From poor to average to championship contender, and finally, to champion.
Casey Cooperman pitched a complete-game six-hitter and Rick Seltzer blasted a two-run homer as the Yankees knocked off perennial power Gabelsville 6-1 on Tuesday to complete a three-game sweep in the Tri-Co championship series.
The league title is the first in franchise history.
"I wish Lee was here to see it, but his wife, Rozelle, was here to congratulate us. I know Lee's looking down with a big smile … he always wanted this."
For a brief period Tuesday, it appeared as though the celebration would wait at least another day.
No. 1 seed Gabelsville, the three-time defending champion, scored its first run of the series and loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning. Josh Martin collected the RBI single, which reloaded the bases. But Cooperman settled in and retired Ryan Zakszeski on a short fly ball, Shawn Betz on a strikeout and Gary Hessler on a fielders' choice groundout.
The second-seeded Yankees immediately responded with Seltzer's two-run opposite-field homer to left-center in the bottom of the first frame.
Ballgame. Championship.
"I wish I wasn't in a situation like I was in the first inning," Cooperman said, "but I battled hard to get out of it. One run was good considering the circumstances."
"It was important we came right back at them," Seltzer said. "They scored a run, but after that they left the bases loaded and we took the momentum right back."
Cooperman played a pivotal role in the Yankees' playoff run. He also pitched his club to a 4-2 victory over Limeport in the semifinal-clincher.
"I like close-out games or championship games," said the Parkland High graduate and Bloomsburg University sophomore. "I like the pressure. I pitch well under it. I felt real good tonight after a couple days of not throwing at all."
Seltzer, also a Parkland alum, expected to play for the Starters Orioles in Tuesday night's Blue Mountain League final, but that game was postponed because of rain. He started at first base for the Yankees.
"I was kind of glad about the rainout," said Seltzer, who estimated he played in about 60 percent of the team's Tri-Co games this summer. "We were up 2-0 and [Monday night] in the Blue Mountain League didn't go so well. It was nice to be here when we clinched the championship."
The Yankees (29-10) took advantage of nine walks and a hit batter by Gabelsville pitching. Leadoff hitter Andy Brandstetter walked in each of his four plate appearances and scored two runs. Mike Fignar contributed two singles and Seltzer finished with three RBIs — one coming on a sacrifice fly to deep center field.
Tom DeAngelis had a hit and scored the Owls' lone run.
"We didn't hit too well in the semifinals," Gabelsville manager Matt Danner said. "And we really stank in the finals — all three games. We had our chance in the first inning. But they were the better team. They hit the ball better, fielded it better and had better pitching."
Not only did the Yankees win their first championship, they did it in dominant style.
They won Game 1 6-0 on Saturday as Dave Behler pitched a four-hit shutout; they won Game 2 2-0 on Sunday as Caleb Calarco fired a three-hitter; and Cooperman settled down after his slow start to shut down the Owls on Tuesday.
Polaha, whose team lost to Gabelsville in the 2008 and 2009 finals, said he was confident in his Yankees entering into the championship series.
"I felt great about our chances," he said. "I hate to say we prepared the whole season for this series, but we really did. We played Gabelsville five times, and even though they won four of them, they did not see Behler, Calarco or Cooperman before this series. That was a huge advantage."
Gabelsville Owls 100 000 0 – 1 6 1
Northern Yankees 213 000 x – 6 5 1
HR – NY, Seltzer (first, one on).
Laubenstine, Bosch (5) and Zakszeski. Cooperman and Faust. W – Cooperman. L – Laubenstine.
