[Izz]

2051 Preliminary Finals

Game 1 - Whangarei Sluggers vs Brisbane Bandits

Ismael Aguirre got Brisbane off to a good start with his solo HR in the bottom of the 1st. The Sluggers equalized in the 3rd and briefly took the lead in the 4th, Tom Doig’s solo effort putting them up 2-1, but Brisbane rattled off 4 runs in the bottom of the inning (Hudswell’s solo HR and Ryan Bell’s 3-run effort doing the damage). The Bandits would add a few more to comfortably win 9-2. While they didn’t look rusty offensively or on the mound (Lance Ralston: 8.0IP, 5H, 2R, 1ER, 0BB, 5K), they did struggle a bit defensively, committing 3 errors. Anglesey (3.1IP, 7H, 5ER, 2BB, 1K) didn’t have a happy night for the Sluggers. Alan Sneddon come off injured in the 4th, clutching his forearm, but to the relief of fans it was only a bit of soreness and he should be able to play through it.

Game 1 - Central Coast Thunder vs Darwin Diggers

While Darwin had more than earnt their week off, most were picking that the occasion would prove too much and the Thunder would easily dispatch them.

Brad King had other ideas, though. He rang up 5 strikeouts in the 1st 2 innings, and the Thunder offense looked bereft of ideas. Darwin didn’t run away with it though. They scored in the 1st, and Norman Lawless slugged a solo HR in the 3rd, but those were the only scoring acts of the game. Final score: 2-0 Darwin. Brad King (8.1IP, 2H, 0ER, 2BB, 10K) was pulled within 2 outs of a playoff shutout, after looking tired in taking 11 pitches to strike out Daniel Wise to begin the 9th. Jose Diaz showed no nerves in recording the final 2 outs to get the save. Angelo Spear (8.0IP, 6H, 2ER, 0BB, 5K) went the whole game to pick up the loss.

Game 2 - Whangarei Sluggers vs Brisbane Bandits

The Sluggers scored 4 in the top of the 1st, Sneddon his typical self - drawing a walk, stealing 2nd, then 3rd, and coming home off a sac-fly - to open the account, and a Brisbane error then allowing a rally and 3 more to score. Patrick Maggs belted a 2-run HR in the 5th to further extend the lead. Brisbane got 1 back in the bottom of the inning. Aguirre and Hudswell hit back-to-back HRs to begin the bottom of the 7th (Hudswell’s travelling 437 feet) to make it a bit closer, but Brisbane couldn’t convert any other opportunities until Hudswell led off the bottom of the 9th with a solo HR. Gordon Anderton stayed on the mound to retire the next 3, though Russell Watters had to climb the wall to make the last out, and Whangarei had levelled the series. Final score: 6-4 Sluggers. Clint Aitcheson (4.1IP, 6H, 6R, 3ER, 1BB, 3K) took the loss, while Mangan (7.1IP, 5H, 3ER, 1BB, 9K) made it 2-0 this postseason.

Game 2 - Central Coast Thunder vs Darwin Diggers

It seemed the Thunder didn’t know how to score runs in the postseason, and nobody they played against did either. Darwin scored 1 in the 3rd and that was all she wrote, the Thunder offense only capable of singles. Things did get interesting in the 9th when Diaz walked Alou to lead off the inning, and then walked Jay Keppell with 2 outs to put the go-ahead run at 1st. But Lindner could only hit a grounder to 3rd for an easy out at 1st to end the game. Final score: 1-0 Darwin, and they were just 1 win away from a Championship berth. Cooper Gerlach (6.2IP, 5H, 0ER, 2BB, 5K) did a good job, while Heathcote (7.1IP, 6H, 1ER, 2BB, 3K) wasn’t terrible either.

Game 3 - Whangarei Sluggers vs Brisbane Bandits

Heading home for the next 2 days, the Sluggers were all confidence, repeatedly telling media they were “in no way overawed” by Brisbane’s roster.

The Bandits scored in the 1st, but Whangarei quickly struck back in the 2nd, Watter’s HR scoring 3. Alan Dulihanty homered in the 4th, neutralizing the run Brisbane had scored in the top of the inning. Whangarei added runs in the 6th and 7th and appeared to be cruising to victory. Brisbane weren’t laying down, though. Hudswell led off the top of the 9th with a 1st-pitch single, and Wakely followed up with a 1st-pitch double off the rightfield wall. The rebound was too powerful for Hudswell to attempt coming home, but now Brisbane had the tying run on deck. Out came Anderton. He walked Young-tae Lee, and gave up a single to Guiney, scoring Hudswell. Ryan Bell struck out, and Shiro Kondo hit a fly to left, Brock Wakely tagging up and beating out the throw to score. But with 2 outs and still behind by 2, could Brisbane keep the rally going? No, they couldn’t, Timothy Browne striking out to end the game. Final score: 6-4 Whangarei.

Allan Spear (7.0IP, 5H, 2ER, 1BB, 6K) got the win and Anderton was credited with his 3rd save of the postseason. Wilson Lara (5.1IP, 8H, 5ER, 3BB, 6K) looked unsettled on the mound, and took the loss.

Game 3 - Central Coast Thunder vs Darwin Diggers

Both teams traded runs in the 2nd, Mitch Donahue homering for the Diggers, while Central Coast’s run was their 1st of the series. The scores stayed locked at 1 until the 6th, when Mike Wurfel’s double scored Lawless (Wurfel was then thrown out attempting to advance to 3rd while Lawless headed home). The Thunder got a runner to 2nd in the 8th, but that was as close as they came to crossing home plate again. Final score: 2-1 Darwin, and the Diggers had a tilt at a maiden Championship. Jesus Rodriguez (8.0IP, 6H, 1ER, 2BB, 5K) looked nervous early but soon settled down. Chapman (7.2IP, 6H, 2ER, 2BB, 4K) would’ve liked a little help from his offense, that was for sure. Diaz recorded his 3rd consecutive postseason save, none of them easy.

Game 4 - Whangarei Sluggers vs Brisbane Bandits

The Sluggers had the opportunity to end Brisbane’s title defence in front of their home crowd, but Brisbane showed immediately why they were the big guns in the league, Carlo Gadsden’s 2-run HR putting them ahead before an out had been recorded. Ralston was again hitting his spots, though Whangarei did draw a run closer in the 3rd. But with Brisbane seemingly getting on-base at will it was only a matter of time before they extended their lead. They did so in the 6th, scoring 2 more. The Sluggers kept it tight, scoring an unearned run in the 7th, but the Bandits added an insurance notch in the 8th and closed the game out to win 5-2.

Ralston (6.1IP, 5H, 2R, 1ER, 1BB, 7K) again proved to be a difference-maker, while Anglesey (6.1IP, 9H, 4ER, 1BB, 5K) threw too many pitches up in the zone.

Game 5 - Whangarei Sluggers vs Brisbane Bandits

Brisbane had home field advantage for the decider, and all the experts were hoping the offenses of both sides would bust out. To quote one such: “A pitching duel? Hell no! Let’s see the fans’ gloves behind the CF wall getting a good workout!”

The experts got 1 half of what they wanted: Brisbane’s hitters were in good form, but Whangarei’s weren’t. That being said, it did look like it would be a pitcher’s duel through the first 3 1/2 until the Bandits scored 3 2-out runs in the bottom of the inning to take the advantage. They scored regularly after that, Guiney contributing a solo HR in the 5th, and Gadsden a 3-run blast in the 8th. The Sluggers did manage a run against a tiring Aitcheson in the 7th but that was all they could muster. Final score: 9-1 Bandits and they had a shot at 3 consecutive Championships!

Aitcheson (7.2IP, 7H, 1ER, 1BB, 5K) fared much better this time out, while Mangan (5.0IP, 8H, 5ER, 4BB, 3K) had a poor performance at the worst possible time. Gadsden was 3-5, with a HR and a double, driving in 5.

Sorry, reds1, but there’s always next season!