Hillsboro Tops Vancouver 4-3 to Claim NWL Championship
September 7, 2014 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Vancouver Canadians News Release
(Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, B.C.) - The Vancouver Canadians dug themselves into an early hole and came up a run short in a late inning rally to fall 4-3 to the Hillsboro Hops giving the Oregon-based team the Northwest League Championship.
Canadians starter LHP Matt Smoral struggled in his final appearance of the season as the 6'7" prospect went 2 2/3 innings allowing all four runs on three hits, three walks and a hit batter. Vancouver's bullpen was electric in relief as the combination of RHP Jon Wandling (2.1IP); RHP Andrew Case (1.2IP) and Michael Kraft (1.1IP) kept the Hops off the scoreboard allowing the offense to try and erase the four-run deficit.
Vancouver would score a run in the top of the 4th inning, 6th and 7th to bring the game to within one, but in the top of the 9th inning, Hillsboro closer LHP Zak Curtis came in and got the final three outs to send Hillsboro's bench pouring out onto the field as Champions of the Northwest League.
The Canadians would leave 10 runners on-base and lose for the third time in the Northwest League final in franchise history (2004 vs. Spokane, 2005 vs. Boise).
Hillsboro wins its first franchise Championship since claiming the 2000 NWL title as the former Yakima Bears.
The Vancouver Canadians wish to congratulate the Hillsboro Hops and the McMurray Family on a fantastic season that culminated in a NWL Championship.
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Northwest League Stories from September 7, 2014
- Hillsboro Tops Vancouver 4-3 to Claim NWL Championship - Vancouver Canadians
- Former Boise Hawks Lopez, Jokisch Make MLB Debuts for Cubs - Boise Hawks
- Vancouver Canadians at Hillsboro Hops Game Notes - Hillsboro Hops
- Hops Come Back to Stun Vancouver, Win Game 1 - Hillsboro Hops
- Vancouver jumps out to five-run lead but can't avoid Hillsboro power surge; fall 7-5 - Vancouver Canadians
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