By MATT PIKE
There are only two teams in Major League Baseball who have won double digit World Series, the New York Yankees and the St. Louis Cardinals, with the next closest being the Boston Red Sox with nine. And now one collegiate summer league team can claim they are in a pretty exclusive club of teams to win double digit championships.
The St. Joseph Mustangs hoisted their 10th MINK League Championship on Saturday, after beating the Clarinda A's 13-0 at Phil Welch Stadium in a seven inning run rule victory, bringing home back to back championships for the fourth time in the history of the team.
Manager Johnny Coy says it was a special year, with the team losing just eight games, and says it means everything to win a championship
"Every single year we strive for a championship, and we've been winning a lot lately and it just never gets old, playing in front of these fans, getting to coach in front of these fans, these players love it, I love it, it just never gets old," Coy tells reporters following the game. "And I'm looking forward to next season already, we're going to enjoy it tonight, but looking forward to next season already, a new crop of players, I'm sure we'll get a lot of returners because we do every year, and hopefully some guys will fill some holes and we'll compete for number 11."
The Mustangs benefitted from Clarinda errors in the game, with the A's having seven overall. The first run of the game scored as Benton alum Chris Coy reached first on a throwing error by the catcher, driving in Jack Mosh in the second inning. Lafayette alum Jayden Little also scored in the second on a sacrifice fly from Easton Phillipe.
In the third inning the Mustangs tacked on another run on an error by the right fielder, Lafayette alum Brayden Luikart coming home to score. Another sacrifice fly from Phillipe drove in Dom Felix before Bishop LeBlond alum and recent transfer to Northwest Missouri State Frank Gall pinch hit in the inning and singled driving in two more, scoring Coy and Little.
For Gall, who spent much of the season battling injury, it was special to win the championship
"I only got to play in nine or 10 games, so to finish with a MINK League championship is all I could have asked for," Gall says.
Gall says winning the 10th championship in the Mustangs history is pretty amazing
"I think we just expect it every year, and it feels great man, it feels awesome," Gall excitedly says.
Things unraveled more in the fifth inning for the A's as the Mustangs scored seven runs, again benefiting from Clarinda errors as the A's made five in the fifth inning alone.
Central alum Logan Miller reached first on a throwing error by the shortstop, bringing home Coy. Another throwing error from the shortstop allowed Darius Freeman to reach first base, scoring two runs as Gall and Miller came across home, before Freeman later scored on a single from Luikart. Another single by Mosh drove in Luikart to continue extending the lead and then another throwing error allowed Dom Felix to score a run as Coy reached on a fielders choice. The final run scored as Coy stole second, and on the throw Little came across home to score.
The Mustangs have benefitted from a strong pitching staff all season long, and it was no different on Saturday night. Bishop LeBlond alum and former Northwest Missouri State pitcher Jaren Guck was a key part of that pitching staff, and threw a complete game shutout in Saturday's finale.
Guck, who helped close out last year's championship against Clarinda as well, says he just loves the moment
"I mean the adrenaline just gets you going, I think it makes it easy to pitch and I just love the moment, it's fun to pitch in, and I'm just happy to do it twice," Guck says.
Guck pitched his final game as a Mustang after finishing his collegiate career at Northwest this spring. Guck says it's always great to win with the Mustangs.
"It's always a great feeling, I always look forward to this because I always feel good about our chances every summer and it's two in a row now," Guck says. "I won't be here, but let's go for three."
Guck struck out eight and gave up just three hits on Saturday to help secure the Mustangs championship. At the plate, Gall was 2-for-3 with two RBI's. Mosh was 2-for-3 with one RBI, while Little was 2-for-3 with a walk and three runs scored.
The Mustangs finished the season 38-8 with a 28-7 record in the MINK League. This is the fourth time the Mustangs have won the championship in back to back years, last winning it in 2021 and 2022.
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