Over the last 3 playoff games the 6 seed Reds have gotten super efforts from all their pitchers, solid fielding, and contributions up and down the line up, inning after inning.

7 seed Pirates at 6 seed Reds (play in game).

The Reds faced the Pirates who had just come back from an 8-5 deficit scoring 7 runs in the 7th to win 12-8 just four days earlier.

Hall, Abrams, and Durbak were lights out vs the Pirates giving up 1 run to lead off batter Jeff Friedman in the 1st inning while allowing just 3 hits, 3BB, 3 Ks, 1 E and were aided by 3 DP's the rest of the way.

The Reds had 15 runs on 16 hits (5 doubles & 1 triple) Hits Shaw 3 +1 BB, Peters 3 +Sac, Jaz 2 +2BB, Mitch 2, Hall 2 +1 BB, Durbak 2 +2 BB, Reel 2 BB, Abrams double + HBP, Draves 1 + BB The entire lineup on base multiple times.

6 seed Reds at 3 seed Americans

Next up were the skilled & dangerous Americans, with Veterans and Hall of Famers up and down the line up. Knipper went 6 complete and Hall came in for the 7th. Ball, Konstantakis, and Lounello took the mound for the Americans.

The Reds scored in each of the 1st 3 innings and went down quietly in the 4th building a 6-0 lead through 3-1/2. The Reds defense was able to turn double plays to end the 1st & 2nd innings and then ended the 4th with the bases loaded on an inning ending catch by Shaw in left field keeping the Americans off the scoreboard through 4.
In the 5th the Reds scored 5 on 2 walks, 3 hits (including a 2 RBI double by Reel) and 1 error. Geanellis lead off with a single down the left field line but the Reds got another timely DP to end the threat. The Reds tacked 2 mor on in the sixth before the Americans bats came alive. In the 6th the Americans earned a walk and followed that with singles by Braverman and Mangione before the Pirates were able to record an out. Then a walk to Kane and back to back to back singles by Lounello, Holmes and ball scored 3 runs and had bases loaded before the Reds shortstop was able to snag a line out to end the threat and he scoring at 13-3 for the game. Knipper and Hall 7 Hits 2 Ks and 9 BB and No errors. Reds 13 runs on 16 hits. Miles 4 hits + 3 R and 5 SB, Griffin 2 Runs, Shaw 3 hits (double)+ HBP 2 R and 3 RBI, Hall 1 hit, 1 BB & HBP, Caputo 2 Runs, Knipper 1 hit, 2 BB, 1 run Reel 2 hits (2rbi double) +BB.

6 seed Reds at 2 seed Yankees

On a great night for baseball on the A diamond the two-time defending champion Yankees hosted the Reds.

John Weber took the mound for the Yanks and pitched 6 before being relieved by Massaroni. Ralph Caputo started for the Reds pitching a gem into the 7th only giving up 4 Runs, 3 hits, 4 walks and no errors after 6-1/3. Ralph was a warrior and was relieved Doug Hall who gave up 1 Run 1 Hit in 2/3 of an inning with 2 errors.

Paul Miles singled in the 1st and stole 2 bases. With 2 outs miles attempted to steal home but was thrown out on a close play to end the inning. The Yankees responded with a leadoff single by Paul Post who also got to 3rd but a K and a couple of ground balls kept the score knotted at 0.
In the 2nd with 1 out Mitchell doubled Caputo hit a ball that looked like it would find some open space but Webber made a nice play and alertly caught the runner between 2nd & third for the 2nd out. Knipper followed with a double to score Caputo from 1st. facing the 5-6-7 batters Caputo helped his own cause with 2 F-1's and a 6-3.
In the top of the 3rd the Reds Got a single by Jaz, BB by Miles and a single by Peters to load the bases. Weber was able to get the cleanup hitter swinging a strike 3 but a PB allowed Jaz to score and the other runners advanced. With 1st open Mitchell was intentionally walked to load the bases. Caputo then responded with a single plating Miles & Peters. Knipper then lined back to Webber and he quickly turned and made the DP. In the bottom of the 3rd the with 2 outs and Post on again after a walk & SB Carpenter hit a shot to right field. However, Reel has the scouting report on the leagues hitters and was positioned perfectly to end the inning.
In the 5th with 1 out and Peters on 2nd Mitchell was again intentionally walked to face Caputo. Caputo followed with a single to load the bases. The Yankees were able to end the threat when the ball was hit to 2nd and the runner was tagged and a throw to 1st to end the inning for the Reds. With 2 outs the Yankees were able to get Cortese and Post on 1st & 3rd with 2 outs but a pop up to Durbak at 3rd ended the threat with the Reds holding onto a 4-0 lead.
In the 6th Reel reached on an error, Durbak was hit by a pitch, and Jaz singled to load the bases. A line drive and nice snag by the 2nd baseman got the 1st out and a quick throw to first almost turned 2. A FC got the runner at 2nd but an errant throw allowed another Run to score. That was followed by a couple more errors and hits allowing a total of 4 runs to score pushing the lead to 8. Rosen got things going leading off the 6th with a single and a stolen base. McQuade followed with a single to score Rosen and the Yanks were on the board. Caputo was able to field a pop up and get a K to end the inning at 8-1.
The Reds were not content and Reel worked a leadoff walk followed by a single by Durbak. Mass was able to get the first out getting Jaz to chase on for the K. Miles Reached base then with bases loaded Peters hit into a FC plating a run. Hall then reached on an error and Peters scored pushing the score to 10-1.
In the 7th Caputo was able to get the pop up to the catcher to start the inning. After a walk to Cortese he stole 2 bases and scored on a single by Webber. Post was able to work another walk and reach base for the 4th time. After 6-1/3, 3 hits, 4 BB and 1 HBP Caputo came out and was relieved by Hall and got the acknowledgment form the fans of the great game he pitched. Hall gave up a single to Carps, followed by an error before a hit back to the pitcher for the 2nd out. The Reds then had another errant throw and the Yankees plated a total of 4 with 2 outs and 2 runners on A hit to the SS and a throw to 2nd sealed the victory for the Reds against another great team.

Jaz 2 hits 1 R, Miles 1 hit 1 Bb 1 R, Peters 2 hits 3 runs, Hall 1 R, Mitchell 2 hits (double) bookending 2 Int Walks, Caputo 3 hits (2 after intentional walks) 1 R, Knipper double & rbi, Reel 1 H, I BB, 2 Runs, Durbak 2 Hits, 1 HBP, 2 runs. And these do not account for our hustle and taking advantage of their errors.

Thursday nights game at Watervliet HS pits the upstart expansion 7-9-1 Reds against the number 1 seed 15-1 Arachnids with their top-notch pitching, solid defense, solid offense and veteran manager. The Arachnids only let up 28 runs in 15 regular season games and 1 playoff game (50 runs less than any other team and has scored about as many as any other team). It's why we play the game.