by Joe DiBlasi
Derrick Burnette II (Gilman) threw a five inning six-hitter as the
Liberty Road Redwings won the 16-18 Baltimore City RBI Summer Baseball League
Championship at Randallstown High School on Tuesday night, defeating the
Baltimore Rattlers, 9-3, in the third game of a two out of three playoff
format.
It was the third straight title for the Redwings in the Baltimore
Orioles-sponsored league, that consists of seven area teams. The Orioles
provide the uniforms, equipment and umpire fees.
The first and second place finishers vie for the league crown in a playoff
format. Liberty Road won game one, 11-10. The Rattlers evened the series with a
13-12 victory in game two, and the Redwings, behind Burnette won the crown in
game three.
Burnette also got the win in game one, when he came on to throw two innings
in relief.
"I had good command, my fastball was moving, and I was hitting the spots,"
said the tall right-hander, who will attend Elon College in North Carolina in
the fall. Burnette lettered in three varsity sports at Gilman, playing football,
basketball and baseball for the Greyhounds. "I was able to keep them off
balance, because my curve was working too."
Van Johnson (Carver-Towson) had a double and a single, two RBI, and scored
two runs for the Redwings, and Corey Brown (Calvert Hall) doubled home two in
the third inning, when the Redwings scored five times.
The Redwings, who are coached by Derrick's dad, Derrick Bunette, Jr. finished the regular season with a 10-2 record.
Rattlers 0 0 0 0
3 3 6 2
Redwings 3 0 5 1
x 9 5 2
