2025 Summer League Results- Playoffs RD 3

Championship Round

8/21/25- Phillies 14 - Grays 9

In a defensively sloppy turned exciting game that had multiple lead changes, runners thrown out at the plate, 2 double plays and nearly 2 dozen runs scored in a football-game-like tally, the Phillies rode a 7-run 5^th inning to their fourth TNB championship at Mackenzie Stadium in Holyoke.

The pregame festivities were extensive, including recognizing the league’s 6 septuagenarian players, each team’s MVPs, the sportsmanship award winner, special recognition to past league officials, retirements, the ceremonial first pitch, and team introductions. Check out this website for the details.

When play started, the #1 seeded Dorian Grays sent power arm Tim Sigda to the mound while the #2 seed Phillies countered with funnyballer Ken Sloat.

The visiting Phillies lineup led off with Micah Winston earning a walk then stole 2^nd, but was stranded when Sigda retired the next 3 batters. In the bottom of the frame, the Grays drew first blood when Dave Rist started with a walk, stole 2^nd, and scored on a Sigda lined single to RF. After a pair of errors, Sigda scored on Tim Tromblay’s RBI single.

In the top of the 2^nd, the Phillies fought back with a 3-spot. With 1 out, Sloat reached on an error. After the second out Paul Kaplan was plunked, John Wills walked, Miguel Ringler reached on an error with Sloat scoring on the play. Paul Griswold followed with a 2-RBI single. The Grays tied it up in their half when Dave Whitehead launched a monstrous double to deep LF, stole 3^rd and scored on Mitch Gaslin’s RBI groundout. After 2 errors, Sloat escaped further damage by inducing a fly ball to shallow RF that Ringler hung onto in a collision with 2B Wills. Sloat then closed the inning inducing a 6-4 force.

In the 3^rd, Stephen Malachite singled then stole 2^nd, but Tromblay’s amazing diving catch in LF off a liner from the bat of Yami Baker ended the inning and saved a run. The Grays then took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the inning when Sigda and John Malikowski singled, Tromblay lined an RBI double down the LF line, and Steve Powers followed with an RBI single.

In the 4^th, the Phillies got one back when Klepacki singled, stole 2^nd and scored on Jon Ross’ RBI single. The Grays put 2 men on with 2 out, but Sloat got the ever-dangerous Sigda to hit a sky-high popup hauled in by 2B Sean St. Marie.

The 5^th inning proved to be catastrophic for the Grays, as an injured Sigda tired. Wills led off with a walk, Ringler singled, Griswold singled in Wills and stole 2^nd. After an out, St. Marie lined a 2-run single, stole 2^nd, and after Winston was hit by a pitch, Jay Sadowski relieved Sigda. Malachite walked to load the bases, then Baker hit a short spinner down the 1B line that drifted in play for an RBI single. Hosley lined an RBI single to Marin Goldstein in CF, but the relay from Rist to Powers nabbed Malachite at the plate with plenty of room to spare. After a wild pitch that advanced the runners, Klepacki hit a 2-out 2-run single to cap the scoring tally that inning.

Hosley relieved Sloat in the 6^th and was rudely greeted by the Gray’s offense, with the first 7 batters reaching base. Powers was hit by a pitch, Whitehead singled, Goldstein reached on an error and Gaslin singled in a run. Dave Poppie reached on an error, scoring the 2^nd run, Rist hit an RBI single, as did Ken Hartwright. However Hosley induced 2 groundball outs, the second resulting in a nifty 1-2-3 double play to end the rally. The score after 6: Phillies 11 Dorian Grays 9.

The Phillies tacked on 2 more in the 7^th when both Ron Totten and St. Marie singled. On a FC by Winston to Rist at SS, Totten was thrown out at home. Malachite and Baker followed with RBI singles, with Winston also being thrown at home on a relay throw from Rist to end the inning. In the bottom of the frame, Hosley pitched his second 1-2-3 inning of the night with some help from fine IF defense by SS Baker and 2B Klepacki.

Sadowski fanned a pair in the 8^th before Ross’ 2-out single. However Ross was nabbed on a strong throw by Powers while trying to steal second. In the Grays’ half, Hosley worked himself out of a jam after 2 infield errors put the first two runners on. After inducing two outs, the bases loaded up with a walk to Rist. Hosley escaped more unearned runs with a 6-3 groundout to end the inning.

The Phils added an insurance run in the top of the 9^th. Ringler hit his 3^rd single of the night, Griswold singled and Winston walked loading the bases. Malachite hit an RBI single, however the inning ended on the same play with another relay throw by SS Rist to C Powers to easily tag Griswold – the night’s 4^th Philly to fall at the plate.

Down to their last 3 outs, the Grays 9^th saw some light when Sigda reached on an error. However, Hosley quickly induced a 4-6-3 DP and then a line out to SS Baker to end the game.

In all, 11 different Phillies scored runs with 7 recording RBI. Phillies stars of the game at the plate were Paul Griswold (3-4, 1 SB, 1 run, 3 RBI), Miguel Ringler (3-4, 2 SB, 2 runs), Sean St. Marie (2-4, 2 SB, 2 runs, 2 RBI) and Andy Klepacki (2-4, 2 SB, 1 run, 2 RBI). Dave Rist, Tim Sigda and Tim Tromblay each had 2 hits for the Grays. Defensive stars were without a doubt both SS’s --Dave Rist and Yami Baker -- who made a number of fine defensive plays.

Phillies rookie manager Andy Klepacki was given the league’s new trophy of a ballplayer in a recliner.

The Phillies’ win secures the top spot in the league standings with their 4th Championship title.