Jays win the Championship
The journey to the 2015 SABL Championship, the first in franchise history, truly
began in
2013 for the Jays. After a third losing season in 2012, that saw the previous two
seasons
end with a frustrated coach stepping down, the Jays were in jeopardy of even
fielding
a team in 2013. Over a tumultuous offseason that saw Jays players make backdoor
moves
with other teams, childhood friends Maatman and Hall took it as a challenge, and
took
over the team in 2013. While the 2013 season was another losing one, it ended on a
hopeful
note when they pushed the eventual Championship Royals to their toughest test in the
quarter finals. "The series went the full 3 games and ended in dramatic fashion with
a two out bases loaded single inside the third base line." Royals Championship page.
Thanks to assistant coach Murphy the 2014 season started with new jerseys, and a new
attitude,
"Look good, feel good, play good!" After posting a respectable 20-11 record, the
Jays
once again gave the eventual Championship Braves their biggest challenge, pushing
the
semifinals to a 5th game, that ended in a heartbreaking 3-2 game 5 loss.
The 2015 regular season ended with the three top teams tied with a .679 winning
percentage,
but the Jays came out on top through tie breakers. With a regular season title under
their belt the Jays headed into the playoffs with one goal, a championship. They
knew
they didn't have to reinvent the wheel, they just had to keep it rolling.
The Jays took out the Giants in 2 games in the quarterfinals, which lead them to
their toughest
challenge of the post-season, a semifinal match-up against their "dragon" the
Astros.
In retrospect the biggest game of the regular season was the tail end of a double
header
on June 21st. After losing 3 straight games to the Astros this year, and 13 in a row
dating back to 2011, the Jays finally won the last regular season meeting between
the
two teams 10-1.
With the monkey off their back the Jays headed into the semi's with confidence,
however the
Astro's quickly took a 2-1 series strangle hold, forcing the Jays to try and sweep
the
Astros in a Thursday night double header in order to advance. The first game of the
double
dip matched staff aces Brad Czajkowski of the Jays against the veteran Dave Gemmel
of
the Astro's, but the Jays managed to hang on for an 8-6 victory. Game 5 saw the Jays
edge out the Astros 5-4, to slay their "dragon", and move on to the their first SABL
finals.
The finals was a rematch of the 2014 semis, with the Jays facing the defending
champion Braves.
Unfortunately for the Braves an injury to their star shortstop left their defense
with
holes, and the Jays offense went on to put up 48 runs in the 4 game series victory,
bringing
them their well-deserved championship.
The 2015 Jays can be summed up by a quote from Blue Jays ace David Price, "it's
always that
close group of guys, that's always the last team standing." Great job boys, a total
team
effort, can't wait till next year!