2009 Arizona Fall Legue Championship Game

@Javelinas 5, Phoenix 4

Javs:
Anthony Varvaro ('07): 2IP, 2H, R, 3K

Varvaro made the start for the Javelinas. Congratulations to all of the ex-Rattlers who won the pennant. That includes former trainer Matt Toth! More on how the ex-Rattlers players did in the AFL tomorrow.

Arizona native lifts Peoria to AFL title

White Sox prospect C.J. Retherford is a local product to whom the Arizona Fall League dynasty of Phoenix meant something.

So bringing the Desert Dogs' dominance to an end was particularly meaningful for the second baseman, whose two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning gave the Peoria Javelinas a 5-4 victory over Phoenix in Saturday's thrilling AFL championship game in front of 3,521 in Scottsdale Stadium.

"That was a big thing. They'd won the championship so many years in a row," Retherford said.

There was no sixth in a row for the Dogs.

Awards were handed out, too. Former Kane County -- wherever that is -- Cougar Grant Desme won the MVP award.

Grant Desme, the Oakland outfield prospect who led the Arizona Fall League with 11 homers, has been chosen as the recipient of the league's Joe Black Most Valuable Player Award.

Desme began the five-week season on a tear, drilling 10 of his home runs before the end of October, and maintained a consistent level of play that saw him also lead the AFL with 72 total bases while ranking second in RBIs (27) and runs scored (30).

Desme was presented with his MVP Award prior to Saturday afternoon's AFL championship game, in which he started in left field for Phoenix against the Peoria Javelinas.

Russ Mitchell, a Dodgers farmhand since 2003 who managed not to play for the Great Lakes Looooooons from 2007-2009, won the Sportsmanship award.

Russ Mitchell, a longtime Minor Leaguer whose dedication and perseverance paid off in a stellar Arizona Fall League campaign, was presented with the 2009 Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award on Saturday.

Mitchell received the award prior to Saturday afternoon's AFL championship game, in which he started at first base for the Peoria Javelinas, against the Phoenix Desert Dogs.

Just note that I am having a little fun with the Loons. Not Mitchell and definitely not the player for whom the award is named.

The award, which honors the memory of the former Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect killed during the 2003 AFL season, annually goes to a player who exemplifies leadership, unselfishness and hard work.

Mitchell certainly qualifies, especially on that last point. The Dodgers' 15th-round selection in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft, the 24-year-old first baseman recently completed his seventh Minor League season, with Double-A Chattanooga of the Southern League.