Billed as the game-of-the-year to date (OK, billed by me!) in this extremely competitive 55 Division, the winner of Monday night's Whiz Kids-Giants battled for the right to face the streaking and potent Cubs for the divisional championship.
Burns vs. Bolt: Both CDMSBL Hall of Famers who play with heart, grit and determination. The Giants franchises, from their inception in 2006 in the 38s, then to the 48s, 45s and now 55s. Twelve straight years in the finals. The storied Giants, looking for an unprecedented 6th straight 55 Division championship. The Whiz Kids, whose hearts have been broken in the finals several times since their inception some 15 or so years ago, looking to get another shot at the finals and the coveted trophy.
Half the Cubs team picnicking down the left-field line looking to see this promising epic contest and ultimately their foe in the finals. Fans of both teams alike surrounding the friendly confines of this historic and pristine, artificial turf ball-yard.
Burns toed the bump and within minutes, the visiting Giants let the Whiz know that they were out to avenge a regular-season 8-1 loss at the hands of Burns and the Whiz. Mark Massaroni led off with a line single to right, and after being forced out on a grounder, Pete Geannelis crushed a booming, short-hop double off the fence in left to score Darrell Duncan with the game's first run. Bob Murphy followed with a soft liner to left-center to plate Geannelis and it was 2-0.
But the Whiz retaliated and Bolt ultimately escaped with a 2-1 lead. It could have been worse. Despite a couple of errors, Bolt wiggled out of it and left the Whiz stranded with the bases-loaded.
After that, Bolt settled down and gave up just one hit till his departure in the 5th, having given up just two hits in 5 2/3 innings. Duncan came on to preserve the inning before giving way to Ron Massaroni with two outs in the 6th. The Whiz didn't score again till the 7th on a Mike Kane triple and Gene Hallenbeck single.
Meanwhile, the Giants got clutch hits, great base-running and played superb defense, committing no errors after the first inning.
The Giants tallied a lone run in the 3rd when rookie Shane Quackenbush led off the inning with a double and scored on Duncan's wicked line-drive single to left.
Then in the 4th, the Giants got a little more breathing room. With two outs and no one on base, Tony Nardacci doubled, Ron Massaroni and Bolt walked to load 'em up for Quackenbush, who lined a single to plate two runs. Mark Massaroni followed with single to plate Quackenbush and it was 6-1. The Giants, knowing full well that the Whiz also have a potent attack, didn't let up. Two more in the 5th to make it 8-1. Geannelis got hit by a pitch, Murphy singled but was forced out on Steve Lounello's grounder. StevieLou promptly stole second. With two outs, Ron Massaroni delivered both with a clean single to center to cap the inning.
Now, a rematch of last year's finals, but this time the Cubs hold the advantage having to win just Wednesday to seal the title. A Giants win would force the deciding game Thursday with all games at the "A" Diamond.
I guess Wednesday will now be the game-of-the-year. Don't miss it!
It will be great to see our old friends and Florida teammates in the finals, but I would be remiss, if I didn't congratulate the Whiz on a fantastic season. Just 2 losses in a 16 game regular season, where they beat the Cubs 3 times, Yankees 3 times and Giants 1 time. This year saw the Dodgers, Yankees, Giants and Cubs all making nice additions to their rosters; but the Whiz added the most talent (in my opinion). The Whiz added Joe Burns to their pitching rotation, and batting order; and the additions of Gene Hallenback, Bob Holmes, and Shawn Martin, added a ton of punch to an already solid batting order. Not to mention that all 4 guys were a huge help defensively. This is a team that will contend for championships for a long time. Falling short of what was their ultimate goal, will only serve as motivation for an improved effort next year. Watch out! I wish the entire roster of each of the teams in the division a happy and healthy off season!
Now, the Giants are the Giants, and they are 5 time defending champions for a reason. They always seem to play their best games when they need them the most. Nobody on the Cubs roster believes that because we "handled" the Giants last Tuesday (12-3), that we will have an easy time of it tomorrow night. All 3 aces pitched last night, and I would expect that all 3 aces will be ready to go tomorrow night and Thursday, if needed. The entire batting order will fight tooth and nail on every pitch, and they won't give us any extra outs on defense. That is what we expect, and we will do everything in our power to match that effort. I know that "game of the year" is thrown around too loosely, but this time it fits. Both teams are filled with "gamers", and I expect both teams will battle with everything they have, down to the last pitch.
If you don't have any other obligations, you should come down to the A-Diamond and watch; as last year's finalists try to recreate what was a thrilling finals in 2018. The championship last year was decided by the slimest of margins, and it is likely to be that way again this year.
