The Damn Yankees picked just the right time to put together a four-game winning streak. And the reward is the 55s Tournament Crown.
The Yankees, champions in 2009 and 2010, entered this years tourney as the No. 4 seed with a modest 8-6-1 record, but they took no prisoners in knocking off the No. 5 Marlins and top-seeded Nolan Propane Cardinals, before dispensing of the No. 2 Whiz Kids in two straight games. The Yanks used a miraculous comeback with an 8-run seventh inning to pull out Game 1 by an 11-7 score on Thursday. Last night they struck early and often in pounding out 14 hits to back the solid pitching of Bill Kervan and Jim Ansel for a 10-3 victory in last nights championship finale.
Kervan started the game and went three strong innings, limiting the Kids to two unearned runs on two hits. Ansel came on in the fourth and preserved the victory by holding the Whiz to one run on two hits and two strikeouts. It was Ansels second playoff victory on the mound as he tossed a complete game win against the Marlins to open the tourney. John Weber, whose masterful relief stint keyed the win over the top-seeded Cardinals, shared the co-MVP Pitching honors with Ansel, while outfielder Joe Hervieux was named the offensive MVP of the tourney. He had a clutch RBI single in the third inning to break open a close game and added an RBI double in the sixth to ice it.
But it was a true team effort with the bats for the Yankees in this championship series. In last nights win the first four batters in the lineup Mike Aiello, Weber, Tim Brown and Mark Tryon teamed up to score seven of the teams 10 runs by reaching base safely in 12 of 16 at bats. Tryon and Ansel delivered key RBI hits in the opening inning while Steve Vangelder and Mike Eplite had run-scoring hits in the third when the Yankees built up a 6-2 lead. A two-run double by Tryon in the fourth upped the lead to 8-3. Aiello, Weber, Tryon, Ansell, Hervieux and Eplite each had two hits to pace the offense against Whiz starting pitcher Jerry Soloman, and reliever Jim Konstantakis, who came on in the fourth.
Darrell Duncan reached base safely all three times to the plate and played an incredible center field with two long running catches. Adding hits were Bill Smith and Jimmy K.
The Whiz had a great season, compiling a 13-6 record overall including the playoffs. Jim Porters gang should be commended for fighting to the end, in spite of injuries that had many of their key guys playing at less than 100 percent. While they hobbled to the finish line, the Yankees used a large roster and tremendous depth to take home the crown. All of the following players played in at least two of the four playoffs games, and many were there for all four: Mike Aiello, Jim Ansel, Ray Demers, Joe Hervieux, Joe McNally, Mark Tryon, John Weber, Bob Weitz and Gregg Woolston, along with the eight members of the original Damn Yankees team that brought home the crown in 2009 and 2010: Tim Brown, Mike Eplite, Matt Kelly, Bill Kervan, Mike Matheson, Bob Noto, Rob Shellhouse and Steve Vangelder.
-- Edited by adtimbrown on Tuesday 13th of August 2013 12:29:08 AM
Ya know - I used to do write ups and thought I did a decent job. Nuh-uh! Compared to Tim Brown I'm a pre-schooler with crayons.
As I have always said I am just lucky enough to have been able to carry the gear for these guys. They all bring it every game. And when someone has a bad game, they work to pick each other up, not knock them down.
When we were asked about MVP's for the playoffs, it was very difficult. Every player contributed in such a big way. Jim A., John W. and Joe H. all deserved the award, but so did so all the other players on this team. No one player carried us through the playoffs - every player did his part and excelled at it.
Thank you DY's for making my job easy.
Thanks to the Whiz Kids. Tell you the truth I know they are much better than the results. They have a great team - with a terrific bunch of guys. I was very worried about this series - and I know they will be looking for revenge.
And to the regular season Cardinals - what a great squad. We had two in season games against them that probably looked like the Keystone Kops on a crack bender. In a one game playoff it is tough once you fall behind.
To the rest of the teams - bring it on next year. We love the fact that this league keeps getting better and better.
Jimmy - we'll have to negotiate the fee. It is worth every penny.
-- Edited by rayjdem on Tuesday 13th of August 2013 04:49:55 PM
Congratulations to manager Ray Demers and all of the Damn Yankees on a strong finish to the championship. They are as classy as they are talented. Many of them came over at the end of our cooler session; another example of their sportsmanship. I couldn't be prouder of the WhizKids. All year they competed, sacrificed, and gave it their all. The 55+ division gets stronger every year. Thanks to commissioner John Reel, the managers, and especially the players for making it happen. See you next year. Jim Porter-WhizKids
Congratulations to you Yanks for the Playoff Championship and to the Whiz as runner-ups. The games we had with you this year were both competitive and a good time in a good division to play in. Hoping I can get back on the field next year to play against both of you.
Ray, Tim You guys have a lineup better than many 45 Division teams. No holes, no easy outs.
It was great to see Mark Tryon back on the field this year. He once played for our beloved Hornets team, but had to hang 'em up because of leg problems. But he missed the game so badly, he decided to come back this year. This dude can flat out hit! He goes from coming back after several years off, to getting spot starts in the lineup, to being the team's cleanup hitter throughout the playoffs. Guess it didn't take long!
So, Mark goes from winning a title one day to his last day of work today. Enjoy the cake and your retirement, Mark. And BTW, for good measure, the guy is an accomplished drummer. He, Tim Brown, Jerry Solomon of the Whiz and the many others who play instruments should form an MSBL band!
Congratulations to the 55 Yankees in their championship win which included a sweep of all the playoff games against their 55 team opponents. This a great bunch of guys who deserve the crown. Excellent pitching was performed by Jim Ansel in his complete 7 inning game in the semifinal game against our Cardinals, as the Yanks held off the 7th inning attempted comeback. Jim was appropriately able to end the game on a ball hit back to him with the tying runs on 2nd and 3rd. The Yanks hit well against the Cards and made the tough plays when they needed them. This is the mark of a championship team, which they again repeated in the finals, especially with that 8 run comeback in the 7th inning of game 1 in the finals against a very good WhizKids team. Congrats to the Whiz and all the teams this year in the continually improving 55 league.
