It should be a classic series. Much like a championship fight, this series will feature two heavyweights slugging it out, punch for punch, round for round. These teams met in the first round in both 2000 and 2001. Two years ago, the underdog Brewers knocked out the favored Pirates in three games. Last year, ICC returned the favor by drilling Lehigh Township in back-to-back games. Expect this year’s championship series to be more like the 2000 first round. The Brewers and Pirates can certainly each hit, and they each have solid pitching. Lehigh Township cannot allow its defensive lapses to continue and the Pirates cannot rely solely on Scott Stewart to pick up all the victories as he did against Gabelsville. In the end it should be the Brewers depth that helps carry them to the title. In addition, Lehigh Township has an air of destiny surrounding them as the breaks have gone their way all year. This series will go the distance, and for the first time, a championship will come to Berlinsville.

 

Mark's choice: Lehigh Township in 5

        In a battle of first-timers, the Lehigh Township Brewers and ICC Pirates square off in this year's Tri-County League Championship, also known as the Gabelsville Owls show. But the Owls got cancelled this year, losing to the Pirates in four games.

      Pitcher Scott Stewart led the way with three wins. Chad Stecker and A.J. Peracchia provided the offense with six hits each, and Josh Mohlmann added five. The Pirates played great defense through most of the series and mixed timely hitting with Stewart's overpowering pitching to keep Gabelsville off balance, something only the 2001 Tri-City Fleetwings came close to doing in the Owls' last three postseasons.

      The Brewers bolted from the gate at 13-0 and finished strong. The team boasts a lineup that can score at will and pitching staff that is among the league's best. Almost anyone in the lineup is capable of hitting the longball. The Brewers completely dismantled a solid Tri-City team and now two of the hottest teams in baseball meet in a clash of titans.

      The Brewers continued to prove they can put up huge innings that put the game away. And the Pirates showed that they are vulnerable to the big inning. Look for that combination to be a deciding factor in this series. Expect a wide-ranging series, with pitcher's duels followed by wild shootouts the next game. This one could go either way.

 

Josh's choice: Lehigh Township in 4

        This is the rubber-match series. And, it is for ALL the marbles.

        In 2000, the fifth-seeded Brewers upset the fourth-seeded Pirates and advanced to the semis in three gut-wrenching games, winning Game Two, 3-1 and Game Three, 6-5, after blowing a lead and losing Game One, 7-4.

        In 2001, the fifth-seeded Pirates swept a heavily favored fourth-seeded Brewers’ squad without their ace, Scott Stewart. ICC stomped Lehigh Township twice, with identical 10-3 scores to advance to the semis.

        Now it is 2002, and just when both teams thought they had avoided each other this time around, here we are, going at it again. But not in the first round. This time it is the Finals that pits fifth-seeded ICC against second-seeded Lehigh Township.

        And weddings could be a factor this weekend for both teams. The Pirates will be missing Cory Schneck Saturday and Sunday, while their standout shortstop, Chad Stecker will miss Sunday. The Brewers had Geoff Kelowitz slated to throw the opener on Saturday, but a wedding rehearsal in Philly may prevent that from happening. Kelowitz will miss Sunday for sure. So while ICC has Ryan Lindley, Scott Stewart and Dan Smith locked in for Games 1, 2 and 3, respectively, Lehigh Township may have three game-time decisions for these first three games. The Brewers really do not know who is going in any of the three games as of Thursday night, everything hinges on whether Kelowitz can make it by game time or not for the opener.

        Be that as it may, both teams have excellent hitting lineups. There is not a free out to be found, and there is no real advantage for either team offensively, defensively or on the mound, these are two evenly matched teams going at it. Expect a battle. Expect a close series. Expect a war. Expect several one or two-run games. Expect a fifth game. And if it is going five games, you have to like Scott Stewart to win that Game Five after beating the three-time defending champs three times in the semis.

 

Steve's choice: ICC Pirates in 5

        Punkin' Miller made his choice on the radio show, no number of games given.

Punkin's choice: Lehigh Township

        Keith emailed me his selection on Friday.

Keith's choice: Lehigh Township in 5