CPBA’s pitching and defense has been exceptional all season, and Sunday at Breslin Field was no different. Through six and a half innings of ball, Untamed and CPBA were deadlocked at zero, as hits and runs were non-existent as both pitchers dominated. CPBA’s starter Zach Wernick was locked in, as he tossed 5.1 shutout innings allowing only one hit and two walks, for a total of only three baserunners all day. Wernick mixed his pitches with finesse and craft, as he kept Untamed’s lineup off balance at the plate all game.

After giving up a walk in the top of the sixth, Wernick was replaced by Brendan Hughes, CPBA’s elite closer who has been one of the league’s best this year. Hughes has been incredible all season as he has mowed down opponents to the tune of a .51 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 17.1 innings, meaning that he has given up only one run all season. Against Untamed on Sunday, he was brilliant again as he shut down Untamed to give his team a chance to win the ballgame in the bottom of the seventh. In his 1.2 innings of work, he struck out three and allowed only one hit.

For Untamed, pitcher Andrew Desimone was the bright spot, as he kept Untamed in the game until the very end with an excellent pitching display that was one of his best of the season. DeSimone kept batters off balance all night and pitched to weak contact, as in five innings he allowed two hits and gave up no runs, with one strikeout. DeSimone would be replaced by Liam Royster, who threw a 1-2-3 inning in the sixth. However, the momentum was about to shift.

Royster came out to pitch the seventh and faced home run derby contestant Jake Leonard to start the inning. Leonard launched a triple over the left fielder’s head to put himself in scoring position. After both Dario Morales and Ryan Ducey worked walks, the stage was set for Matthew Myers and he delivered. With the bases loaded and no outs, Myers ripped a single up the middle to win it for CPBA in what was an emotional win that helped put them in strong

position for the playoffs with a record of 18-8-1. The energy and excitement brought on by Myers’s walk-off carried into CPBA’s bats for game two, as they tagged Royster for five hits and seven runs in the first inning, and the game ended in a 14-6 CPBA victory. CPBA will look to stay hot in their last regular season game before the playoff push when they face off with the Essex Cubs on Tuesday at Breslin Field. Untamed will look to finish their season with a victory when they face the Gamers Tuesday.