Momentum is a funny thing.
In the first game Saturday, we lapsed into our bugaboo of not scoring in the first few innings. We found ourselves down 4-1 to Big Feet after four innings, 4-2 after five. But our defense kicked in, held them, and we tied it in the sixth. Time had run out, and we had two outs and one runner on third. Clutch hits from Chuck, Gene, and Heffe tied it, and the momentum changed. A six run rally in the top of the extra inning seventh took care of the rest.
That gave us momentum, we topped Advance Construction 8-4 to advance ourselves to the finals. Jeff H carried us in this game. His bases loaded two run single put us ahead in the second, Lefty followed with a second two run single, and we never looked back, winning 8-4. Haze was 3-3 with half of our RBIs.
Along the way were Chauncy's bobble-turned-throwout-at-second, Chris going all out on a slide in foul ground on a popup, Knight making all three outs in an inning, and Randy starting a 5-4-3 double play.
So we felt pretty good going into Sunday. Sure, Advance had gone 13-1 and were missing a couple of key players Saturday. But they had to win three straight, and thus we were hoping for hot weather to drain their energy.
What do we do? We let them hold us scoreless for six innings as they built an 8-0 lead, and then pile on four more in the seventh. We had SEVEN hits through those six innings. Sure, we produced a mini-rally in the last inning, scoring two. Sure we played good defense. Chauncy made a couple of great plays behind the plate, Joe got a K, and Chopper made a great snag in the first inning.
The big M had taken up residence in the other dugout. This is where Conehead Pride comes in the door. We could have rolled over, and taken solace in the fact that we were only the third place team this season. But we never gave in or gave up, and everyone was going all out, and the results showed it. Gene goes into an all-out dive in the shallow outfield, re-injures his FU finger but makes the catch. Heffe picks Randy's low throw out of the dirt. Chris makes play after play at SS despite a groin pull.
So when it's 2-0 after two innings, then three, then four, then 2-1 after five, it feels like it could be 20-1 but we also know that Advance could break out at any time. Then it's Ol' G time. "I'd like to get five runs please." Well sure, G never mind we haven't scored five all day, no problem at all.
Then Pope breaks out of his series long slump with a booming triple. We've been waiting for that. Then a double by Chris, sharp single by Knight and a double by Chopper and we had a couple. Playoff MVP Chauncey, who had overslept late the first day and hadn't even made game time, hit another double, and when a Haze single brought him in, we had our five.
It wasn't over yet. Advance quickly loaded the bases with no outs. Their biggest power hitter up. A grand slam and it's a one run game. Even a double makes it a two run game with no outs. Instead he smashes it to Chris, and a flip to second and turn to first and Advance Momentum was taken right out of the park. It was a Conehead reclamation project. The hard grounder to Randy at third was just a formality; But Randy stood tall and made sure this throw was right in my mitt, and it was over, 7-2 good guys.
A word about the unofficial Playoff MVP award - Chauncey had shown up to every game all season, and even though he was a little late to start the weekend, he made several tough plays behind the plate, threw out a guy at second from right field, and hit and hit and hit - 7-8 overall with two doubles.
Joe was a close second. He pitched a hell of a series, allowing only 25 runs in four games, including the two in the finale. After not swinging a bat for a few games, he was 7-9 in the playoffs.
Chris was an even closer third. He made every play at SS, including many that looked impossible, all with a pulled groin. He led us in hits, triples, RBIs, and slugging percentage.
Not bad - two rookies and the Old Man of the C(oneheads).
Honorable mention: Gene, 7-10, with the catch in center field.
This was one of the sweetest Championships out of the many in Conehead lore. We were definite underdogs - Advance was 13-1, Big Feet had taken two of three during the season. Joe had to scramble constantly for players - we had 26 different guys in the line up for at least one game. Yet we persevered, and the Cotton is once again high!
Milestones:
Game 1
Lefty 250 rbis (#1)
Randy 300 ab (#12)
Randy 100 g (#14)
Game 2
None
Game 3
None
Game 4
Pope 10 gw (#6)
Chopper 400 ab (#10)
In the first game Saturday, we lapsed into our bugaboo of not scoring in the first few innings. We found ourselves down 4-1 to Big Feet after four innings, 4-2 after five. But our defense kicked in, held them, and we tied it in the sixth. Time had run out, and we had two outs and one runner on third. Clutch hits from Chuck, Gene, and Heffe tied it, and the momentum changed. A six run rally in the top of the extra inning seventh took care of the rest.
That gave us momentum, we topped Advance Construction 8-4 to advance ourselves to the finals. Jeff H carried us in this game. His bases loaded two run single put us ahead in the second, Lefty followed with a second two run single, and we never looked back, winning 8-4. Haze was 3-3 with half of our RBIs.
Along the way were Chauncy's bobble-turned-throwout-at-second, Chris going all out on a slide in foul ground on a popup, Knight making all three outs in an inning, and Randy starting a 5-4-3 double play.
So we felt pretty good going into Sunday. Sure, Advance had gone 13-1 and were missing a couple of key players Saturday. But they had to win three straight, and thus we were hoping for hot weather to drain their energy.
What do we do? We let them hold us scoreless for six innings as they built an 8-0 lead, and then pile on four more in the seventh. We had SEVEN hits through those six innings. Sure, we produced a mini-rally in the last inning, scoring two. Sure we played good defense. Chauncy made a couple of great plays behind the plate, Joe got a K, and Chopper made a great snag in the first inning.
The big M had taken up residence in the other dugout. This is where Conehead Pride comes in the door. We could have rolled over, and taken solace in the fact that we were only the third place team this season. But we never gave in or gave up, and everyone was going all out, and the results showed it. Gene goes into an all-out dive in the shallow outfield, re-injures his FU finger but makes the catch. Heffe picks Randy's low throw out of the dirt. Chris makes play after play at SS despite a groin pull.
So when it's 2-0 after two innings, then three, then four, then 2-1 after five, it feels like it could be 20-1 but we also know that Advance could break out at any time. Then it's Ol' G time. "I'd like to get five runs please." Well sure, G never mind we haven't scored five all day, no problem at all.
Then Pope breaks out of his series long slump with a booming triple. We've been waiting for that. Then a double by Chris, sharp single by Knight and a double by Chopper and we had a couple. Playoff MVP Chauncey, who had overslept late the first day and hadn't even made game time, hit another double, and when a Haze single brought him in, we had our five.
It wasn't over yet. Advance quickly loaded the bases with no outs. Their biggest power hitter up. A grand slam and it's a one run game. Even a double makes it a two run game with no outs. Instead he smashes it to Chris, and a flip to second and turn to first and Advance Momentum was taken right out of the park. It was a Conehead reclamation project. The hard grounder to Randy at third was just a formality; But Randy stood tall and made sure this throw was right in my mitt, and it was over, 7-2 good guys.
A word about the unofficial Playoff MVP award - Chauncey had shown up to every game all season, and even though he was a little late to start the weekend, he made several tough plays behind the plate, threw out a guy at second from right field, and hit and hit and hit - 7-8 overall with two doubles.
Joe was a close second. He pitched a hell of a series, allowing only 25 runs in four games, including the two in the finale. After not swinging a bat for a few games, he was 7-9 in the playoffs.
Chris was an even closer third. He made every play at SS, including many that looked impossible, all with a pulled groin. He led us in hits, triples, RBIs, and slugging percentage.
Not bad - two rookies and the Old Man of the C(oneheads).
Honorable mention: Gene, 7-10, with the catch in center field.
This was one of the sweetest Championships out of the many in Conehead lore. We were definite underdogs - Advance was 13-1, Big Feet had taken two of three during the season. Joe had to scramble constantly for players - we had 26 different guys in the line up for at least one game. Yet we persevered, and the Cotton is once again high!
Milestones:
Game 1
Lefty 250 rbis (#1)
Randy 300 ab (#12)
Randy 100 g (#14)
Game 2
None
Game 3
None
Game 4
Pope 10 gw (#6)
Chopper 400 ab (#10)
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