Bound Brook, NJ - On Sunday July 28 at 2:00PM EST, a line drive to left center field produced a walk off win for the Central Jersey Cardinals by the score of 5-4 over the heavy underdog Somerset Clippers. That hit ended a terrific battle, which almost overflowed into the parking lot after the game. As the Clippers sat around after the game, it became painfully obvious that in order for them to reach the finals out of the loser’s bracket, they would have to beat the four, three and two seed in three straight games. The Clippers stood unfazed and said to each other, we will get our rematch.

On Saturday August 4, the Somerset Clippers, with their backs against the wall, needing 3 straight victories to get to the finals, crushed the South River Sharks 17-4 behind an eight inning, 12 strikeout performance from Jose Pinto on the mound. The Clippers fell behind 2-0 early, however, they put up a nine spot in the 3^rd inning, which pretty much crushed the Sharks sprit and ruined shark week for them and their fans. The inning started with a single by Jonathan Encarnacion, followed by an RBI single by Terrell Foster. Freddie Castro tied the game with a double and after a Zack Markle single to centerfield, Jared Fowler laced a two run single through the middle to give the Clippers a lead that they would never relinquish. Fowler capped his two hit four RBI afternoon with another mammoth home run to left center field, his 2^nd home run of the playoffs. Rob Roman had three hits for the Clippers and Markle, Encarnacion, Pinto, Castro and Mike McCrea all had multiple hit games. With the win, the Clippers advanced to the next round of the playoffs and were set to face the Shore Shockers, who in two games vs the Clippers and in 21 innings, only allowed 6 hits and one run.

This time, it was the Clippers who got on the board early in the top of the first, with two quick runs, highlighted by Jared Fowler’s RBI double and Rob Roman’s RBI single. In the 2nd, the Clippers scored two more, led by an RBI single by Matt Mitchell and an RBI ground out by Terrell Foster. The Clippers had a 4-0 lead after two, which seemed to be more than enough for starting pitcher Jared Fowler, who in his last outing against the Shockers, threw eleven no hit innings, striking out 22 batters. Fowler was breezing through five innings, but in the sixth, after two big Clipper errors, the Shockers got back to back two out singles to cut the lead to 4-3. Both teams had multiple chances over the last 3 innings to score runs, however, both pitchers got themselves out of jams in what was the most suspenseful and stressful three innings of the season for both teams. In the top of the ninth, Fowler headed to the mound and was able to sit down the Shockers 1-2-3 and another wild celebration ensued on the same mound that the Clippers clinched a playoff spot a few weeks earlier.

The Clippers had just shocked the world, allowed themselves to bask in the glory for a few minutes; then reminded themselves that they have one more team to beat to get to the finals. The rematch is set. The Clippers get one more shot at the Cardinals, who beat them three times this season.

This Clipper team has won 10 of their last 13 games and 6 out of their last 7 to get to this spot in the playoffs. They are the deepest and hottest team in the playoffs right now and deserve the right to face the 19-1 New Jersey Shockers in the best 2 of 3 championship series. They need one more win. The same Clipper team who lost opening day 21-2 and finished the first nine games 2-7 are one win away from truly shocking the amateur baseball world and getting to the finals.

They are ready, no matter where they have to travel, no matter what time they have to play on Saturday. Clipper Nation can rest assured that their team will be ready to fight. They will leave everything on that field on Saturday for the chance to play Sunday in Game 1 of the finals. If there is any game to see in the 2013 inaugural season of the NJABL, it is this one. Please come out and support your Somerset Clippers.

Family on three, Family on three, one, two, three….