The two teams were ranked one-two for team batting average and team ERA with the Cats having a slight advantage on the pitching side and the Knights having a large advantage in home runs (232-100)

The two teams split the season series 7 games to 7 games.

Final Score: Cats 4, Knights 3

Final Score: Knights 7, Cats 4

Final Score: Cats 6, Knights 2

Final Score: Cats 7, Knights 1

Final Score: Knights 3, Cats 2

Final Score: Cats 2, Knights 1

Seaver did not have his best stuff as Clockwork bats got 8 hits and 4 runs off the Hall of Famer in 6 innings including an Arky Vaughn homer, Terry drove in 2 as well. Lopes hit a homer off Derringer and Clockwork scored 6 runs. On the other side yikes. Uhle had a no-hitter into the 8th, Duncan broke it up. In the 9th Yost walked and health double him in by Tekulve got Spence as Clockwork won 6-1

Seaver did not have his best stuff as Clockwork bats got 8 hits and 4 runs off the Hall of Famer in 6 innings including an Arky Vaughn homer, Terry drove in 2 as well. Lopes hit a homer off Derringer and Clockwork scored 6 runs. On the other side yikes. Uhle had a no-hitter into the 8th, Duncan broke it up. In the 9th Yost walked and health double him in by Tekulve got Spence as Clockwork won 6-1

Dazzy Vance scattered three hits in a complete-game shutout, that featured eleven strikeouts. Jason Giambi’s two-run homer in the eighth extended, and sealed, the win. Ted Williams delivered three hits in the winning cause.

Johan Santana extended Cincinnati’s pitching brilliance at Jack Street with a four-hit complete game. Lou Whitaker came up with three hits for the Knights, while Ival Goodman’s fourth-inning homer ended the scoring in this one.

Home field disadvantage continued as the series moved to Cincinnati. Jack Street collected a 5-1 win behind a pair of homers from Bob Meusel. Mark McGwire added a two-run homer in the third inning for the Hustlers, who built a 4-0 lead early and held on.

Bill Byrd got the win, working seven-and-a-third and allowing just a single run. Cincinnati now leads the series, two games to one.

Reb Russell fired seven-and-two-thirds innings, allowing three hits and a pair of runs to give Cincinnati a 3-2 win and a three games to one edge in the series. Ted Williams delivered three hits and Sal Bando cracked a pair of doubles that netted two RBI for the Knights.

Joe Medwick homered for Jack Street, which rallied late in the game. Ryan Madson locked down the game in the ninth inning for the save.

Facing elimination, Jack Street turned to Dan Haren and he delivered five innings of one-hit baseball and the bullpen locked it down in the 9-1 win.

Rogers Hornsby delivered a pair of hits, including a two-run homer to pace the attack. Dazzy Vance, who controlled game one, barely made it through five innings and surrendered five earned runs.

Ted Simmons collected a double and triple for the Hustlers, who inched closer to getting back in the series, three games to two.

The series moved for the final time to Jack Street. Ival Goodman’s two-run homer in the top of the 12th inning proved to be the final runs in the 6-4 Cincinnati win, that advances the Knights to the A.L. Championship series.

The extra session was forced when Edgar Martinez doubled to left-center in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and was thrown out at third trying to stretch it into a triple.

Ted Williams and Bill Freehan each homered and delivered a pair of hits to the Cincinnati charge.

This was a great series and congratulations to Joe for a GREAT first season. The Hustlers gave a great effort all season and should be commended on claiming the East Division championship! It was fun to play this head-to-head, as we figured out how to get TeamViewer to work.

Final Cats 3, Cowpokes 0

Final Cowpokes 5, Cats 1

Final Cats 4, Cowpokes 3

Final Cats 6, Cowpokes 3

Final Score Cats 1, Cowpokes 0

Cats head to the ALCS to face off against division rivals Cincinnati Knights

This game was played over TeamViewer.

After Haren sent down the visitors in order, the Hustlers got on the board quickly. Back to back doubles by the 1 and 2 hitters, Edgar Martinez and Rogers Hornsby and the homestanders were up 1-0. The loaded the bases in that first inning, but Hershiser shut them down before any other damage could occur.

Jack Street put another on the board in the third when Ducky Medwick led off the inning with a home run to put them up 2-0 after 3.

In the 5th, Lewisberry dented the scoreboard. After a leadoff walk to the Babe, Maury Wills executed a perfect hit and run to send Ruth to third. Wade Boggs was the next hitter. He grounded out to Hornsby to score Ruth and make it a 2-1 game.

Jack Street and their all or nothing offense got that run back in the bottom half of the 5th. Edgar Martinez led off the inning with a solo blast. Giving them back their 2 run edge at 3-1.

That’s the way it stayed until the 9th. Hershiser ended up going 6 and giving up 5 hits, 3 runs, 5 walks and 4 strikeouts. Haren was a little better, as he went 7 and gave up 4 hits, 1 run, a walk and 2 strikeouts.

In the top of the 9th with Brad Hand on the mound, Bernie Williams lined a single through the right side of the infield. Freddie Freeman dribbled one that the defense couldn’t get to in time to put runners on 1st and 2nd with no one out. With Freeman being the tying run, Bob brought in Mookie Betts to run. Babe Ruth was the next hitter and you could sense the fear from the fans in the stadium. Ruth popped out to Hornsby for the first out. That ended the day for Hand. Hustler closer Jeff Brantley was brought in to close the door. Maury Wills was the next batter, but he was lifted for pinch hitter Gil Hodges. Hodges grounded out to short, but the runners moved up. Justin Turner was next up. Turner popped one down the left field line that no one could get to, tying the game and leaving him on 2nd as the go ahead run. BJ Surhoff was the next batter. He flew out to right to end the inning and send the game to the bottom of the 9th.

Trevor Hoffman was brought in to handle the 9th. Hoffman got leadoff hitter Ted Simmons to ground to 2b. Dick Bartell was then lifted for Larry “no hassle” Hisle. Hisle did his job, sending one back up the middle and into center field. Bernie Williams had the ball skip by him and Hisle ended up on 2nd. Edgar Martinez, the next hitter, then singled to right. Betts picked up the ball as Hisle was sent careening towards the plate. The throw, the catch, the tag . . . too late. Jack Street takes the game 4-3.

For Lewisberry, it was 3 runs on 7 hits and no errors. Jack Street tallied 4 runs on 8 hits and no errors. Jeff Brantley picks up the win in relief and Hoffman the loss. Edgar Martinez was the offensive hero, driving in the winning run and going 3-4 with a double, a homer, 2 runs and 2 rbi.

Lewisberry gets on the board first in this one in the second innings. Freddie Freeman led off with a double off the wall. Babe Ruth followed with a double of his own for the 1-0 lead. After a Maury Wills flyout, Wade Boggs singled to right. The 3rd base coach had the windmill churning for Ruth, but Medwick ended the story at the plate cutting off the 2nd run. Surhoff popped out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the 2nd, David Justice led off with a single. Palmeiro then flew out to left bringing up JD Drew. Drew lined one into the corner in right, scoring Justice and ending up on 3rd with a triple. Ted Simmons then pulled one through the hole on the left side scoring Drew and giving the Hustlers a 2-1 lead.

The Blumpkins got to Byrd in the 4th. Freddie Freeman led off the innings with a triple. Babe Ruth followed with a double, tying the score at 2. The next hitter, Maury Wills, lined one to right center and it went OVER THE WALL. Let’s do a little checking on Wills in 1963 and how many homers he hit. . . hmmm none. But he hit one here to give Lewisberry a 4-2 lead.

They pushed another across in the 5th. Lou Brock (the Jack Street manager’s all time favorite player) led off with a walk. Moved to 2nd on a ground out. Stole third and scored on a ground out by Bernie Williams. 5-2 Lewisberry.

In the bottom of the 7th, down 5-2, Beckett got Hisle, pinch hitting for Dick Bartell, to ground out to lead off the inning and bring up the top of the order. It worked the way it is supposed to for Jack Street. Edgar Martinez singled, Hornsby walked, Ducky Medwick singled to load the bases and bring up the AL home run champ, Mark McGwire. He did what he is paid to do, blasting a grand slam over Bernie Williams’ head and giving them a 6-5 lead. Beckett composed himself and struck out David Justice before Raffy Palmeiro walked to send Beckett to the showers with a line of 6 2/3 IP, 11 H, 6 ER, 3 BB and 5 K. Steve Kline came on in relief and walked Drew then Simmons to load the bases for Larry Hisle getting his 2nd ab as a pinch hitter. 2nd trip was as effective as the first as he grounds to shortstop to end the inning. 6-5 Jack Street lead heading to the 8th.

Bernie Williams led off the 8th with a single and stole second, but the bullpen got Hodges, Ruth and Wills to end the inning.

In the bottom half, Tyler Clippard is sent to the hill. He gets Martinez and Hornsby before Medwick singles bringing up Big Mac again. He does what he does and Jack Street has two more runs.

Jeff Brantley is brought in for the save and gets them 1-2-3 for a Jack Street winner.

Lewisberry picks up 5 runs on 9 hits and no errors. Jack Street 8 runs on 13 hits with no errors. Pat Neshek picks up the win, Brantley the save and Josh Beckett shoulders the loss.

Hitting stars of the game – Mark McGwire 3-4 with 2 homers, a walk, 2 runs and 6 rbis and Ducky Medwick 5-5 with a double, a triple and 2 runs.

Nothing doing in the first as both teams go in order. In the top of the 2nd, McGwire led off the inning with his third straight homer. Bob Meusel singled, Larry Hisle homered. Ted Simmons then popped one to the infield that no one caught. Drew and Bartell singled to load the bases. Edgar grounds to Justin Turner who cuts the run down at the plate. Hornsby hits a sac fly to make the 4-0. Ducky Medwick then touched one-off and the stadium was quiet as a morgue with the visitors taking a 7-0 lead.

Jack Street scored a single tally in the 4th and 4 more in the 7th. Lewisberry got their lone run on a solo homer by Nelson Cruz in the 5th.

Final tally, Jack Street scores 12 on 15 hits with no errors. Lewisberry gets 1 on 2 hits with 1 error. Glavine picks up the win, Ruth the loss.

Congratulations to Bob on a great season!

Lou Whitaker’s dramatic two-out, three-run homer in the 13th walked it off for Cincinnati. The blast by Whitaker was his third hit of the day and gave the Knights the early lead in the series.

The contest featured three ties and four lead changes. The Nine got help from Bobby Richardson, as he delivered three hits on the evening. The two #9 hole hitters combined to go six-for-ten for the day.

The Chicago bullpen was key to staying in the game, working 5.2 innings of scoreless baseball until the homer. Whitey Ford took the loss, while Bob Wickman claimed the win.

CIN 8-10-0, CHI 5-11-2

Ted Williams doubled and homered to drive in three runs and send Cincinnati to a 2-0 lead in the best of five series with Chicago. Williams opened the scoring with a solo blast in the first and then delivered a key bases-loaded double in the fifth to give the Knights a 3-1 lead they would not relinquish.

Johan Santana went the distance, scattering five hits and fanning six along the way. Jason Werth did the most damage for Chicago, delivering a double and homer of his own to account for all the scoring for the Nine.

CIN 6-8-0, CHI 2-5-0

The series shifted to the Windy City and the Knights closed out the sweep. Hans Lobert’s fifth inning, three-run homer, extended the Cincinnati lead to 5-0 and sent the visitors to the Semifinal Round of the A.L. Playoffs.

Clayton Kershaw went the distance for the Knights, spreading out six hits and holding the Nine to a pair of runs. Frank Laporte delivered a pair of hits for Chicago.

CIN 6-13-0, CHI 2-6-0

Checking for an MVP of the series, it was difficult to find anyone–from either team–that jumped out. It seemed both teams were well constructed and that timely hits were spread among numerous players on both squads.

Bottom of the 7th with Fred Clarke on first Martin Dihigo hits a single moving Clarke to third. With Ferris Fain pinch hitting Dihigo is thrown out stealing sencond. Fain then hits a double knocking Clarke for a 2 – 0 lead. Dutch Leonard goes on to a 2 – 0 victory with a 3 hitter.
The Bellies managed 8 hits.

Final Score: Cat’s 13, A’s 4

Final Score: Cat’s 8, A’s 1

Final Score: A’s 5, Cat’s 3

Final Score: A’s 5, Cat’s 0

Back-to-back doubles with one out by Singleton and Al Oliver gave Ft. Worth the lead in the 6th. After a wild pitch, Home Run Baker brings Oliver home with a sac fly.

The insurance run would come in handy as Billy Williams doubles home Travis Fryman in top of the 7th, but the Cats would hold on to win despite Dennis Eckersley giving up two hits in the 9th.

Final Score: Cat’s 4, A’s 3