The championship gave the Red Sox plenty of reason to smile.

Red Sox Bring Home
Minor League Championship

He'd been razzed before. "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride," were the words tossed by opponents of the past at Red Sox skipper Mike Albright, who had been to the big game in 2007 against BHAA's very own farm league Giants. He came away with second place and a monkey on his back.

And here he was tonight (June 26), in another championship game against another set of Giants, these from Avonworth.

Albright knew his team had potential, racking up an 11-2 season record and beating these Avonworth Giants head-to-head in regular season play. Would this be the year?

These 2011 Red Sox lived up to their potential, grabbing a 5-0 lead and holding it nearly all game. They climbed on the sturdy back of starting pitcher Antonio Mitchell, who brought the noise, pitching three scoreless innings against a frustrated Giants squad.

Jordan Albright opened the scoring on a sacrifice fly by Aidan Knupsky. Later, Mitchell (2 RBIs), Shane Ferris (2 hits), Denny O'Dell (single) and Winston Rouse (double) showed their hot sticks. Caleb Little-Poole showed impressive calm at third base, recording at least three key defensive plays. Taz Wilson channeled Tori Hunter with a pair of slick grabs in centerfield. Catcher Knupsky gunned down a Giants runner at third and effectively stifled the Giants' thieving aspirations late game. Jack Zugai rounded the bases after a walk, and Todd Best and Brandon Fragapane took their stabs at Avonworth's high-powered hurler Turner Grau, already rattled after Mitchell blew a third strike by him to end the third inning.

Mitchell's reliever was no slouch either. Albright shut down the Giants in the fourth and struck out the side in the fifth. Although the Giants attempted a comeback in the final frame, Albright rung up the Avonworth's final batter to seal the victory.