Warpigs are CHAMPS!

The Warpigs defeated the Buckeyes in 6 games to claim their 10th NASOMA title. The games were close and turned time after time on clutch hits and late inning homers.

Game 1: Buckeyes 8, Warpigs 7 - Just to show what kind of frustration lay ahead, the Buckeyes won the game despite trailing 7-0 in the 8th inning. But in that inning, the Buckeyes had a 3-run homer from Jack Cust off of Justin Duchscherer, then a game-tying grand slam by Jason Werth off of Joakim Soria followed by a solo shot by Jason Giambi off of George Sherrill.

Game 2: Warpigs 8, Buckeyes 2 - The Pigs lead 3-2 in the 6th when Brian Giles hit a 3-run double off of Darren Oliver. Rich Harden and four relievers struck out 15 Buckeye batters. The series moved on to the Buckeye Plateau.

Game 3: Warpigs 5, Buckeyes 4 - The Warpigs scored a run in each of the first four innings, but the Buckeyes countered with a 4 spot in the 2nd. Both bullpens settled down after that. In fact, the Buckeyes only had 4 hits, and ALL of them came in that 2nd inning. The winning run scored in the top of the 9th on a bases loaded walk to Cody Ransom. Joakim Soria got the Buckeyes out in the 9th for the save.

Game 4: Buckeyes 6, Warpigs 3 in 10 innings - An RBI double by Chipper Jones tied the game in the 7th, but Ryan Shealy ended it with a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 10th off of Russ Springer.

Game 5: Warpigs 9, Buckeyes 5 - Brian Giles was again the hitting star for the Pigs, going 4/5 with 2 RBI and 3 runs scored. Ryan Doumit added insurance runs in the 9th with a bases loaded, 2 out Omega hit off of Dan Wheeler. Rich Harden, the MVP of the Pigs' 2nd round series against the Rhinos, got the win - making him 4-0 in the post season. The series heads back to the BallPork.

Game 6: Warpigs 6, Buckeyes 5 - Homers by Albert Pujols and Manny Ramirez in the 3rd inning gave the Pigs an early lead, but they trailed 5-4 going to the 7th. Pujols then led off the 7th with a single off of Sergio Romo. After Chipper Jones struck out, Cody Ransom launched a Romo pitch into the left field seats to give the Warpigs the lead and, after Soria got the last 5 outs, the Higdon.

Albert Pujols, who went 9 for 26 with 2 homers and 7 RBI, gets the Series MVP. Others in the running were Rafael Furcal (9/23, 8 runs), Chipper Jones (10/26), Jason Bay (8/21, 4 RBI), Cody Ransom (4/7, 4 RBI), and Rich Harden. For the Buckeyes, I have no doubt that Jason Effin Werth would have to get some consideration.