n 7 innings.  In the second game (Championship Round Game 3), Fulton scored seven runs in the top of the 1st inning. Mikee Moore led off the game with a double. One out later Rob Hogenkamp walked. Tyler O'Daniel singled -- loading the bases. Moore came in on an RBI single by Colton Speed. A passed ball allowed Hogenkamp to score and the other runners to advance a base. Kahtan Al-Kaissy reached on a error that scored O'Daniel and moved Speed to third base. Al-Kaissy stole second base and Speed broke for home -- ducking under the tag to score. Connor Tracy reached on a error and Chris Divarco singled, loading the bases again. Zach Bailey followed with a 3- RBI triple to drive in all the runners ahead of him. The second and third out came in succession, with the Railroaders leading 7-0.

The Oilers scored two runs in the bottom of 2nd inning. Ryan Messex singled to start the Oiler inning and Brent Weinzapfel hit a 2-RBI home run over the center field wall. At the end of two innings it was a 7-2 game. Owensboro added two more runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Luis Mila led off with a walk. One out later, Ryan Stephens singled. They both advanced a base on the same wild pitch. Mila and Stephens scored with two outs on a 2-RBI single by Austin Hargrove. By the end of three innings, the Oilers had climbed back to a 7-4 deficit. The home team made it 7 to 5 with one run in the bottom of the 4th inning. Austin Clay walked, and was sacrifice bunted to second base. He scored on a RBI double by Mila.

The Railroader offense asserted itself again to score three more runs in the top of the 6th inning. Bailey walked to lead off. Moore, intending to sacrifice bunt, reached on an error that put himself at second base and Bailey at third base. Brandon Eggenschwiler RBI sacrifice flied to score Bailey. Hogenkamp RBI singled to bring in Moore, then went to second base on a passed ball. Tyler O'Daniel followed with an RBI single for Hogenkamp's run. Owensboro escaped further damage -- but now trailed 10 to 5.

The Oilers would rally for two of those five runs in the bottom of the 6th inning. With one out Ty Stetson, Stephens, and Messex strung together consecutive singles to load the bases against Fulton reliever Mike Canady. Austin Hargrove and Dalton Lykins each RBI walked with the bases loaded and no more than two out. Fulton brought on closer Tate Glasscock to record the final out of the 6th inning. After 6 innings the score was 10 to 7 for the Railroaders, and that's the way it stayed to the game's conclusion. The win went to Fulton starter Roman Kelly and Tate Glasscock earned his second save of the day. The tough loss fell on Oilers starter Ben Wright. Of the 10 runs scored against Owensboro in this game only two were earned. That, as they say, is baseball.  Box Scores Click Here.

It is a beautiful thing to watch happen each year, here in Owensboro, and around the League. Baseball can make you feel like a kid again, and baseball can break your heart -- all at the same time. Still, this truth is constant: baseball will bring you back. Thanks everyone for a great 2011 and come back for 2012.