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

Motown struck first, with Stan Hack muscling a 2R HR for a quick 2-0 lead. Kevin Brown settled in from there and threw goose eggs through the 7th. Meanwhile, Coastline’s bats went to work, pushing a pair across in each of the 3rd and 5th innings, and tacking a single run on in the 6th for a 5-2 lead. Motown scrambled for 3 in the top of the 8th off Casilla to tie, only to have season-long arsonist Steve Mingori give up the lead on his first pitch to Joe Gordon in the bottom of the inning, with Gordon smacking a LONG home run to give Coastline the lead. Sutter continued his regular season dominance with a clean 9th, giving Coastline Game 1 and the early series lead.

2 hitters stood out – Motown’s Cristobal Torriente, batting leadoff for the first time this season, went 3-5 with 2 doubles and scored 2 runs, while Moose Skowron knocked in 4 with 2 hits, including a double.

Coastline wins – 6-5

Scoreless through 3, Motown pushes across single runs in the 4th and 5th, with more goose eggs through 7. With Motown leading 2-0, Stan Hack smacks his 2nd home run of the game, and 3rd of the series, to give Motown some cushion with a 5-0 lead. Adam Wainwright was the star, going the full 9 and scattering 3 hits for the CG shutout and tying the series at 1 game apiece.

Motown wins, 5-0

Motown’s single run in the bottom of the 2nd staked them to the lead until Coastline’s Cal Ripken singled across pinch runner Ian Kinsler with 2 down in the top of the 6th. 1-1 heading into the bottom of the 8th, Motown’s Richie Ashburn got on and stole 2nd, and was quickly followed by back-to-back doubles by Dixie Walker and Fred McGriff off Coastline’s Mike Marshall for a 3-1 Motown lead. Hubbell held on through the 9th and completed the game, giving Motown the game 3 win and 2-1 series lead.

Motown wins, 3-1

This game was all Brown and Joss – literally. Only 3 hits between the teams heading into the 9th. Joss shut down Coastline in the top of the inning, allowing only 1 Hack Wilson single earlier in the game. Bruce Sutter entered in the bottom of the 9th for Coastline. Dave Bancroft rocked a 1 out double, and Motown pinch hit Elmer Valo for 2B Frank White – Sutter promptly put Valo on to set up the double play. Kenny Lofton grounded out for out #2, bringing Joss to the plate. Motown pinch hit Heinie Groh, who laced a Sutter splitter to RF – Coastline RF Geoff Jenkins bobbled the ball, allowing Dave Bancroft to score the winning (unearned) run.

Motown wins, 1-0

Jack Street comes in at 87-68 needing 1 win to capture the division title. Boston is in 6th at 70-85.

Boston picks up 2 in the third and 1 in the fifth to give Newcombe all he would need in the game. Braves put up 4 more in the 8th just to rub it in.

Newcombe goes the distance for the shutout giving up 5 hits, no walks and striking out 3. Dom DiMaggio, Dustin Pedroia and Jim Rice all drive in 3 in the victory.

B 7/15/1
J 0/5/1

WP – Newcombe 13-10
LP – Young 1-1
Sv – None
HR – B – Rice (30), Cirillo (6)

Boston jumped on top early in this one, as well, as they plated one in the first. The big inning was the 6th, as they scored 5 big runs and the Hustlers had no answers. Dustin Pedroia continued his RBI binge with a 3 run homer in the 6th. Conley went 8 giving up 5 hits, a run, 3 walks and striking out 6.

B 8/11/0
J 1/5/0

WP – Conley 9-8
LP – Sadecki 0-1
Sv – None
HR – B – Pedroia (4)

Braves put up 1 each in the 1st and 3rd before Jack Street plates 2 in the bottom half of the third and then gets another run in the 4th to take their first lead of the series. Siebert and friends shut down the Braves after the third, as Jack Street moves on to a 6-2 win. Jerry Priddy was the hero in this one, as he goes 3-5, with a run, 3 rbis and misses the cycle by a triple.

B 2/5/0
J 6/14/3

WP – Siebert 10-11
LP – Marichal 2-15
Sv – Brantley 32
HR – J – Priddy (2)

The runs came early and often in this one, as the Braves plated 4 in the 2nd and 5 in the third in addition to singles in the 3rd and 6th and run away with this one 11-6. Jimmie Hall and Dave Robertson led the way in this one with 4 and 3 rbis, respectively.

The Hustlers Jeff Kent was injured for 5 days.

B 11/13/2
J 6/9/1

WP – Martinez 9-14
LP – Viola 8-8
Sv – None
HR – B – Robertson (2), A Gonzalez (24), Hall (11) J – Palmeiro (22), Pratt (1)

The game started out as a real pitcher’s duel with both starters shutting down the opponents for 6 innings. In the 7th, 9th hitter Pagliaroni works a one out walk, which is followed by a 2 run homer by Dom DiMaggio to give the Braves a 2-0 lead. That held until the bottom of the 8th when pinch hitter Raffy Palmeiro worked a leadoff walk. After O’Dell strikes out Justice he beans Lance Berkman, sending him to the trainer’s room and to a 29 day injury and chasing O’Dell in favor of Jeff Shaw. Shaw’s first batter, Rogers Hornsby picks up a single to load the bases with 1 out. Ducky Medwick follows with a 2 run single scoring Palmeiro and PR Larry Hisle. Shaw then gets pinch hitter Mark McGwire to line into a DP to end the inning. Dave Veres comes in to work the 9th and gets the Braves 1-2-3. In the bottom half, Shaw gets Priddy and Bartell to bring up Mike Scioscia. With a deep bench because of the roster expansion, Scioscia is bypassed at the plate for Bob Meusel who, on the 2nd pitch, lined one over the boards for a game winner.

B 2/9/0
J 3/6/1

WP – Veres 6-2
LP – Shaw 6-1
Sv – None
HR – B – DiMaggio (5) J – Meusel (27)

A game of big innings, as Jack Street gets on the board first with 4 runs in the 1st and another in the third. Boston ties it in the 6th with 5, before Jack Street put 3 more up in the 7th and closes it out. DiMaggiio, Gonzalez, Pedroia and Cirillo all pick up a pair of hits for Boston. Bob Meusel picks up his 2nd homer in as many at bats in the first, hitting a 3 run homer and finishing the day with 4 rbi.

In a real oddity, Larry “no hassle” Hisle, he of the 25 arm, throws out Pedroia and Cirillo at the plate.

B 6/10/0
J 8/8/1

WP – Hoerner 1-0
LP – Antonelli 9-18
Sv – Brantley 33
HR – J – Meusel (28)

In the top half of the 2nd, Hall draws a two out walk and is driven in by a double by Pedrioa (Hisle tried to throw him out at the plate, but had used all his energy the previous day). Boston scores again in the third as Gabby Harnett launches a two run homer with 1 out in the inning scoring DiMaggio who had singled right before him. Jack Street pushed a run across in the third, but that was it for the scoring and Boston takes the series 4-3.

B 3/6/0
J 1/8/1

WP – Newcombe 14-10
LP – Sadecki 0-2
Sv – Corsi 11
HR – B – Hartnett (14)

Nominations for players of the week
Boston – Conigliaro 3g 6-11, 1 run, 1 rbi, 2 doubles 545/583/727
Jack Street – Palmeiro 6g 7-14, 6 runs, 3 rbi, hr, 7 walks 500/667/714

Pitcher of the week nomination:
Don Newcombe 2 GS 16IP, 12 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K 2-0

The overachiever of the series is Barry Bonds who went 10-28 with 6 HRs and 10 RBIs

Little used, but highly graded, Johnny Schmitz got the rare start against Virginia’s Bob Turley. DET got on the board in the first when J.Cronin reached on an error and scored on a Babe Herman single, the second hit of the inning. Unfortunately for DET, Turley was lights out from then on as he allowed only one more hit. VIR got the winning runs on a Baltimore special from Lance Parrish in the 4th and it was all Turley from there on.

A 2-run double from Andruw Jones in the 4th followed by a SF, broke a 2-2 tie and gave VIR 5-3 lead. They tacked on 2 more runs in the 5th on a A.Rosen RBI single and a K.McReynolds RBI double. A 3-run homer from A.Jones highlighted a 5-run 7th as VIR padded an already large lead, DET got RBI’s from Ripper Collins and Chuck Klein. Andruw Jones was 2-3 with 5 RBI for the Cavaliers.

Deloreans get into the win column on the arm of A.Reynolds and the bat of Ripper Collins. Reynolds scattered 5 hits over 8 innings while striking out 7 in his 16th win of the year. Collins meanwhile cranked 2 RBI doubles in 4 appearances to lead an 11 hit attack. Joe Cronin also chipped in with 3 hits and 2 runs for DET. Tied at 3-all when VIR plated 3 runs in the 7th, DET jumped on hard-luck reliever R,Betancourt in the top of the 9th, Joe Cronin struck first with a RBI single and Nap LaJoie followed with a double to the gap scoring Cronin. That gave DET a 5-3 lead and Romero made sure it stayed that

This one slipped away from DET. They came out fast with 3 runs in the first thanks to a 3-run blast by Babe Herman, his 16th of the season. After VIR put up 1 in the 4th, DET put up 3 more in the 5th on a 2-run double off the bat of Ripper Collins and a GO RBI from Babe Herman, giving him 4 RBI for the day. That would be it for the Deloreans as three VIR relievers shut down the boys from DET on 1 hit the rest of the game. Down 6-2 in the 7th, VIR began their comeback. Andruw Jones blasted a 2-run oppo taco to RF and PH’er P.Whitney popped one over the LF fence to make the score 6-5 DET. When F.Robinson walked in the 8th, J.Akers came in for DET to protect the lead. He faced 3 batters and gave up 3 hits. But it was A.Rendon’s throwing error that was costly. The first batter he faced dribbled one to 3rd and Rendon threw it past Collins putting runners at 1st and 3rd with 1 out. H.Heilmann lined the next pitch into CF to tie the game at 6-6. K.McReynolds then knocked in the go-ahead run with a single to left-center and DET found itself on the wrong end of a 7-6 score. K.Foulke kept it that way with his 37 save as VIR pilled out a wild win.

VIR only got 4 hits in the game. But, two of them were back-to-back doubles by F.Frisch and D.Murphy that produced 3 runs in the 3rd. With L.Day pitching out of jams and scattering 6 hits over 8 innings, VIR was able to hold the lead and claim their 4th win of the series. Ripper Collins and Sam Rice tried to get DET back in the game, but their RBI efforts in the 7th and 8th fell 1 run short as Foulke again came in for the save.

Great pitching from the DET pitchers and lots of hits from their batters. DET put it to VIR. They only allowed the Cavaliers 3 hits. One happened to be R.Kiner’s 8th homer. It didn’t matter. N.LaJoie was 2-3 with 2 runs and 2 RBI. Ripper Collins only got 1 hit,…but it was a 3-run smash. A.Rendon was 2-3 with 3 runs and 2 RBI with a homer. Sam Rice had a 3-run triple and even Sallee got in the act with a hit, a RBI and 2 runs. Both teams unloaded their benches and lots of players got playing time as DET enjoyed the blow-out.

DET got out 2-0 on a R.Collins RBI and a PB. VIR, having a hard time getting hits, tied it with 1 out in the 6th on a 2-run double off the bat of A. Trammell. But, Tyler regrouped and got out of the inning without any more damage. His team rewarded him by scoring 3 runs in the next inning on a N.LaJoie RBI single and Ripper Collins 2-run double. Even though A.Trammell would knock in another VIR run, it wouldn’t be enough. J.Aker’s came in to nil down his 17th save and preserve the win for DET.

The Climax Cougars visit Nags Head in a rematch of the series that started the season for both clubs. Thanks to Nik for an enjoyable TeamViewer matchup.

Chief Meyers’ 2 hits and a run scored, Buck Leonard’s 2 run double, and Jose Mendez’s 2 runs scored lead the Cougars to a series opening victory. Rube Waddell tosses 6 innings of 3 hit ball, surviving 4 walks, to win his 14th.

CLI 4 2 1
SOX 2 4 0

WP – Waddell (14-11)
LP – Hamels (9-13)
S – Plunk (22)

Strong pitching performances on both sides in this one. Redding and Mussina exchange zeroes until the top of the 5th. Johnny Mize leads off the visitor 5th with a double. Jose Mendez follows with a single to put Cougars on the corners. Redding helps himself with a single to score Mize and put Climax on the board. Following a Grantham walk that loads the bases, Mussina gets Mel Ott to bounce into a double play, but Mendez scores putting Climax up 2-0.

Redding is sharp, pitching 5 2/3 innings of no-hit ball, until Von Hayes breaks through with a 2 out single, but other than a Giancarlo Stanton double, the Sox would manage nothing else. Redding goes the distance, earning the 2 hit shutout.

CLI 2 7 0
SOX 0 2 1

WP – Redding (7-8)
LP – Mussina (14-12)

The Cougars come out firing in the first. Bankhead singles home Chapman for a 1-0 lead. White doubles scoring Mize for the early 2-0 lead. The Sox bats finally awaken, however. Dave Winfield’s 2 out, bases clearing double puts the Sox in front 3-2. Gary Carter follows with a blast to right center, for homerun #7 and a 5-2 Sox lead after 1.

Jimmie Foxx’s 2 out RBI double scores Sandberg – 6-2 Sox after 2. Climax gets a run back in the 4th, but Nags Head breaks it open in the 5th, with another 2 out rally. With 2 out, Winfield and Carter walk and Longoria is plunked by a Frank Smith pitch to load the bases. Climax calls on Clay Carroll to face pinch hitter Dave Kingman who connects with a bases clearing double – Sox lead 9-3.

Both teams use the score to share some playing time and Nags Head holds on for a 9-6 victory. Pop Lloyd led the way for Climax, going 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored. Carter had 2 hits, 2 runs scored, and 2 RBIs for the Sox. Palmer goes 5 innings to earn his 9th win of the season.

CLI 6 13 0
SOX 9 9 0

WP – Palmer (9-8)
LP – Fernandez (6-7)
S – Cordero (28)

Climax strikes first again – Josh Gibson’s 2 run triple starts the 1st inning scoring barrage. Clift singles in Gibson for a 3-0 lead. Following a Mize double, the Cougars have runners at 2nd and 3rd. Andujar gets Peckinpaugh to ground out. The Sox manager decides to issue a free pass to Jose Mendez to load the bases and take his chances with the pitcher, Smokey Joe Wood … a move that Nik quickly applauded. And … Wood makes the best of the opportunity, whacking a 2 run single to right, plating Clift and Mize, and Climax leads 5-0 before Nags Head bats.

A Stanton RBI double scores Sandberg, cutting the Cougar lead to 5-1 after 1. The Sox would get within 2, but end up falling 7-4. Grantham has a 4 for 4 day for Climax, knocking in 2. Bautista, Gibson, and Clift each have a pair of hits for the Cougars. Stanton and Dawson each have 2 hits and 2 RBIs for Nags Head. Wood wins #11, Andujar wraps up a disappointing season, dropping his 20th.

CLI 7 14 0
SOX 4 7 0

WP – Wood (11-9)
LP – Andujar (5-20)
S – Plunk (23)

Cougar bats once again bash the Sox pitch staff. Jose Bautista leads the attack with 2 hits, 2 walks, and 2 runs scored. Pop Lloyd and Chief Meyers each had 2 hits, and Peckinpaugh knocked in 2. Mungo was sharp on the mound, only allowing a walk and 3 hits over 7 innings. Sandberg’s RBI double was the only blemish on Mungo’s line.

CLI 8 11 1
SOX 1 3 0

WP – Mungo (12-8)
LP – Ryan (5-15)

The Sox pitching finally quiets the Climax offensive attack. Cole Hamels pitches 7 innings of 2 hit shutout ball, and a trio of relievers, Street, Charlton, and Cordero combine to shutout Climax. Waddell was almost as good, but a HOJO 4th inning RBI double scores Jimmie Foxx, with the game’s only run.

CLI 0 2 0
SOX 1 3 0

WP – Hamels (10-13)
LP – Waddell (14-12)
S – Cordero (29)

The Cougars plate single runs in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th to take a 3-0 lead. Redding is cruising until the bottom of the 5th. Chris Hoiles hits his only double of the season to lead off the inning. Pinch hitter Mike Marshall singles to put runners at the corners. The Sox get their first run on a Samuel FC ground out. Jimmie Foxx follows with a 2 run shot, his 30th of the season, to tie the ball game 3-3.

Sox are feeling good after clawing their way back in this one! On to the 7th. Chief Meyers and Pop Lloyd singles put 2 on with one out. Light hitting Roger Peckinpaugh steps to the plate and drills a Giusti pitch over the fence for his first, and only, homerun of the season, to give Climax the 6-3 lead … the Cougars would add 2 more in the 8th, but it was the Peckinpaugh hit that did in the Sox, a fitting end to a disappointing season!

CLI 8 11 0
SOX 3 7 1

WP – Kinder (9-3)
LP – Giusti (6-6)

It’s a wrap on the Surf Sox season. Jimmie Foxx and Von Hayes had solid seasons, but generally speaking, the NL East pitching was too much for the Nags Head lineup, as no one approached their actual numbers. Mussina lead the starters with a strong season. Ryan and Andujar were particularly disappointing. Cordero has a great season out of the pen … he’s still stewing after being left off the All Star squad.

Next for the franchise, the team plans a 2021 move up the East Coast to Baltimore for season 2.

Thanks to Nik for running a great season!

Motown somehow scrapes out 5 of 7
5 games decided by 1 run
One 13 inning game (won by CWH)
One 14 inning game (Won by Motown)
Motown won the first 4
Motown won a game started by Christy Mathewson
Every time George Foster swung it seemed like it went to the wall or the warning track, if not over the fence
Kenny Lofton and Dixie Walker had 12 hits apiece and seemed like they were on base all series
Motown is happy for the end of the season with 2 injured SP’s and the top 2 bullpen options used up…..

Motown has no interest in seeing Clockwork in the playoffs……

Final Score: Lewisberry 16 – Chicago 3

Win: Orel Hershiser 17-10 (3.13)
Loss: C.C. Sabathia 12-15 (5.08)

Final Score: Chicago 3 – Lewisberry 2

Win: J.R. Richard 13-13 (4.46)
Loss: Babe Ruth 10-16 (3.17)

Final Score: Chicago 4 – Lewisberry 0

Win: Ramon Martinez 6-1 (2.35)
Loss: Josh Beckett 8-11 (4.54)

Final Score: Chicago 11 – Lewisberry 5

Win: Roger Clemens 5-5 (4.38)
Loss: Jack Morris 12-14 (4.37)

Final Score: Chicago 4 – Lewisberry 2

Win: C.C. Sabathia 13-15 (4.99)
Loss: Orel Hershiser 17-11 (3.14)
Save: Latroy Hawkins #4

Final Score: Chicago 5 – Lewisberry 1

Win: J.R. Richard 14-13 (4.33)
Loss: Babe Ruth 10-17 (3.26)
Save: Brad Lidge #6

Final Score: Lewisberry 11 – Chicago 1

Win: Wilbur Cooper 9-9 (3.89)
Loss: Rick Reed 1-2 (4.85)

Keith Hernandez and a pinch hit walk off 2 run homer in game 3.

Greg Maddux had two complete game shutouts allowing just 3 hits while striking out 9

Ft. Worth takes the series 5 games to 2

Series played via TeamViewer

Fantomz 3-2: Nags Head crossed the plate first with a 1st-inning homer by Jimmie Foxx. The Force responded in the 6th inning on Larry Doby’s sacrifice fly. Andre Dawson’s single in the following frame inched the visitors ahead. In the 8th, Fantomz tied the game on Johnny Mostil’s solo shot. Mickey Cochrane provided the game-ending heroics when his 9th-inning pinch-hit sacrifice fly scored John Stone with the walk-off winning run.

W – Russell (6-4) L – Watson (2-2)

Nags Head 8-5: The Surf Sox banged out 17 base hits, including six doubles, as they feasted on Force pitching. Giancarlo Stanton paced the offense with a homer, two doubles, and three rbi. Nags Head’s relievers thwarted any comeback attempts by pitching four scoreless innings, allowing a lone hit over the final four frames. Ray Lankford hit a grand slam for Fantomz.

W – Ryan (5-13) L – Harder (5-11)

Fantomz 5-2: Coveleski picked up where he left off. The Force gladly supported his effort, building a 4-0 lead through seven innings. After throwing two complete games during the previous series, Coveleski tossed seven shutout frames before allowing an eighth-inning three-run homer to Howard Johnson. Jeff Russell silenced Nags Head’s bats with 1 2/3 scoreless innings for his 14th save.

W – Coveleski (5-14) L – Hamels (9-12)

Nags Head 12-4: When the Surf Sox start hitting, they don’t stop. A six-run 7th-inning and three-run 3rd-inning included a 19-hit barrage. Von Hayes hit 4-for-6 with two rbi while Gary Carter had three hits and scored three runs.

W – Mussina (14-11) L – Weilman (9-19)

Nags Head 3-2: The Surf Sox built a 3-0 lead and the Force’s rallies never materialized. Once again, the starters were solid but not brilliant while the relievers slammed the door shut. Stanton homered and Carter enjoyed another three-hit night.

W- Palmer (8-8) L – Perry (12-15) SV – Street (6)

Fantomz 4-2: Fantomz pieced together a two-run 7th-inning rally to break a 2-2 tie, led by Ray Lankford’s triple and Don Mattingly’s single. Relievers were the key once again as Russell and Felipe Vazquez combined to toss 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

W – Russell (7-4) L – Giusti (6-5)

Fantomz 4-0: Coveleski continued his late-season surge, firing a one-hitter to close out Fantomz’ home season. The spitballers has pitched incredibly well after a dreadful 1-14 start, going 4-0 with two complete game shutouts and minuscule 0.78 ERA over four starts and 34 1/3 innings. Two Fantomz starts appropriately played well in the final home game, with Wiley hitting 3-for-4 and Doby two doubles. John Stone’s pinch-hit two-run 6th-inning single provided insurance.

W – Coveleski (6-14) L – Ryan (5-14)

Player of the Week nominee: Nags Head’s Gary Carter, who hit 9-for-23 and scored four runs.

Pitcher of the Week nominee: Fantomz’ Stan Coveleski was solid, going 2-0 with 1.10 ERA in two starts totaling 16 1/3 innings, striking out 10 batters and allowing only five hits.

Tied 2-2 with 2 on and 2 out in the top of the 9th, Mgr Muddy Harris let Stratton hit and the home team was much obliged. Barry Larkin’s 1-out double in the bottom of the 11th scored Tommie Agee to give Fire Lake a walk off victory and earn Gary Lavelle (7-5) his 7th win. Vern Stephens hit his 36th homerun for San Tan Valley, who were limited to just 5 hits by Guidry/Gullett/Soto/Morris/Lavelle.

FIRE LAKE – 3, SAN TAN VALLEY – 2 (11 INNINGS)

Walsh allowed just 6 singles and a walk in shutting out the Segers for his 5th win. Hal Trosky hit his 34th homerun and Charlie Keller added two doubles help lead the Moonrakers to victory.

SAN TAN VALLEY – 3, FIRE LAKE – 0

Fire Lake jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the 4th, on rbis from Scott Rolen and Denis Menke. Cone cruised through 5 innings, before Earl Averill’s 2-run homerun tied it up in the 6th – his 12th. Gus Triandos, who had a 3-hit day, broke the tie with a solo shot (his 6th) in the 7th and that was it. Trucks pitched a scoreless 7th and Sparky Lyle retired all 6 hitters he faced for his 9th save.

SAN TAN VALLEY – 3, FIRE LAKE – 2

McLain allows 3 hits and an unearned run in 7th innings. Hadley allows just 1 hit, 7 walks, one earned run in his 7 innings of work. Garrelts followed Hadley with three perfect innings of work and it was off to the 11th inning with the score tied 1-1. In the top of the 11th, Gary Lavelle pitched his second perfect inning of the game. In the bottom of the 11th, Sparky Lyle was not up to the challenge. Lyle faced 5 hitters, retired just one. The 5th and final hitter of the inning, Tony Perez, smashed a grand slam walk off homerun (his 11th homer) to tie the series at 2 games apiece.

FIRE LAKE – 5, SAN TAN VALLEY – 1 (11 INNINGS)

The Big Unit cruised in this one, allowing just 2 hits, a run and striking out 9 to win his 19th game. Vern Stephens hit his 37th homerun for the visitors. Tony Perez’ 12th homerun in the 2nd inning gave the early lead to Fire Lake, but the Segers had no late rally on this day.

SAN TAN VALLEY – 2, FIRE LAKE – 1

Fire Lake rapped out 10 hits and 5 runs against Stratton in this one, with Scott Rolen’s 11th homerun in the 8th inning proving to be the game winner. Charlie Keller had two of San Tan Valley’s 5 hits, including a 3-run shot (his 7th) that gave the visitors a brief 3-2 lead.

FIRE LAKE – 5, SAN TAN VALLEY – 4

Fire Lake jumped out to a 5-0 lead with some timely hitting and a Vern Stephens’ costly error. John Smoltz had not allowed a hit through the 6th, before Bob Elliot (15th) and Gus Triandos (7th) both homered to cut the lead to 5-3. It was 5-3 in the top of the 9th when Mario Soto allowed Triandos and Keltner to reach. Gary LaVelle was called on to retire Oscar Charleston and he couldn’t. Charleston’s 2-run triple knotted the game at 5-5 and there was more free baseball. Fire Lake rolled out Cone and McLain in extras, while the Moonrakers put their trust in Will Harris. In the bottom of the 13th, the Segers finally made a loser out of Harris, as Barry Larkin’s second hit of the game was the winner. Jose Cardenal had a 4 hit game for Fire Lake, while Charleston, Elliott and Triandos each had two of the visitors 10 hits.

FIRE LAKE – 6, SAN TAN VALLEY – 5 (13 INNINGS)

Final Score: Cats 3, Cowpokes 1

Final Score: Cowpokes 6, Cats 3

Final Score: Cats 6, Cowpokes 3

Final Score: Cats 4, Cowpokes 2

Final Score: Cats 4, Cowpokes 2

Final Score: Cats 2, Cowpokes 1

Final Score: Cats 5, Cowpokes 4

Ted Williams makes a bid for Player of the Week, going eight-for-21 (.381) with five runs scored, 11 RBI, two doubles, three homers and six walks. His on base percentage was .518, his slugging percentage was .905 for an OPS of 1.423.

CLB D.Sutton (1-1) with the win and NAG C.Hamels (9-11) takes the loss.

Coastline’s Finley has a strong series tossing 17IP and allows 0 runs while fanning 12, walking 4 and giving up 10 hits. Finley pitches a shutout and only gets 1 win as Sutter blows the save in the other game.

Fantomz 6-3: Virginia struck first when Alan Trammell started the series with a solo shot. The Force struck back with four runs during the bottom half, highlighted by a Don Mattingly two-run single. Joe Judge, inserted as a leadoff hitter for the first time this season, responded with two runs and three singles. Fantomz’ bullpen held the line, allowing a lone unearned run over four innings to preserve the win.

W – Harder (5-9) L – Turley (9-12)

Fantomz 4-0: A struggling Stan Coveleski, who lost his first eight decisions, delivered his best performance this season. Coveleski fired a two-hitter with three strikeouts. The Force scored two 1st-inning runs, then received some insurance from a pinch-hit Doc Wiley 8th-inning two-run single.

W – Coveleski (3-14) L – Gomez (15-10)

Fantomz 5-2: Virginia’s Juan Guzman cruised through seven innings of one-run ball, striking out five and allowing four hits, as back-to-back 4th-inning singles by Joe Harris and Ralph Kiner provided run support. Fantomz bats waited until the 9th inning to awaken; Larry Doby scored on a passed ball to tie the game then Gil McDougald delivered a three-run clout into the left-field seats for a dramatic win.

W – Cishek (5-3) L – Foulke (3-6)

Fantomz 3-2: The Cavaliers benefited from another strong start – this time Roe pitched six shutout innings – but the Force thrilled their fans with another dramatic victory. Adam Eaton, angling for playing time, took the plate for the first time in weeks during the 9th inning with the bases loaded and one out. He promptly delivered a bases-clearing triple to send Fantomz’ fans into a wild frenzy.

W – Russell (5-4) L – Foulke (3-7)

Virginia 2-0: The Cavaliers had seen enough nonsense, and Reulbach took matters into his own hands. He fired seven innings one-hit innings with six strikeouts while Frank Robinson’s 1st-inning longball was more than enough offense. Kevin McReynolds added a 6th-inning insurance run to break Fantomz’ four-game winning streak.

W- Reulbach (10-11) L – Harder (5-10) SV – Betancourt (4)

Fantomz 8-1: Fantomz starting pitcher Stan Coveleski made his case for NL Pitcher of the Week by firing a three-hitter for his second victory this week. After a 2-14 start, the spitballers doubled his win total and dropped his ERA from 4.91 to 4.44. Al Lopez, Larry Doby, and Eddie Miller all scored twice and had two hits, with Doby hitting his 26th homer.

W – Coveleski (4-14) L – Turley (9-13)

Virginia 5-0: The Cavaliers figured the best way to win was preventing Fantomz from scoring. The strategy worked as Gomez tossed seven shutout innings and the bullpen didn’t disappoint. Frank Robinson and Al Rosen homered.

W – Gomez (16-10) L – Weilman (9-18)

Player of the Week nominee: Fantomz’ backup catcher Al Lopez, who hit 7-for-15 and scored five runs. Lopez increased his batting average from .178 to .201, rather notable for this late in the season.

Pitcher of the Week nominee: Fantomz’ Stan Coveleski was brilliant, going 2-0 with a 0.50 ERA, pithcing two complete games, allowing one run only five hits over 18 innings, doubling his win total this season!