The 2016 Blue Mountain League championship series had a lot of familiar faces for Lehigh Valley baseball fans. Former local high school players ranging in age from 17-40 laced up their cleats in what proved to be what former Parkland baseball standout Nick Rabasco called “déjà vu.”

The Limeport Bulls came back from a 2-1 series deficit and took the final two games to win the BML title in a dramatic 1-0 game 5 last Saturday night at Limeport Stadium. It was the second year in a row these two teams met for all of the marbles, and the second consecutive league trophy for the Bulls.

“It was awesome to get back to the championship series for the second year in a row,” said Rabasco, the Northern Yankees second basemand. “It felt like déjà vu seeing the Bulls again, and going five games in back-to-back years. They recently came over from the Tri-County League, but they have really become a rival with us. It feels like we meet every year in the playoffs.”

Rabasco, along with teammates Casey Cooperman, Andrew Brandstetter and Rick Seltzer are former Trojans. Chase Rogers and Tyler and Chad Cooperman all played at Salisbury and were a part of the Yankees. Chad is one of the youngest on the team, but played like a seasoned veteran.

After a game one loss, Cooperman threw a complete game, three-hit shutout to even the series.

“I knew I had to come out and get a win,” Chad Cooperman said. “It was a situation where we couldn’t lose. I had to step up and win. There are a lot of great players in the league. The batters can really hit the ball and are smart. You need to know how to pitch and make adjustments each batter.”

While Cooperman had two solid outings, Limeport was backed by two impressive outings from former Emmaus pitcher Luke Miller. Miller matched Cooperman, throwing a complete game, three-hitter in game one. And then getting the victory in a must-win game four at Coplay’s Balliet Stadium, going the distance in a 5-0 victory to tie the series at 2-2.

“I had to get my team back to Limeport,” Miller said. “I knew I had it that night when I was warming up. I was focused, and my mechanics were there. Just like in game one, the key was my velocity. I had my command and I was able to locate my pitches.”

Once they got the series back to Limeport stadium for game five, all bets were off. The small and “old-school” look of Limeport stadium has been home to a rowdy crowd, one that can be heard loudly screaming for their Bulls, and rattling the opposition.

“It was definitely an awesome atmosphere,” said Chad Cooperman. “The crowds were incredible, and the support we got was great.”

Just like in August of 2015, the game and series was won by one run, this time on a wild pitch.

“It was unfortunate, you never want to lose, but that was a tough way to go down,” Rabasco said. “We played hard all series, and it was disappointing, but that’s baseball.”

Another former Green Hornets pitcher, Adam Maini picked up the win, going seven innings and shutting out the Yankees.

“It’s amazing,” Maini said. “This is why we play amateur baseball. We live for this. I think it’s great for everybody. Young kids come out and watch us, and they look up to us a little bit. They want to be in this situation, and want to play.

“Even players that don’t make it to the pros, or don’t go to college can still come out and play good baseball.”

Maini’s battery-mate was Parkland graduate Damin Muth, who had an RBI in the game four win. Former Trojans pitcher Matt Hurd and Salisbury alum Mason Kresley were also a part of the Bulls’ championship season.