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Tornadoes Twist Whales In Knots, Win Second Straight Bay League Title
Outpost News Service

Fans filed into the gleaming Silver Field knowing they would witness Bay League history. The championship would be decided here today, for starters. This was the first playoff game in Bay League history, for another thing. And top all that off, whoever won this single game would become the first repeat champions in Bay League history. All in all, guaranteed to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the 6,387 fans that packed the Whales' home stadium on this pleasant evening. Unfortunately for that home crowd, Frankie Wise and the Elliott Springs Tornadoes were just too much for the host Whales, earning the Elliott Springs squad the championship trophy for the second straight season with a 4-2 win.

The Tornadoes jumped on top early, with shortstop Seth Maybin driving a Sam McBride fastball deep into left center for a 2-run homer. Elliott Springs would never relinquish that lead, as Wise continually worked out of trouble. Silver Beach touched up the Tornado starter for at least one hit in every inning he worked, but could never muster the clutch hit they needed to get back in the contest. Elliott Springs tacked on runs in the 4th and 5th on an RBI single from Jared Brown and a solo homer from Tim Bohm, useful insurance for the Tornadoes. Silver Beach got on the board in the 4th on Dante Duany's RBI double, and added another when Jason Walton popped a solo homer down the right field line, giving the home fans hope, but relievers Corsley Carey and Wahhab Duncan shut the door. The Whales had a golden opportunity on Bryan Jones's leadoff double in the bottom of the 8th, but Tim Bohm made a diving catch on what looked like a sure gapper and caught Jones napping off second for a demoralizing double play. "That was a huge catch," said Corsley Carey, who came on to start that 8th inning. "Rocket doesn't make that play, it's a one-run game, no outs and a runner on 2nd. That might have been the catch that saved our season."

When Silver Beach's Josh Sowder hit a rocket that Riyad Gomes speared for the final out of the game, the celebration hit the mound, but it was an entirely different scene than the previous season's. "This is almost more of a relief, right now," said Gomes. "We kicked ourselves all month for letting our lead slip away, and to get another shot, especially head-to-head, we're all sitting around pinching ourselves to make sure we're not dreaming." Gomes still held tight to the third out hours after the game, and gave no indication he'd be letting go anytime soon. "It's an incredible feeling, but the reality of it won't set in for a couple days, I think," he said. "It's a storybook ending, to be sure."