"Players rushed the field, white jerseys and full grins collided on the infield and bounced until they became a pile of glee on the mound. The crowd of 4,000, decked out in green and gold, was on its feet, waving yellow towels and shaking cowbells. The smell of Hennessy and Modelo rode the Sunday evening breeze around Raimondi Park. And, in keeping with baseball tradition in this city, the sounds of Kool & The Gang's "Celebration" thumped loud enough to make the neighbors dance in nearby condos."
"A three-run first inning gave Oakland the lead and it never looked back. The Game 5 for all the marbles turned out to be an 8-1 rout of the Idaho Falls Chukars. The Ballers, who were down 2-0 in the Pioneer League's championship series, pulled off the comeback to capture the Pioneer Baseball Cup. Most importantly, in the same year the Athletics moved to Sacramento on their way to Las Vegas, the Ballers delivered a much-needed moment for the aggrieved fans of Oakland. They delivered the city's first baseball title since 1989."
The Oakland Ballers completed a comeback from a 2-0 deficit to win the Pioneer Baseball Cup with an 8-1 Game 5 victory over the Idaho Falls Chukars. A three-run first inning set the tone and closer Connor Sullivan struck out the final two batters to seal the championship. A crowd of about 4,000, dressed in green and gold, celebrated with towels, cowbells and music while fans mingled and shook hands with players. The Ballers, founded in 2023 in their second season, delivered Oakland its first baseball title since 1989 amid recent team relocations.
Read at The Mercury News
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