In a game dominated by pitching and defense, the River Dogs scored just enough to claim the H League World Series championship with a 5-2 win over the Blue Claws.

 

After a scoreless first inning, the River Dogs notched five runs with timely hitting in the second inning to move into the lead. Neither team was able to put any more runs on the board until the bottom half of the fifth inning when the Blue Claws bats came to life and they scored two.

 

After the Blue Claws shut down the River Dogs in the sixth it all came down to the last three outs of the game. The River Dogs pitching stepped up again for another solid inning as they held on for the win.

  

 

 

After an exciting night of baseball at Henningsen Fields, the Blue Claws and River Dogs earned the right to represent their respective leagues in the H League World Series championship game.

 

The game will feature a rematch of the opening game of the season when the Blue Claws defeated the River Dogs 13-6 on a soggy Fish Hatchery South field.

 

The Blue Claws won the National League pennant with a 10-6 win over the surprising Timber Rattlers. The T Rattlers battled their way through the playoffs and almost pulled off the upset of the century. But, the famed Blue Claws pitching staff, featuring at least two certain Hall of Famers, held on for the win.

 

While the Blue Claws and Timber Rattlers celebrated their successful seasons, the Lugnuts and River Dogs were playing the most exciting game of the H league season. The game had a bit of everything before the River Dogs eked out a 15-14 win.

 

The Lugnuts opened the top half of the first with a five spot and took control of the game. The River Dogs battled back with five runs in both the second and third inning. Both teams displayed tremendous hitting and proved worthy to be battling for the American League crown.

 

With the River Dogs holding a 15 -11 lead going into the sixth innning, the Lugnuts were not giving up. They scored three runs and had the tying run in scoring position with two outs. The Lugnuts final batter roped a line drive that looked like it was heading into center field, but the River Dogs pitcher made a stellar catch to end the game.

 

Tuesday night's championship game is 6:30 pm at Henningsen Field.  

 

The Lugnuts defeated the Bulls 13-9 Thursday to claim the Pool D title and a spot in the American League championship game against the mid-season tournament champion River Dogs.

 

With pool play over, both leagues will host their championship game Monday night at Henningsen Fields. Aside from the Lugnuts-River Dogs, the Blue Claws will host the Timber Rattlers. The winner of each game will play in the H League World Series Tuesday night. 

Henningsen South will be rocking tonight as the Bulls host the Lugnuts with a spot in the American League championship game going to the winner.

 

The Lugnuts' defense has been masterful during the first two games of pool play. They have notched shutouts in each game. However, the Bulls enter the game as the number one seed after only losing one game during the regular season.

 

Although standing room tickets are available for this epic showdown, great seats are still available for those willing to pay top dollar on StubHub.

 

The winner of this game will face the River Dogs, who wrapped up Pool B Wednesday night after defeating the Owlz. The Owlz Cinderalla playoff run came to an end when the glass slipper slid on the Dogs paws. 

 

 

The eighth-seeded Timber Rattlers completed their improbable playoff run and earned a spot in the National League championship game with an 8-7 extra inning win over the Express. 

 

In an extreme display of sportsmanship, the Express coaxed the Timber Rattlers into an extra inning with the score knotted at seven after regulation. If the Express had walked off the field with that tie they would have been crowned Pool A champions. However, the Express knew that was no way to end a crucial tournament game. The Rattlers scored in the seventh and made it hold up for the win.

 

They face the Blue Claws in the National League championship game Monday night at Henningsen North. The Claws went undefeated in pool play after a 9-3 win over the Hooks.  

With a 5-2 win over the Muckdogs, the Blue Claws are the first team to clinch a spot in the H league World Series tournament semi-finals.

 

The second night of action featured close games on all the diamonds. The Cats won by a whisker over the Timber Rattlers to even both team's records at 1-1.  That outcome, combined with the Express' 8-7 victory over the Lookouts sets up an epic showdown Wednesday between the Timber Rattlers and the Express. The winner of that game will be crowned Pool A champion and will earn a spot in next week's semi-finals and a chance to match up against the vaunted Blue Claws and their dominating pitching staff.

 

The Bats and Hooks played to a dramatic 12-12 tie in a game that epitomized the close games played all spring in H league.

 

Wednesday night's action features all teams hitting the diamonds as pool play closes for the National League.

Henningsen North became a field of dreams Monday night as both number eight seeds notched opening night wins in the H league World Series.

 

The Timber Rattlers knocked off the mid-season tournament runner up Lookouts 13-6 in the early game. The Owlz proved they like the night as they notched their first win of the season 10-4 over the Bees in the late game at Henningsen North. The Owlz hoots and hollers could be heard all the way to Ridgewood and Fish Hatchery North, where more exciting games were taking place.

 

The first night of the world series tournament proved you can throw out the regular season standings. All teams have a fresh start and dreams of playing in the June 30th championship game.

 

Tuesday night, the National League teams head back to the fields with visions of glory. The American League will take a night off.