What was supposed to be a one inning finish, for the championship game, turned into a lot more!
With the Giants up 6-5, entering the top of the 7th, the game resumed with the possibility of being just six outs from over. The Giants looked like they were ready to put the game away, in the top of the frame, when Pete Geanellis walked, and Ron Massaroni was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Cubs' pitcher, Mike Girard, then balked both runners into scoring position, with nobody out. This forced the Cubs to bring the infield in, because it would be tough enough to score one run against Giant's ace, Ron Massaroni, without adding to the deficit. Girard was up to the challenge, as he got the next hitter to bounce a grounder right at second baseman Bob Coffey. He held the runners, and made the play to first. The next hitter was induced into a pop out at first and Girard got the final out by fanning the next hitter with a solid 0-2 curve, on the outside corner.
Now it was up to the Cubs' bats to get a rally going against a very tough pitcher. Massaroni looked like he would get the job done, as he got the first out on a ground out to 3rd, and had Girard in a 0-2 hole. Girard fought off a couple of nasty two strike pitches, in earning his way to first with a walk. Ron Lochner ambushed Massaroni's next pitch, and grounded it through the the hole between 1st and 2nd, and Girard motored around to third. Dave Mitchell, then delivered the tying run, with a bloop single to center. Now the Cubs were in the driver's seat, with the game tied, and the winning run in scoring position, with only one out. This time it was Massaroni who pulled a Houdini, as he stuck out the next Cubs' batter, and got the final out on a grounder to second.
On to extra innings. In the top of the 8th inning, Girard got the first two Giants out with just 3 pitches. Bob Murphy then lined a single up the middle. The final out of the frame came on a pop up in the third base foul area. The ball looked like it was going over the fence for a foul ball, but Cubs third baseman, Ron Lochner, did his best Spiderman impersonation and flew over the fence, extending his glove fully over the fence and snagged the ball, for a Sportscenter highlight catch. Inning over!
Now it was the Cubs chance to end the Giants reign, with just one run. After one out, Bob Coffey got things started with a solid single to left. Scott Ross moved him into scoring position, with a single of his own. Massaroni got the next hitter to fly out to short center field, and that set up a two out show down with the red hot Girard coming up. Girard scorched the first pitch through the left side, for a single, but the ball was actually hit too hard, as it got to the Giants left fielder too quickly for Coffey to score from second. The bases were now drunk with Cubbies, and two were out. Massaroni got the ever dangerous Ron Lochner to ground a ball to first base and raced to cover first, for the rally-killing final out.
On to the 9th inning, and it looked like the game might have to be suspended for a second time, if this inning didn't decide things, as darkness neared. The Giants got a lead off single from Ron Smaka. After a fly out to center, Massaroni singled up the middle. A wild pitch moved runners to 2nd and 3rd, with 1 out. Girard again induced a grounder right at the drawn in Coffey, who checked the runner at 3rd and got the out at 1st. Girard handcufferd the next hitter, Tony Nardacci, who weakly grounded a slow roller to 3rd. Lochner had no choice but to sell out on a charge of the slow roller, but just as he was about to field the ball, it took a bad hop, and the Giants had a run. Girard got the next batter on a ground out to second, but the damage was done. Giants led 7-6.
Massaroni got the Cubs out in the bottom of the 9th in order, and the Giant's celebration was on, for a 5th consecutive championship! Congrats to a team of great guys, who know how to "just win, baby". Though the Cubs were left feeling empty, they gave every ounce of effort and nothing was left in the tank! There was no official announcement, but I can't believe that there was any other choice than to make Ron Massaroni the MVP of the playoffs! Not only did he quiet some very hot bats, from the mound, and get every out he needed in clutch situations, but he was a big part of the championship winning rally.
I can't wait to team up with a bunch of these guys, when we head to Florida, for the 55+ Fall Classic from November 3 - 10. We should have a long run in that tournament with the team that we have going! Stay tuned for updates from Florida in November.
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Thursday 30th of August 2018 02:35:08 PM
I honestly don't know how we do it. Total team chemistry, a lot of lucky breaks and thru sooooo many injuries. I wish we could play a best-of-7 as these were the most fun games of the year. We win the season series 4-3, which I guess is a best-of-7 in and of itself. Ron Massaroni was in fact named the Giants' playoff MVP, though he got a lot of help. If I had to pick an MVP of the 5-year run it would be Darrell Duncan. They guy never is hurt, rarely misses a game and can play all positions and hit at a HOF caliber level.
I wish all of you could have seen all these games between us and the Cubs. Mr. Girard certainly donned his Superman cape with great fashion. An amazing player. Can't wait to hook up with him and the rest of the guys in Fla. We will be a tough out for sure.
With both teams fully healthy and available, this brand of 55+ ball would be as good as it gets anywhere in the nation.
As for Ron Lochner, you had to see this catch Mike described to believe it. Scott Ross made a spectacular running, sliding catch of a bloop to shallow center to save a run for the Cubs as well. You really can't appreciate the caliber of ball in our very own 55 division until you experience tournament ball. With just our very own Albany boys, we play teams from much bigger cities who recruit nationwide and are sponsored. And we hold our own, losing in the finals to Las Vegas in 2016 and in the semis last year to a sponsored team with waivered players and pitchers. And we took a 3-1 lead to the 9th against Vegas, which was the defending champion.
Our very own Albany teams prepare us nicely for the competition. I'm sure we could have two teams there and represent nicely.
To Mike and the Cubs, much respect boys.
jimk
-- Edited by sfgiants on Thursday 30th of August 2018 02:12:10 PM
