Fireworks and Folk Heroes: Nationals Crowned KPSL Kings. Win In Six vs Phillies

Kirby Yates had one-third of an inning left in his battle-worn right arm. That final third? It was the last out of Game 6, the final strike of the World Series. With Francisco Lindor frozen on a filthy slider, Yates dropped the curtain on the Phillies and ignited bedlam at Nationals Park. “This is frickin’ awesome,” Yates roared, arm wrapped in ice, goggles fogged in the champagne celly. “I love these guys.” 

In just their second year back in the KPSL, the Washington Nationals claimed the crown, dispatching the upstart Phillies in six games. They outscored Philly, 26-14, outslugged them 13 homers to 5, and showed depth and a flair for the improbable. Thirteen different Nats crossed the plate, and no one scored more than 3 runs. It was chaos by committee. 

The pitching? Pure madness. Washington won Games 4 and 5 with complete games from starters who hadn’t started a single game for the club in the regular season. How can you not love this team! 

Erick Fedde earned MVP honors with wins in Games 2 and 6, while Matt Chapman was the hitting star, slashing .333/.440/.762 including three doubles and two HRs. 

Let’s go to the recaps:

Game 1: Phillies, 7-1

WP - Nola LP - Turnbull

HR - Lindor

Nola silenced the D.C. crowd with a surgical 7-inning, 8-strikeout gem. Lindor’s early homer and a late rally (sparked by Carroll and Harper steals and a Castellanos triple) put it away. The Nats were limited to six singles in the game. Estevez’s swan song was a rough one, as he yielded 3 runs in 3 innings.

Game 2: Nationals, 5-0

WP - Fedde LP - Yarbrough

HR - Wade

Fedde knotted the series at 1-1 by twirling 5 shutout innings before turning it over to the pen. Wade’s 7th-inning 2-run homer gave the Nats some space for a 4-run lead. Game fun fact: Pete Crow-Armstrong stole 4 bases. The Phillies only had one runner reach second base and never threatened. On to Philly …

Game 3: Phillies, 3-2

WP - Kerkering LP - Sanchez SV - E.Diaz

HR - O’Neill, Abrams, Lindor

Had the Phils triumphed, “Stott’s Scamper” in the bottom of the 8th would have entered KPSL lore. A daring delayed steal of home (on a 1-8 chance) scored the go-ahead run and the Citizens Bank Park crowd was roaring. The steal decision was the manager’s second perfect call in the 8th, after sending up Altuve to pinch-hit for Carroll vs. Cristopher Sanchez. Altuve singled, and he and Stott took it from there. Suarez was Peak Ranger, walking EIGHT but yielding just an O’Neill homer. The Nats left 11 on base. 

Game 4: Nationals, 6-1

WP - Junis LP - Nola

HR - Suzuki 2, Chapman, Carroll

Jake Junis, reliever turned folk hero, threw a complete-game three-hitter in his first start of the year.  “I didn’t think I could do it,” Junis said, grinning through the disbelief. “But I did, and I’m never giving up that ball.” The Nats’ bats pounced on Nola from the start, with a Suzuki two-run bomb in the 1st and a Chapman two-run shot in the third giving Washington more than enough. Suzuki added another solo shot in the 7th.

Game 5: Nationals, 8-2

WP - Turnbull LP - Parker

HR - Hilliard 2, Chapman, Kelly, Triolo, Carroll

 … And then there was Spencer Turnbull, acquired at the trade deadline with 0.0 innings left. The regular-season ghost materialized at the right time, going the full 9 in pivotal Game 5 as the Nats seized control. The rookie Parker was in a tough spot and the Nats jumped out quickly again, with a Chapman homer in the first and then a couple of Jabroni Jacks (™) by Carson Kelly and Jared Triolo. Sam Hilliard finished his season with a start in LF and rewarded the skipper with two solo homers. The Nats were one win away. 

Game 6: Nationals, 4-1

WP - Fedde LP - F.Cruz SV - Yates

HR - Abrams, Stephenson, Harris

The early onslaught continued for the Nats. CJ Abrams set Nationals Park on fire with a first-inning leadoff homer off surprise starter Fernando Cruz. Tyler Stephenson’s 2-run homer built a 3-0 lead, and MVP Erick Fedde was nails again. Sam Moll and Derek Law escaped a 6th-inning jam, and Yates sealed it with a strikeout for the ages. Cue the dogpile.  

POSTGAME VIBES:

• Junis, still in his grass-stained jersey, summed it up: “I pitched in 28 games this year. None of them like this. I was terrified. Then I was locked in. Now I’m a legend.” 

• Yates, drenched and delirious: “I had one bullet left.” 

The Phillies should be proud of their playoff run after a 6th-place finish. They were game for most of the series but couldn’t get key hits and ran out of steam on the mound. Still a great managerial effort. 

As for the Nats, we are ecstatic. It’s hard to believe that 17 years later, the manager climbed the mountain again. Couldn’t be happier that the KPSL is still here and that we could get back to the top. Looking forward to more fun in 2026. 

FUN FACTS: 

• Washington homered in the first inning of each of the last four games. 

• The only error from a Nats non-pitcher? Miguel Rojas (ss1e5) of course. 

• “Jabroni Joe” Jonah Bride went 0-11 with 5 strikeouts and Michael Busch went 0-10.

• Injuries galore: Robles got hurt twice, Wade missed time, and Marsh missed Games 2-5, forcing Nimmo into extended duty. 

Nationals pitcher Erick Fedde takes MVP honors at the KPSL World Series