No quarrel over Quarles' dominance in Class A league title game
This time around the two teams switched roles, and Brandon Quarles made sure that Moose didn't go home from the Sunday, Aug. 17 at Tuscora Park.
After Kaufman took home the tournament win in a 3-1 victory in which Jordan Knight twirled a gem, Quarles duplicated that effort, firing a four-hitter to lead Moose to a 6-0 whitewash and a league championship victory.
There was simply no debating Quarles' mound presence was the key to victory for Moose.
Considering that Quarles' arm has had its share of health issues this season—and he has struggled, according to both head coach Derek Cummings and Quarles himself—it was a pleasing way for the veteran right-hander to finish the season.
“My arm has bothered me all year, but I had 10 days of rest and today it all came together,” said Quarles. “My arm felt very fresh, and T.J. Rosenberg called a great game behind the plate. I didn't shake him off one time.”
Quarles and Jordan Yoder of Kaufman were locked up in a pitchers duel through four, with Matt Wheeler's sacrifice fly accounting for the lone run for Moose.
Quarles, who escaped a run-scoring situation in the third inning, pulled off his biggest Houdini act in the fifth.
Kaufman got a hit, a walk and a hit batter to load the bases with one out. However, Quarles bore down, striking out Miller and then getting Sammy Fondriest on a filthy 3-2 slider to end the inning.
“That was absolutely huge,” said Kaufman coach Ross Yoder of Quarles' escape act. “Quarles did a great job. He threw some great pitches in tough counts. You have to tip your cap to the pitcher when that happens. He threw Sammy a great pitch on the 3-2 count.”
That was all Moose would need, as they began tacking on runs. Two came in the fifth, when Yoder allowed two runners and was relieved by Colby Stoltzfus. Moose greeted Stoltzfus with a two run single to make it 3-0.
Moose would then score three more in the sixth to blow the league championship wide open.
“Any time you're playing (Kaufman) it is always nice to get a big win, especially at the end of the year,” said Cummings. “Brandon was lights out. He has struggled a bit this year, but he had his curve ball working and got ahead of guys, and that is key.”
The respect between these two stellar teams flows both ways, and Moose and Kaufman have been going at this friendly rivalry for years.
Cummings said that Moose has taken note of the strength of Kaufman's team and game plan, and has tried to implement that same kind of format, featuring great pitching and solid defense.
“I think Brandon coming out and throwing strikes got us momentum,” said Cummings. “The little things we did got us some confidence after losing the first game.”
“We lost to a very good team today,” said Yoder of Moose. “They deserved to win. They played really well, and they made big plays to get out of jams.”
For Quarles, it was a sensational way to finish off a year full of struggles and questions.
“I felt like our defense really picked me up today on some hard hit balls,” said Quarles. “Tyler King made an unbelievable play at shortstop. Derek (Cummings) made a sensational catch deep in center near the fence. We played a great game in the field and got timely hitting.”
Quarles, who has played for Moose for nearly 15 years, said that Lauren has never won the league championship, although they have won the tournament title.
He said getting the league title was a big deal for Moose, and that they can now check it off their bucket list.
“We've been trying to win that thing, but have never got it done until now, so that feels good,” said Quarles, a 2005 Claymont graduate.
Quarles started pitching for Moose when he was 15, and keeps telling the younger team members that when he reaches 100 career wins he is hanging up his cleats for good.
That is, unless, he keeps throwing gems like he did on this day, when he could do no wrong and Lauren Moose earned a huge addition for the trophy case.