We have a new champion!

That's right, the Vancouver Iron Fist have unseated the 4-time defending champion Newark Sugar Bears in a tough 7-game series. Vancouver won for just the first time since 1994 and the first time in the DMB Era. Vancouver has appeared 5 times before in the World Series since their last win, but lost to Newark 3 times and Arkansas twice.

As in 4 of the 6 previous games, Vancouver got on the board first. Victor Martinez blasted a 3-run homer in the second inning and Curtis Granderson had an RBI single to give the Fist a 4-0 lead. Chipper Jones, who has hit 4 home runs in this series, then hit a solo home run to put the Sugar Bears on the board. With the score 5-2 in the 5th, Moises Alou dropped in a single to score 2 more runs, extending the lead to 7-2. Vancouver piled on and scored two more runs in the next inning. But count the Sugar Bears out at your own peril. In the bottom of the 6th, the Sugar Bears would score two more runs, then scored two more in the 7th, closing it to 9-6. In the 8th however, David Ortiz hit a big 2-run home run to give the Fist the confidence to close it out. Vancouver tacked on 3 more in the 9th to make it 14-6. Billy Wagner retired the side in order in the 9th to earn his 2nd playoff save. Rich Hill earned the win in his only postseason start, going 6.1 innings and giving up 6 runs. James Shields was roughed up again in the Cereal Bowl, lasting only 2+ innings and giving up 5 runs on 7 hits.

David Ortiz was given the Bud Black Award as the playoff MVP. Ortiz led the team with 7 post-season home runs, including 3 in the World Series, and 17 RBIs. "To be honest" said manager Darren Daulton at the post-game press conference "there were many MVPs on this club. Ben Sheets, Chase Utley, Curtis Granderson, Todd Helton, the list goes on. That's the mark of a great team!"