The Metrowest Orioles continued their reign of dominance in the MetroWest 28+ Division, capturing their third consecutive championship with a thrilling 7-5 victory over the Northborough Cardinals in Game 3 of the 2024 MetroWest Finals.

This marks the O's 16th overall championship in their illustrious 30-year history and their fourth since joining the BMBL in 2015. It's also their third time pulling off the three-peat (2001-2003, 2010-2012, 2022-2024) and their first as a member of the BMBL, making them the first team in the MetroWest Division to accomplish this feat.

The O's path to the championship was paved by yet another impressive regular season, where they cruised to a division-best 13-2 record and earned the top spot in the division for a seventh straight season.

At the plate, the 2024 champs finished second in average (.349), hits (147), and runs (131). First baseman Adam Ferrucci spearheaded the offense, leading the team with a .436 average, 17 hits, and 16 runs scored — numbers that earned him a fourth-place finish in MVP voting.

On the defensive side, the O's pitching staff was unrivaled, posting a league-best 1.68 ERA and a .885 WHIP, allowing just 25 earned runs in the regular season. The trio of Steve Cadoret (4-1, 0.76 ERA), Brian Lindsey (4-0, 1.84 ERA), and Kevin Allegrezza (3-0, 2.88 ERA) combined to produce an 11-1 record with a 1.60 ERA, tossing 88% of the team's total innings.

The top-seeded O's opened up the postseason with a best-of-three semifinal bout versus the No. 4-seeded Yard Goats (6-9). True to their dominant form, the O's made quick work of their opponent, sweeping the series in two games with commanding shutout victories of 6-0 and 20-0.

Steve Cadoret (7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K's) tossed a complete-game three-hit shutout to earn the win in Game 1, striking out eight while giving up just one walk. Steve Robb (2-3, 2 RBI, SB), Paul Goodwin (2-2, RBI, BB, 2 SB), and George Sergi (2-3, 2 R, SB) each contributed multi-hit games to help power the offense.

In Game 2, the O's offense exploded for 20 runs on 17 hits in a five-inning shortened game due to the mercy rule. Seven different players recorded multiple hits in the game, including last year's MVP, Bryan Curran (2-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2B), who went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Brian Lindsey (4 IP, 5 H, 5 K, 1 BB) earned the win on the hill, allowing five hits over four innings while striking out five and walking just one.

For the sixth consecutive season, the O's punched their ticket to the MetroWest Division Finals, where they faced a familiar foe in the Northborough Cardinals, who were back for their second straight Finals appearance.

The Cardinals, who locked in the No. 2 seed with a stellar 12-3 regular season record, mirrored the O's postseason dominance in the semifinals. They dismantled the No. 3-seeded Medway Brewers (7-8) in a decisive two-game sweep, outscoring their opponent by a combined 26-3 (6-2, 20-1) margin. This performance earned the Cardinals a second straight trip to the championship series and a shot at redemption following last year's Finals loss.

The Cardinals would move one step closer to avenging that loss with a gritty 3-2 victory in Game 1 of the best-of-three series, thanks to a complete-game effort from staff ace Andrew Quinn (7 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 K's, 1 BB). The 2024 MetroWest MVP and Cy Young Award winner gave up just two runs on six hits to go along with two strikeouts in seven innings of work. Quinn Moynihan (2-3, 2 R, RBI), Jeff Scafidi (2-3, RBI, 2B, 3B), and Nicolas Rotolo (2-2) recorded two hits apiece to lead the offense, with Scafidi adding a double and a triple to his two-hit effort.

Facing a must-win in Game 2, the O's handed the ball to Brian Lindsey, who delivered a clutch complete-game performance. Lindsey scattered seven hits, allowed just one walk, and struck out four as the O's eked out a 4-3 win. Paul Goodwin (2-3, 2 RBI, 2 2B) and John Jones (2-3, RBI) fueled the offense, combining to go 4-for-6 with 3 RBIs to help force a decisive Game 3.

In the winner-take-all game, slated for nine innings, Steve Cadoret (7 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 K, 2 BB) and Andrew Quinn faced off in a highly anticipated pitcher's duel that lived up to the hype.

The O's drew first blood in the 2nd inning on a George Sergi (2-4, R, 2 RBI, B) clutch two-out RBI single that scored teammate John Jones (2-3, RBI, SB) from third. The Cardinals wasted little time responding, erupting for four runs in the 3rd, capped by a bases-clearing double from Quinn Moynihan (2-5, 4 RBI, 2B), who racked up four RBIs on the day.

The Cardinals added another run in the top of the 7th and extended their lead to 5-1, once again courtesy of an RBI hit from Moynihan. Despite the four-run deficit, the defending champions were not ready to back down. In the bottom half of the 7th, it was their turn to flex their offensive muscles, batting around the order and scoring five runs on four hits, two walks, and four stolen bases to take a 6-5 lead.

With the now one-run cushion and momentum shifted in their favor, the O's Game 2 winner Brian Lindsey (2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER) took over for Cadoret in the 8th, delivering two scoreless innings of relief to secure the victory and earn the save. The O's tacked on an insurance run in the 8th and went on to win Game 3 by a final score of 7-5, clinching their third straight MetroWest title.

Congratulations to the Metrowest Orioles on capturing the 2024 MetroWest Division championship and completing the three-peat. Hats off to the runner-up Northborough Cardinals on a hard-fought series and their second straight trip to the Finals.