The 2018 iteration of the Rookies club claimed their second title of the summer by capturing the July 4th Mid-Summer Classic Title. Entering championship Sunday as the 3rd seed (of 6), the Rookies were unable to secure a bye and were faced with the daunting task of having to play up to three games on a hot summer’s day.

After a 9-0 quarterfinal victory behind Johan Franco, the Rookies had the opportunity to avenge their pool play loss against, fittingly, the Avengers. The second seed Avengers were playing their first game of the day coming off their bye and Micah Garrett drew the semi-final assignment on the bump for the Nine.

Johan Franco opened the second inning with a leadoff double and scored ahead of a JA Spanoudakis groundout. After Jack Lobrutto reached safely in the third, Mono Boutsikakis and Micah Garrett both singled and Andrew Park doubled plating a total of two runs. In the fourth, Kieran Jermyn singled home Spanoudakis to push the lead to 4-1. With the bases loaded in the fifth and nobody out, Sebastian Granobles came on and masterfully navigated the inning, not allowing anyone to score. This was the second time in the tournament he worked through a bases loaded, no out jam. With the victory, the Rookies moved into the finals vs the CP Stars.

The finals saw more of the same from the Nine as Sabin Ghale fanned eight through six scoreless frames. Andrew Park cleared the bases with a booming double and Johan Franco went 3-4 with 4 RBI as the Nine cruised to an 11-0 victory. On Championship Sunday, the Rookies outscored their playoff opposition 24-1.