11/16/09 - BLACK TEAM TAKES SERIES 3 GAMES TO 1, KNIGHT NAMED MVP - Phenix City, AL

The Black team broke a three year slide by capturing the annual CVCC Blue and Black World Series 3 games to 1 with a 3-2 victory over the Blue team. Ryan Noelte belted a base clearing double over the head of Blue team center fielder Chris Duncan to plate the give the Black team the lead and they never looked back, riding the arms of Pirate and Black team hurlers Derek Varnadore and Chris Graves for the win. Noelte, who had been injured for most of the fall was excited to be able to contribute "I really couldn't do much for the last couple of weeks, but I really wanted to help give Coach O'Neill a win this year, so when they told me I could play, it was really important to me to do well."

The Blue team gave a solid effort in loss, but came up a run short at the end. The rest of the series, as usual, was extremely close, as one run decided all but one game during the series. Coach O'Neill was pleased with the outcome of the series saying "Both teams gave great efforts today, and we were fortunate to have some guys really step up and cash in on some big opportunities." For sophomore Tom Richardson, it was extra special "We lost the series in a heartbreaker last year, so to come back like this and take home the title meant alot for me. As far as the fall goes, we take alot of pride in winning this thing, so it was special to get a victory in one of these before I have to leave."

Freshman outfielder Johnny Knight was named the post season MVP after carrying the Black teams several times over the course of the Pirate post season. Knight drove in game winning runs in 4 of the 8 total post season games(the Black team won the divisional series in 4 games as well) and delivered clutch hits, including a homerun, in almost every game. In addition, he threw out the potential tying run at the plate in the clincher adding a huge defensive play to his contributions. O'Neill described Knight's performance as "Outstanding" and said this about his rightfielder: "Johnny carried us most of the way. We really struggled early, and it seemed like everytime we needed a big hit, there he was. It was a really defining couple of weeks for him, and an outstanding cap to what started as a tough fall for him(Knight)." Knight is looking forward to the spring, where he and several other Pirate's will patrol the outfield at The Lake.

In the weeks to come, the Black team will celebrate its victory with a steak dinner and bragging rights that last a year.