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That’s all she wrote folks. They did it. The DuPage County Hounds are your 2015 MCL Champions. After dropping a dismal game two, the Hounds bounced back in a big way for the final game of the series to defeat the Lexington Snipes, 7-2. The Snipes were the first team to strike and they did it with a bang as they led off the game with back-to-back triples. After a long sac fly, Lexington ended the first inning up 2-0. DuPage did not let the early deficit get them down whatsoever as their bats responded in full force as they smacked three home runs in the first three innings of the ballgame, which led them to a 5-2 lead after three innings of play. From there on out, the Hounds never looked back as their excellent pitching combo of Jake Latz and Pat Cashman held Lexington scoreless after the first. Overall the Hounds played a perfectly executed game and one of their best of the season to clinch their 2015 Midwest Collegiate League title.

 

For the sixth straight playoff game, Zac Taylor led off for the Hounds where he went one for five with a single. The red-hot Joe Duncan slid back up into the top third of the order and hit second where he went two for five with two singles and a stolen base. 

 

Ryan Fitzgerald manned the three-hole where he went two for four with a single and a RBI triple. The Carrier brothers hit back to back per usual in the four and five holes. Trent reached base three times in his four plate appearances on a walk, a RBI single and a solo homerun. Shane went two for four with a double and a two-run home run.

 

The catching duties were delegated to Hunter Morris for all nine frames of the contest and he also went one for three at the plate with a single. He also reached base a second time after drawing a walk and drove in a run on a Lexington fielding error. Dustin Krob continued his late-season offensive surge as he went one for four at the dish with a double.

 

Matt Wollnik took over the hot corner duties for game three and also went one for four at the dish with a single. Last but not least, Bobby Wenthe rounded out the Hounds’ explosive lineup by going one for four with one of his trademark 400+ foot home runs that came in the form of a solo shot.

 

Jake Latz was handed the ball to start the final game of DuPage’s season. After surrendering two runs on three hits in the first inning, Latz was back to his dominant self as he shut down the Snipe offense for the next two innings before handing it over to reliever Pat Cashman. Cashman was magnificent in relief as went the remaining six innings of the ballgame in which he gave up just one run on nine hits while striking out six. He also did not allow any Snipe batter to reach base via the walk in his six innings of work.

 

For Lexington, Chris Maranto and Neal Tyrell were both three for five with two singles and a triple. Tyrell also drove in one of the Snipes’ two RBIs. Jason Priest went two for four with two singles and a RBI. Jared McCunn reached base three times on two walks and a single. Owen Miller reached base twice after drawing a walk and smacking a single. Tyler Horchem and Tanner Russel both went one for four with a single.

 

The Hounds did most of their damage off starting pitcher Noah Lamboley who only lasted two and one-thirds innings in which he gave up six runs on sevens hits. Ian Hall was the first Snipes pitcher to appear in relief as he went the next three and two-thirds innings in which he gave up one run on six hits. Kody Silverthorn threw the seventh and pitched a perfect one-two-three inning, which included one strikeout. Finally, Jake Sale came on to pitch the eighth inning where he did not allow any base runners while striking out one batter.

 

The DuPage County Hounds would like to sincerely thank all of our players, coaches, sponsors, host families, parents and fans for their continued support throughout the 2015 season. The success of this season could not have taken place without you all and we hope to see each and every one of you next season!