At 11-8 going into the 8th, the Goblins felt confident. They had pieced together runs, their offense was clicking, and MVP was teetering on the edge of an Opening Day upset.
Despite questionable defensive moments, MVP showed their clutch DNA. They proved they can hit under pressure, rally late, and turn doubters (even their own ace) into believers. The Goblins gave them a real battle, but when the smoke cleared, it was MVP standing tall—beer in hand, bats still hot.
MVP 18 – Goblins 14 / Rich (WP), Ev (Player of the Game: 2 HRs (incl. grand slam), 5 RBIs, 4 hits)
4 of MVP’s 11 players arrived just moments before first pitch. One unnamed MVP player didn’t have cleats, a gloves, or his jersey. Regardless, we all got there…
MVP didn’t explode out of the gate, but they made sure to set the tone. The scoring started with Donnie knocking in Rich, then Mullahey (5-5, 3 Runs, RBI) driving home Biemer, and finally the GM cleaning up the frame with another RBI.
The steady veteran RBI production kept them ahead, and Rich added more insurance in the 3rd, sending Ev home. While the Goblins hadn’t made a dent yet, the game felt close.
The 4th inning was the first sign of real Goblin energy, as they plated three runs, officially getting on the board and proving they weren’t going away quietly.
The 5th inning followed with another run, and by the 6th, they were piling it on, tacking up four more, tightening the gap and raising tension in the dugout.
MVP still held the lead as the GM picked up a pair of RBIs evenly split in the 4th and the 6th, but the Goblins had found momentum, and Jon’s outfield positioning concerns were starting to bubble beneath the surface.
The Goblins kept pressing, knocking in three more in the 7th and another three in the 8th, bringing real pressure for the first time all day.
At 11-8, MVP wasn’t just trailing—they were being tested. The Goblins’ bats were on fire, MVP’s defense wasn’t as crisp as needed, and the game felt like it was slipping.
Then everything changed in a flash.
If MVP needed a hero, Mullahey stepped up first, sport-mode and all, kicking off the team’s best frame of the day by coming home via Matty Baylous. The GM then followed up, driving in both Baylous’ in one swing, keeping the offensive train rolling. And then came Ev, who wasn’t done making history. Already having homered earlier, he launched a grand slam, bringing 1-Leg, the GM, and Munchie along with him.
By now, the Goblins were reeling, having already surrendered seven runs, but they were one out away from escaping the inning.
Then, disaster struck.
A Goblin outfielder got casual, misplayed what should have been the final out, and MVP took advantage of the 4th out. With two outs already recorded, Biemer reached base, setting up Donnie to drive them all home, flipping the 11-8 deficit into an 18-11 lead after the dust settled on the historic Tennis Court Field.
The dugout erupted, and MVP had taken the game back.
The Goblins got three runs back in the 8th, but it wasn’t nearly enough—especially once Pat Biemer decided to shut down their last hopes. Needing one final defensive stand, Biemer delivered, making back-to-back diving grabs, closing the book on the game and forcing Bubba Rich to finally buy into the alignment—at least for one Sunday.
Is Rich still skeptical? Sure. But you can’t argue with results.
Looking Ahead…
Despite defensive concerns, MVP proved again why they’re one of the league’s best. Their ability to deliver runs under pressure, capitalize on mistakes, and stick to their next-man-up mentality ensured the Goblins’ lead was short-lived.
With Bud Light and Twisted Tea fueling the final comeback, a shorthanded MVP heads into next week’s finals rematch with confidence.
MVP Brew Crew Softball Club 
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