🏆 CMBL Championship – Game One
Cape Fear River Ducks 2, Northern Lights 1
The #3 River Ducks stunned the #2 Northern Lights in a tense pitcher’s duel, forcing a winner-take-all Game Two on August 24.
âšľ Game Flow
– 3rd Inning (Lights lead 1–0): The Northern Lights scratched across a run on limited offense, taking the early edge.
– 4th Inning (Ducks lead 2–1): The Ducks answered back immediately. Jason Dunn blasted a 2-run homer to left, giving the River Ducks a lead they never surrendered.
– Rest of the Game: Both pitching staffs locked in. The Ducks were held scoreless after the 4th, and the Lights couldn’t break through despite a few base runners.
🌟 River Ducks Highlights
Jason Dunn (LF): 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI – delivered the decisive swing of the game.
Casey Schoonmaker: 2B, R
Mike Barker, Ryan Perkins, and Dylan Pierce each added a hit.
Team: 5 hits, 4 walks, 13 strikeouts, 10 left on base.
🌟 Northern Lights Highlights
Offense managed just 3 hits.
Justin Croom, Ben Foxall, and Alex Thomas each singled.
Jerryd Jones scored their lone run.
🔥 Pitching Duel
Ducks – Jacob Birkle (W): Complete game masterpiece (9 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 13 K). He struck out nearly half the batters he faced and never let the Lights mount a rally.
Lights – Zack Licursi: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 1 HR allowed.
Relief – Kevin Mintz: 2 scoreless innings, 5 K, kept the game within reach.
🏆 Player of the Game
Jacob Birkle – His dominant complete game (13 strikeouts, 3 hits allowed) silenced a red-hot Northern Lights offense and gave the Ducks the chance to fight for the championship in a decisive Game Two.
🔮 What’s Next
The Ducks force a winner-take-all Championship Game Two on Sunday, August 24th at Trask MS. The Lights will try to bounce back and secure the title, while the Ducks look to complete their remarkable playoff run with a championship.
