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#6 Moment in Blue Sox Franchise History: “PGCBL Playoff Bound for the First Time Ever” (July 29, 2015: Utica Brewers @ Adirondack Trail Blazers)

Time Capsule

In 2014, the Utica Brewers finished with the worst record in PGCBL history at the time with a record of 9-36. Needless to say, the team bounced back strongly in the summer of 2015. Led by PGCBL batting champion Ryan Cox and PGCBL home run co-leader Taylor Olmstead, the “Brew Crew” needed a win and a Newark Pilots loss to the Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs in order to clinch their first PGCBL playoff berth ever on July 29 when they headed to Boonville to visit the Adirondack Trail Blazers. Despite being in the league’s most hitter-friendly ballpark, Utica starter Ryan Simpler was the story of this game as he took a no-hitter into the 7th inning. While he was doing that, his teammates stepped up and gave him the run support that he needed as Olmstead hit an RBI single in the 1st and in the 2nd, Jared Baldinelli drilled an RBI double and came around to score on a triple by Cox two pitches later. Baldinelli crushed a two-run shot to right field in his next at-bat in the 4th to make it 5-0 while Simpler continued retiring hitters left and right. For added insurance, the Brewers added three more runs in the top of the 8th before Simpler recorded his 10th and 11th strikeouts on the night in the bottom of the inning. The 9th and final inning would be his most efficient of the game as he needed just eight pitches to retire the Trail Blazers in order and clinch the franchise’s first-ever PGCBL playoff berth, thanks to an assist from the DiamondDawgs, who beat the Pilots in Newark earlier that night. This moment laid the groundwork for each of the top five moments in our franchise’s history.

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