Patriots Win Series with Walk-Off Home Run

by: Melinda Quasius | Special to NY Sports Day | Tuesday, September 30, 2008



BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Somerset’s fourth Atlantic League Championship came on a night when an unsuspecting hero emerged for the Patriots. Leading off the bottom of the ninth inning, game tied at two, catcher Travis Anderson crushed a 2-1 fastball over the left field wall for the 3-2 victory over the Camden Riversharks.

“It’s a dream come true. That’s what you dream about as a kid,” Anderson said of his first walk-off home run in six seasons in the Atlantic League.

“It couldn’t have happened to a better guy,” post season Most Valuable Player Brandon Larson said. “We knew it was going to be someone who wasn’t in the limelight all season who was going to come out and win it for us.”

“(Alec Zumwalt) threw me a fastball early. I saw it really well. I don’t think he wanted to throw that pitch,” said Anderson.

Anderson made such solid contact with the ball, his teammates were out of the dugout to congratulate him before the ball left the stadium.

Late into the game, it seemed inevitable a decisive game five would be needed. Camden’s starting pitcher Jake Dittler pitched seven shutout innings, allowing only three hits and two walks to a Patriots offense that scored 14 runs the night before.

Somerset received five-plus innings of solid pitching from their starter, Kip Bouknight. Bouknight gave up one early run on six hits and two walks.

In the top of the eighth inning, the Riversharks took the air out of the Somerset home crowd when center fielder L.J. Biernbaum scored against relief pitcher John Hunton on a double by designated hitter Ron Davenport and a throwing error by left fielder Elliott Ayala.

Biernbaum was 3-3 with a walk, a run and a run batted in Monday night for the Sharks.

Up 2-0 in the bottom of the eighth, the Riversharks sent in major league veteran Felix Rodriguez to wrap up the game.

With one out, centerfielder Sean Smith took Rodriguez deep into the pitch count before hitting a double to the warning track in left field.

“I’m the sparkplug on the team,” Smith said of his energizing hit. “I know what my job is.”

Shortstop Teuris Olivares then hit the ball just to he left of second base and into the outfield, scoring Smith for the first Patriot run of the game.

Rodriguez then walked Josh Pressley and struck out Larson, bringing up Jason Belcher. On a 1-2 pitch, Rodriguez hit Belcher to load the bases and, moments later, hit Matt Hagen in the chest to walk in the tying run.

Camden pulled Rodriguez in favor of Zumwalt (L, 1-1), who struck out Ryan Radmanovich to end the rally. But the Somerset crowd had been woken up and the scene had been set for Anderson’s series-ending blast.

Closer Brian Reith (1-0) was awarded the win for the Patriots. Reith also had three saves in six post season games.

Despite going 0-4 Monday, Larson won playoff MVP for hitting 11-24 (.458) against the Riversharks and the York Revolution. Larson hit three home runs and drove in seven RBI in six post season games.

“You live for these moments as a baseball player,” Larson said in the jubilant locker room.

The 29 runs scored by the Patriots broke the Atlantic League record for most runs plated in a Championship series, breaking the Atlantic City Surf’s 1998 mark of 27.

This was the first championship won by the Patriots at home. The Patriots are now 8-0 in series clinching games in the team’s 11 year history.