1-1 heading into the 13th inning. The Grizzlies scored five runs to earn a decisive 6-1 win.

Having lost the first two games at home, the Luisville Beasts felt the pressure heading to Dayton for game three. They did not respond well. The Beasts gave up three runs in the first, five more in the fourth, and another run in the sixth. Down 9-0, the outcome appeared certain. The Beasts scored 6 runs in the eighth but their comeback fell short. Grizzlies center fielder Beagan Cajar was the star of the game. The 2019 Newcomer of the Year award winner went 4 for 5 with a double, a home run, and 5 RBIs. Dayton's 9-6 win put them up three games to none and one win away from victory.

The Beasts showed guts in game 4. With their backs up against the wall, they struck early with four runs in the first inning. Going into the sixth inning, they clung to a 5-3 lead. The Grizzlies stormed back in the sixth and seventh, however, and took the lead 10-5. Possessing one of NALB's most formidable offenses, Luisville showed its prowess in the eighth inning. They scored eight runs, which included a three-run homer from third baseman Okura Kono. Dayton almost pulled off a comeback by scoring a run in the eighth and another in the ninth. When the slugfest was over, however, the Beasts remained victorious 13-12.

The Grizzlies had one more chance to wrap up the series at home in game five. They did just that. They scored runs in spurts, putting up three in the second inning, three in the seventh inning, and a final three in the eighth inning. The Beasts scored two runs in the ninth but it was too little, too late. The Dayton Grizzlies won 9-2 to clinch the League 1 Series.

Dayton's first baseman Bubba Webb was named series MVP. Webb was red hot in the series, which saw him put up a .333 average, as well as 2 home runs and 9 RBI.