After several weeks of postponements and rain-soaked fields, the 45 Division ended the CDMSBL season when the Giants swept the Yankees, 2-0, and 6-0, in the best 2-of-3 series Sunday at New Scotland Town Park.

In winning their second title in three years, the Giants won in a fashion certainly not expected by anyone.

Bob Bolt shut out the Yanks on just 4 hits in Game 1. And while Bolt took CF for the start of Game 2, no one could have imagined what was about to unfold.

Steve Lounello, who had given up just 1 run in his previous two outings, including a no-hitter against the Reds, got the nod for Game 2. Steve gutted out two-plus innings before dropping to the ground in pain after a pitch in the third inning. He started the game with pain at the base of the back of his neck, then buckled when his back gave out.

Steve had started the day playing CF in Game 1 and made it though persistent nagging neck and shoulder pain that has bothered him for a couple of weeks now. But the injury that has haunted him time and again on the field, finally caught up to him and he was forced to leave the game scoreless in the third.

In meeting at the mound, our choices were to bring in Mike Kane or Giants manager Jim Konstantakis to save Kane for Game 3. But Bolt came in from CF and said he'd be useless to pitch in Game 3, so we didn't want to gamble using up Kane. What Bob was really saying was "give me the ball.'' Bolt got it.

And THAT was the turning point of the day.

When Bolt took the ball, you could almost hear the silence from the Yankees bench. Bolt finished up a 1-2-3 inning and the Giants were pumped. On the way in to hit, the Giants intensity level picked up. Everyone came in with an energy that frankly we didn't show all day till that point.

Tony Nardacci led off the visiting 4th with a single. Paul Scutieri bunted perfectly and no one could make the play and we had runners at 1st and 2nd. Tony moved to second and third on wild pitches while courtesy runner Jim Whitford moved up to second. Tony then scored on another wild pitch despite the short backstop. Ron Smaka followed with a drive to center to score Whitford with that all-important insurance run.

Bolt then went out and got the Yanks again 1-2-3. Still revved up, the Giants came out swinging in the 5th. Wayne Phillips, Mike Kane and Jim Whitford each singled to open the inning. Bill Smith's fielder's choice grounder plated Phillips. Bolt, hitting in the lead-off spot then hit a hard grounder that was misplayed and two runs scored. It could have been much worse for the Yanks. Nardacci walked to load the bases with no outs and 3 runs in, but Yanks pitcher Darren Ambridge also showed some guts and tenacity by striking out the next two hitters and got the 3rd out on a fly to right to excape further damage.

In the bottom of the 5th, a pumped-up Bolt again gets the Yanks 1-2-3. Then in the Giants capped their scoring, doing it with two outs and no one on. Kane singled and moved to 2nd on a passed ball. Whitford promptly singled to score Kane to make it 6-0.

Bolt again, in rhythm and in total control, gets the Yanks 1-2-3 in the 6th. He got the first two Yanks in the 7th before giving up singles to Mike Reutter and Kevin Jackson, the only hits he would surrender in relief. After taking a deep breath, he got the Yanks 6-hitter to fly to Kane in center to end it and send the Giants into a celebration at the mound. It was the Hornets/Giants second title in three years.

In Game 1, it was all Bolt. Not only did he toss the 4-hit shutout, he singled to open the 3rd and stole 2nd. Then, getting a good jump, he broke for third and scored when the catcher's throw bounced past the third-baseman. The Giants added that all-important insurance run in the 5th. Whitford, who had three solid hits on the day, lined a one-out single down the third-base line. After a fielder's choice and a walk to Bolt, Nardacci ripped a drive off the first-baseman's leg for an RBI single. And Bolt made it stand.

Defensively for the Giants, Wayne Phillips made a diving catch of a shot by the Yanks Dave Marshall when Bolt came on for Lounello in the 3rd inning. Mike Labanowski, the Giants steady shortstop, played like an MVP himself for the Giants. He totaled 3 putouts and 5 assists in the DH. In Game 2, Mike had a putout and an assist in inning 4, then all 3 assists in inning 5. More importantly, he robbed Yanks batters of at least two hits going into shallow center to make over-the-shoulder catches and preserving Bolt's arm. He was also in the middle of a key 1-6-3- DP in the 2nd inning

Tony Nardacci drove in both runs in the 2-0 win. As an FYI, a batter is credited with an RBI when a run scores from 3rd on a passed ball or wild pitch. Passed balls are not errors. In Game 2, Tony was 2 for 3 with a run scored and a walk.

Jim Whitford was 3 for 5 in the DH with two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base.

In Game 1, Bolt stole 3 bases and scored a run to help himself.

In Game 2, Kane was 2 for 3 and scored twice.

For the Yankees, LOOK OUT! They are young, hungry and now experienced in finals play. Shortstop Dave Marshall (a.k.a. Marcus Aurelius) had two of the 4 Yankee hits in Game 1. He was the lone Yankee to have more than one hit for the day. Manager Don Dunham has put together a solid team that is certain to make another run for the title in 2012. Congratulations on a great season, guys.

In the opener, John Kalinski threw a gem of a game for the Yanks. He tossed a 5-hitter and gave up just one earned run in baffling Giants hitters with great control and a mix of pitches.

Jim Konstantakis
Giants manager

-- Edited by sfgiants on Sunday 23rd of October 2011 12:33:56 AM