Congratulations to the Sykesville Senators on their 5th consecutive Federation League World Championship!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  The Senators defeated the DuBois Rockets 7-6 and swept the series.

Your 2016 Federation League Champions, Sykesville Senators!

Sykesville's 5-time Champion Players

 From Left to Right: Jim Urban, Jason Roman, Jordan Weinzerl, Dean Williams, Jonathan Weber, Jarred Baummer,

Paul Roman, Adam Fox, Jude Lander, and (missing from photo) Dan Wascovich

DuBOIS — The Sykesville Senators have created quite the dynasty over the last four years in the Federation League, and the dominance continued into the 2016 playoffs.

The season culminated on Wednesday evening with the Senators’ fifth straight championship in as many years as they held off DuBois, 7-6, to complete a four-game sweep at Showers’ Field.

Sykesville ended the year with a total record of 27-6, including winning eight of its nine playoff games.

Senators coach Paul Roman and assistant coach Jimmy Urban had eight players on the roster for all five of the titles in Adam Fox, Jonathan Weber, Jason Roman, Dan Wascovich, Jordan Weinzierl, Jude Lander, Jared Baummer and Dean Williams. Kasey Clinton and Nick Brennen have been there for four of the championships.

“Coming into the year we had won four in a row, it’s like everybody is shooting for us,” said Roman. “We pretty much have the same team. We can fill around when people leave. We lost a few, we gained a few.

“One thing we never did in the four (previous) years was win the regular season. That was our goal this year, and we won the regular season. We had that first round bye. That was tough. We sat for two weeks.”

“It means a lot to know that the kids have the drive to win. They just don’t want to lose.”

Fox and Weber were named co-MVPs for the finals as neither could really be chosen over the other.

Weber finished the series with a .563 (9-for-16) average with a home run, five runs scored and six RBIs. Fox ended the finals at a .539 (7-for-13) clip and clubbed two home runs, a double, scored five runs and knocked in four.

Both had also won the MVP in the four previous titles. Weber was the most valuable player for the first championship back in 2012, while Fox took the honor two years ago.

Jason Knarr was the 2013 MVP, while Clinton was picked in last year’s championship series.

Like Roman said, not bad for a few older guys that are playing only for love of the game.

“At this age, you really have to love baseball to be here,” said the Senators manager. “If you don’t love baseball, you’re not in this dugout. These guys and myself work all day long.

“You don’t go home. You have your uniform in your car and you drive to the game. You really have to love baseball at this age, and it shows when they play.”

It had looked like Sykesville would cruise to the finish line as it scored five runs in the first two innings to take a 5-0 lead.

However, the Rockets scored a run in the bottom of the fifth just before the two teams had to wait out a 45-minute rain delay before the top of the sixth.

The rain delay did some good for DuBois as it put together five runs in the final two innings. But, Sykesville scored twice in the top of the seventh, and those runs turned out to be the most important of the game.

Down 7-3 in the bottom of the seventh, the Rockets loaded the bases with three straight walks to Evan Bush, Matt Zimmerman and Garrett Brown by Brennen, who came on in relief in the sixth.

Brian Shaffer then drilled a groundball to third, and the throw to second base was dropped. Bush and Zimmerman both scored on the play to cut the Sykesville lead in half.

Sean Zimmerman drew a walk to load the bases once again with no outs, which forced Roman to go to Weinzierl for the save.

Weinzierl responded with a big strikeout for the first out, while Tom Hibbert grounded into a fielder’s choice for the second out, which brought Brown home and put the tying run at third base.

Weinzierl got T.J. Gornati to bounce back to the mound for the final out.

“I call that ‘true Senator fashion,’” said Roman. “It just seems like we win, but it’s never easy. We don’t ever win by a bunch.

“I could brag about every one of these kids. They all did the job.”

The Senators put three runs across in the top of the first as Jake Felix ripped a two-run double to deep left field, while Jason Roman hit a sacrifice fly to shallow center field that the second baseman handled. Weber still sprinted home on the play, however, as Sykesville took a 3-0 lead against DuBois starter Garrett Brown.

Devon Walker and Weber each had RBI singles in the top of the second to bring the score at 5-0.

Meanwhile, Williams, the Sykesville starting pitcher, wasted no time in setting down the Rockets. Williams held DuBois hitless for the first three innings before Brown singled in the fourth.

In his 4 2/3 innings on the mound, Williams only threw 37 pitches. He allowed an earned run on five hits, and didn’t walk a batter or strike anybody out in earning the victory.

The only run he allowed came on an RBI single from Matt Zimmerman to score Bush, who was courtesy running for Gornati.

Jesse Hodge got the final out of the fifth and also got a quick out after the rain delay in the bottom of the sixth, but walked Sean Zimmerman and Nate Sabados before allowing a two-run double to Hibbert.

Brennen came on for the final two outs for the sixth with a strikeout and a groundout.

Fox doubled to open the top of the seventh and was driven home by a Clinton two-out, pinch-hit single.

After an error, Gornati walked Austin Blauser and Ben Hayes to force home another run to make the score 7-3 to set up the bottom of the seventh.

Weinzierl, Fox, Weber and Felix each had two hits in the game for Sykesville, which will be going for No. 6 in a row next season.

“I’m excited for the group that’s been here for five years, but I’m also excited for the new ones,” said Roman. “Austin Blauser, Keaton Beckes, Ben Hayes and Jesse Hodge are new to the team. What we would like to see is as the older guys leave, just replace them with those guys. They now know what winning is about.”

Including playoffs, DuBois ended the season with a total record of 23-13.