The results lived up to the anticipation in Game 1 of the Roy Hobbs World Series - even if not for a full 9 innings.

We bright-eyed version of the Boys of, um, Fall, lavished under the 80-degree warmth of Florida's bright, high skies ready to begin our 10 a.m. start in the 60+ Division. Hungry, focused and determined to show that the move up to the 4A group was warranted after this Chicago team won the 3A title a year ago.

Game 1: The 3A defending champion Chicago Wind vs. the 4A defending champion Washington (Seattle) Titans. And to start out, we didn't disappoint.

Jerry Solomon of the 45 Black Sox and 55 champion Cardinals got the start on the hill of Field 5 of the Minnesota Twins complex. Jerry Hawkins of the 55 Cardinals at shortstop, Bill Smith of the 45 Giants and 55 Whiz Kids donning the tools of ignorance, Mike Lannon of the 45 Giants and 55 Whiz Kids in right, and Jim Konstantakis of the 45 Giants and 55 Whiz Kids at 3B. Yes, 3B!

Solomon pitched flawlessly and the CDMSBL contingent helped the Wind to a 2-1 lead after four innings and now can say he struck out John
Olerud's father.
On comes JimK, who gives up a harmless single in the 5th and takes that 2-1 lead to the 6th. The Titans then unleashed their balance, depth and power. The Titans KO JimK and end up scoring 8 runs. Before all was said and done, Titans mercy-rule the Wind 14-2 after 7 innings and we head to the beach wondering if the move to 4A was warranted.

Offensively, Hawkins had 2 hits and an RBI. JimK singled, walked and sacrificed in his first at-bat. Smith, Solomon and Lannon also singled.

Game 2 of the 4-game Round Robin at 5:30 Monday vs. the Ohio Classics at Terry Park Stadium. This tournament differs from MSBL in that after the first 4 games, teams are evaluated and reset/reseeded according to results. Another beating like that and we may find ourselves in the 3A playoffs after the Round Robin concludes.

Let's hope Petey G's 45 team as well as Artie G's 45 team fair better in their MSBL Fall Classic on the other Florida coast in Jupiter, West Palm Beach areas. That tournament begins tomorrow (Mon).

Jim Konstantakis








-- Edited by sfgiants on Sunday 13th of November 2011 06:10:34 PM

-- Edited by sfgiants on Monday 14th of November 2011 09:56:36 AM