The Firebells outhit the “visiting” Queens 6-2, but Ayami Sato threw a complete game shutout–the first ever complete game in WPBL history–as the Queens took the inaugural WPBL Championship with a 2-0 victory. Sato was also awarded the MVP trophy after going 2-0 in the Championship Series and 3-0 overall in the postseason with a 3.94 ERA in 23 innings pitched.
Sato gave up 5 runs in 4 innings of relief in Game 2 but still got the win thanks to her offense. Wednesday night it was Sato and her defense shutting down the Firebells. The Queens turned inning-ending double plays in the first and fourth innngs. The sixth inning was the only time the Firebells managed to send five batters to the plate in an inning, with Sato scattering two hits between three outs. Sato only had a single strikeout but gave up no walks, and 16 of her 21 outs came via ground balls. It was a dominant performance and you just have to tip your cap to her.
All the scoring for the Queens came in the third inning, unfortunately due to a leadoff walk by Firebells starter Jill Albayati and two errors by the Firebells defense behind her. Batting seventh, Sarah Edwards led off with the walk. Diana Ibarra hit a pop up to shallow right field. Firebells’ 2B Amanda Gianelloni had to track the ball down the turtleback infield slope and ultimately missed the catch for a tough E4, allowing Ibarra to reach. Mo’ne Davis hit the first of her two singles on the night, the only two hits the Firebells pitching gave up. With the bases now loaded, Queens leadoff hitter Ayuri Shimano hit a hot shot that Firebells 1B Andreanne Leblanc was not able to field cleanly, allowing Edwards to score. Ashton Lansdell grounded to short and the Firebells got the runner at third while Ibarra scored the second run. That was it for scoring as Jamie Mackay grounded back to Albayati and Caitlin Eynon grounded out to short.
Albayati would go on to pitch into the fifth, but back-to-back two-out walks spelled the end of her night. Nicki Eckert got the final out of the fifth and pitched a 1-2-3 sixth. Liz Gilder pitched the seventh giving up Davis’ second single with two outs and then plunking Shimano. But Lansdell lined out to short.
Congrats to the Queens, the first ever WPBL Champions! Firebells fans are left wondering if things would have still been locked up in a pitchers’ duel had the Firebells played error-free baseball like the Queens did.
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