2061 Championship - Cairns Crocs vs Adelaide Venom
Preview: Who was willing to bet against the Venom making it a three-peat in a rematch of the 2059 Championship Series? Not many. Adelaide led the league in nearly every offensive category, their BA .295, OBP .372, SLG .482, runs scored 990, hits 1670, home runs 247. Surprisingly, their 542 extra-base hits was only good enough for 2nd-best, as were their 632 walks. Unlike last season, when they’d been viewed as being weak on the mound, this year their staff’s combined ERA of 3.74 was 2nd in the league, while their bullpen was rated the best, with an ERA of 3.03. They allowed the least hits (1425), and least home runs (134), while walking the 3rd-least (431), and striking out the 3rd-most (1122). They were prone to an error or two, their efficiency of .681 only 9th out of 16 teams.
Who were they up against? The Crocs qualified for the playoffs by taking out the 2nd wildcard, and had the worst regular season record (86-76) of all the postseason competitors. But they were no bunnies. Their BA of .284 was 2nd to Adelaide, and their OPS of .796 3rd-best. The 854 runs they’d scored was 4th-highest and they’d hit the 5th-most HRs, with 198. They were also a team that was hard to strike out, the 857 times they’d been whiffed the least of any AUNZBL team in 2061. On the pitching side, they were again well above-average. Their 4.32 ERA was 3rd-lowest, though their bullpen was a worry, ranked 9th with a 4.61 ERA. They gave up hits, 1576 of them (10th-ranked) and were sloppy in the field (.663 defensive efficiency, 2nd-worst). However, their pitchers blew guys away with regularity, the 1154 strikeouts they’d racked up the best of all pitching staffs.
The Venom had absolutely no injury worries, while Cairns had lost Doubleday during the Division Finals, and would also be without Correa for the Championship, his sprained thumb not healed to a point where he could take part. Boston, injured during the Game 5 victory over Central Coast, was listed as day-to-day with a sore back. The loss of Doubleday had been a blow, and the loss of Correa even more so, as the rookie, who’d bashed 28 regular season HRs and 5 postseason ones, had shown himself clear-headed and reliable, both at the plate and in the field, even if he was the type of guy who’d slip into the background unnoticed in the locker room most days.
Verdict: The bandwagoners were firmly in Cairns’ camp, the Crocs contesting only their 7th postseason since entering the league in 2036, but their 3rd Championship Series (without winning one). However, the bandwagoners readily admitted a Crocs’ victory was a long-shot, though Cairns' diehard fans had faith in an upset over their division rivals. But really, who was willing to bet against the record-setting Venom? Not this narrator.
Adelaide in 6, with Cairns putting up a good fight but ultimately falling short.
Note: Trying a new format for the Championship Game recaps...
Game 1
Cairns would trot out 39 y/o Cameron Worsfold (4.01 ERA, 4.59 FIP, 1.45 WHIP) as their Game 1 starter. This was Worsfold’s 8th postseason campaign, his 5-8 record including a no-hitter in 2056. He’d be up against 30 y/o Greg Ahern (18-12, 3.99 ERA, 4.37 FIP, 1.16 WHIP), who’d returned to Adelaide in a blockbuster midseason trade and gone 9-3 once back in Venom colours. Ahern had racked up 200 strikeouts for the 6th consecutive season, and the 7th time in 8 full seasons.
Top of the 1st: With 1 out, Snell doubled into the RF corner but was almost tagged out after Donovan’s liner was snatched from the air by a lunging Young, whose throw to Acevedo was only a fraction late. Aitken popped out and the inning was over.
Top of the 2nd: Foreman hit a weak grounder to 3B and Pickhills made an uncharacteristically poor throw to see Foreman reach safely. No hit for him though, Pickhills charged with an error. Krajancic walked and an out later Baker pulled a double down the LF line to score Foreman. Lee ground-out to 1B but Krajancic scampered home to make it 2-nothing.
Bottom of the 2nd: Young led off with a single up the middle and an out later Donaldson made good contact with a fastball at the knees, sending it over the CF fence for a 2-run homer. Scores tied.
Top of the 3rd: Snell stayed hot with his 2nd hit of the night to begin the inning, this one a single past 1B, but Donovan ground into a U6-3 double-play to put paid to any thoughts of a rally. Aitken also singled wide of 1B and then Foreman walked, Ahern having trouble hitting his spots. Krajancic singled past 3B and a run scored. 3-2 Cairns.
Top of the 4th: Ahern continued to struggle for control, hitting Baker with the 1st pitch of the inning but got through the remainder with no further hurt added to the scoreboard.
Bottom of the 5th: Ibanez got a slider in the middle of the plate and cashed in, going solo over left to once again make it a tie-game.
Top of the 6th: Baker walked on 4 pitches and an out later Lecomte hit a sizzler down the 1B line. It bounced into the corner and Baker headed for home. Lecomte took off for 3rd and beat out the throw from the cut-off man. RBI-double and Cairns were back in front 4-3. Snell flied out to end the inning.
Bottom of the 6th: Welch led off with a double into left and tagged up for 3B on Moore’s deep fly-out. Young crushed a fastball over deep centre and it looked like it might fly forever. It did come down eventually, 440 feet from home plate. 5-4 Adelaide. Things then got really interesting. Donaldson singled and advanced to 2B on a wild pitch. Fenton smoked a high fly over the outstretched glove of Foreman in right. The ball bounced awkwardly off the fence and he headed for 3B. He got waved on by his 3B coach and headed for home. The throw came in... too late! Inside-the-park home run!!
That ended Worsfold’s night (5.2IP, 9H, 7ER, 1BB, 2K) and made the score 7-4.
Top of the 7th: Ahern (6.0IP, 6H, 4R, 2ER, 4BB, 2K) was replaced by Rhett Thurley, who immediately gave up a double to Donovan. Aitken singled to right and Donovan decided to take on Welch’s arm at RF and head for home. Bad decision. The throw was good and he was tagged out. Cairns then made another boneheaded decision, sending Aitken, who ran like a catcher, off to steal 2B. He was tagged so far away from the bag the commentators couldn’t even bring themselves to make jokes about it.
Bottom of the 7th: Zartuche led off with a single. 2 outs later he stole 2B and then scored off Young’s single down the RF line. 8-4 Adelaide.
Bottom of the 8th: Fenton cracked his 2nd dinger of the night, making it a 5-run game.
Top of the 9th: Fingleson came on to pitch, even with the difference 5. The 1st pitch he threw was a fastball high in the zone and Lecomte singled to left. Snell singled to right and advanced to 2B when a throw was made - unsuccessfully - at Lecomte heading for 3rd. A deep ground-out from Donovan scored Lecomte and Aitken walked on 4 pitches. Foreman struck out looking and Krajancic struck out swinging and that was all she wrote.
Final score: 9-5 Adelaide.
Young went 4-4 with a HR and 3 ribbies. Snell continued his hot postseason form, going 3-5. His 1st inning double meant he’d had an extra-base hit in every game of the playoffs so far.
Game 2
Cairns put Damian Flemming (14-8, 3.76 ERA, 3.80 FIP, 1.38 WHIP) on the mound, while 3-time 2061 shutout-thrower Arthur Hammer (17-8, 4.24 ERA, 3.95 FIP, 1.35 WHIP) would turn out for Adelaide.
Top of the 2nd: 2 up, 2 down, and then Krajancic drilled a fastball into the LF bleachers. 1-0 Cairns.
Top of the 3rd: 9-holer Lee, filling in for Correa at 3B, got his 1st hit of the postseason in style, launching a 439-foot bomb over CF. 2-0 Cairns. With 2 outs Donovan and Aitken singled, putting runners on the corners. Foreman popped out to 3B to complete the inning.
Top of the 4th: Dwyer doubled with 1 out and an out later Lee cracked a grounder into the hole between 3B and SS. RBI-single, the score now 3-0.
Bottom of the 4th: Flemming gave up his 4th 2-out walk but was yet to surrender a hit. He’d thrown 57 pitches to Hammer’s 74.
Bottom of the 5th: Ibanez recorded Adelaide’s 1st hit with an infield single to lead the inning off and then Acevedo made it 2 hits with a line drive that just found its way over the glove of Lecomte and into LF. Zartuche ground into a 5-4-3 double-play. Welch took a slider at the knees for strike 3 and Flemming had maintained his zeroes.
Top of the 6th: Krajancic led off with a single and an out later Baker hit a high double down the LF line. Runners on 2B and 3B, nobody out and Lee at the plate. He hit a groundball to 2B. Young attacked it, holding the runners, and made the play at 1B. Lecomte singled to right and both runners scored. 5-0 Cairns.
Bottom of the 6th: Moore pulled a cutter into the RF bleachers to begin the 6th and break up Flemming’s shutout. Flemming responded by striking out the next 3 hitters. 5-1 Cairns.
Top of the 7th: Hammer (6.0IP, 10H, 5ER, 1BB, 4K) was pulled, and none too soon for the home side. Donovan led off with a double and Aitken was intentionally sent to 1B. Foreman flied out to deep centre and Donovan advanced a base. Krajancic struck out looking at a fastball on the inside corner and Dwyer ground out. Still 5-1.
Bottom of the 7th: Flemming (6.0IP, 3H, 1ER, 4BB, 5K) also took a seat, and his replacement gave up a 2-out solo HR to Acevedo, who just got enough into his fly for it to clear the RF fence. 5-2 Crocs, the Venom inching their way closer.
Bottom of the 8th: Welch crushed a belt-high curveball, sending it 447 feet and into the centre-right seats. 5-3, all of Adelaide’s runs to-date coming from the longball. Moore walked and Young beat out the throw on a nubber for an infield single. Go-ahead run at the plate, nobody out. Pickhills popped out to 1B. Donaldson walked to load the bags. Fenton ground out to 2B, but Lecomte couldn’t turn the double-play which allowed a run to score. Ibanez popped out to the catcher to end the inning. 5-4 Cairns.
Top of the 9th: Could Cairns put some insurance on the board? They could not, retiring in order.
Bottom of the 9th: Marshall Whiffin came out to close, Boston’s back still troubling him. Acevedo led off with a double. Zartuche singled to right and Acevedo charged home to tie it up. Zartuche stole 2B without a throw, and Welch was intentionally walked, bringing PH Angus Wang to the plate. He ground into a 1-6-3 double-play. Could Young be the hero? He could, his single up the middle scoring Zartuche and winning the game for the Venom.
Final score: 6-5 Adelaide, the Crocs getting run down at the death, their weak bullpen getting found out.
Game 3
Adelaide’s Game 2 win gave them 12 straight playoff victories. They hadn't lost a postseason game since Game 4 of the 2059 Championship Series, also against Cairns. For their 1st away game of this match-up, they’d start 23-game regular season winner Umashankar Meenakshi (23-5, 3.39 ERA, 3.97 FIP, 1.24 WHIP), who’d thrown once so far this playoffs, for 7.1 innings of no-run ball. Cairns, desperately needing a win to give them a chance, put up Clint Kline (13-10, 4.15 ERA, 4.33 FIP, 1.22 WHIP), who was increasingly throwing less and less changeups and split-fingered fastballs, relying primarily on his regulation fastball and his forkball. If he was on, he was on, but if not, his forkball and fastball looked pretty similar and, excellent control or not, he provided only minimal challenge. Kline had given up 21 hits and 4 walks in his 17 previous innings of 2061 postseason ball.
Top of the 1st: Zartuch led off with a single up the middle, followed by Welch blistering a single to right. Kline recovered to induce 3 weak grounders, getting out of the inning unscathed.
Top of the 2nd: Kline got the 1st 2 outs with ease, but then plunked Ibanez to extend the inning. Acevedo latched onto a tame fastball, sending it opposite field and into the RF corner for an RBI-double. 1-0 Adelaide.
Top of the 3rd: With 1 out, Moore walked on 8 pitches only to become the 1st out of a round-the-horn double-play.
Bottom of the 3rd: Wayne Roneberg, playing CF today, recorded Cairns’ 1st hit of the game, singling over the head of the SS. 2 outs later he stole 2nd in a tight call, and the move paid off as Snell singled to right and Roneberg scampered home unopposed. 1-1.
Top of the 4th: The inning started with 2 amazing things. First, Malcolm Pickhills got a fastball way inside and high, and somehow still managed to make hard contact up the middle. Secondly, Lecomte showcased his Gold Glove skills, ranging over towards 2B, diving, and snatching the ball out of the air to deny Pickhills a hit.
Bottom of the 4th: Singles to Donovan and Krajancic with 1 out gave Cairns an excellent opportunity to jump into the lead, but Baker could only hit a soft grounder back to Meenakshi who started a 1-6-3 double-play to put a stop to the inning.
Top of the 5th: A 2-out throwing error by Lecomte extended the inning and saw runners on 1B and 2B. Moore immediately made Cairns pay, jumping on the 1st pitch of his at-bat and sending it over left-centre and into the seats. 3-run dinger. 4-1 Adelaide, Lecomte scuffing the dirt on his way back to the dugout mid-inning.
Top of the 6th: Donaldson pulled an outside fastball over left, and it had just enough legs to leave the park. 5-1 Venom.
Bottom of the 6th: Aitken parked a Meenakshi fastball over right-centre for a 1-out solo HR, the home fans finding some voice as he rounded the bases. They found more voice next at-bat, Foreman pouncing on a forkball and sending it to the same vicinity. Back-to-back jacks! 5-3 Adelaide.
Top of the 7th: Kent Wells replaced Kline (6.0IP, 5H, 5R, 2ER, 2BB, 1K), and got through the inning unscathed bar a 2-out single to Welch.
Bottom of the 7th: An error by Malcolm Pickhills on a regulation Baker grounder saw the catcher wind up at 2B, no outs yet recorded. He advanced to 3B on a ground-out and then Lee tagged a fastball over left. It had the legs and the game was all knotted up.
Bottom of the 8th: Meenakshi (7.0IP, 8H, 5R, 4ER, 0BB, 0K) came off, his relief getting the job done.
Top of the 9th: Cairns sent Boston to the mound, and he went 1-2-3 through the side, his fastball up near 160 km/h.
Bottom of the 9th: Fingleson took the hill for Adelaide. He got the 1st 2 outs on 3 pitches, and then Lecomte singled on the 4th pitch of the inning. On the 5th pitch Lecomte swiped 2B, the winning run now in scoring position. On the 7th pitch, Snell ground out to 2B and this thing was heading into double-figure innings.
Top of the 10th: 3 up, 3 down.
Bottom of the 10th: Aitken led off. On the 8th pitch of his at-bat he got a fastball up in the zone, having already fouled off several heaters. This one wasn’t no foul, though. He made good contact, though it looked like perhaps he’d gotten too far underneath the pitch. But no, the wind caught it and the converging outfielders could only watch as it traveled over the right-centre fence. Walk-off HR!
Final score: 6-5 Cairns, and they’d not only broken Adelaide’s postseason winning streak, but 1-2 looked a lot better than 0-3. Aitken’s 2 hits both went the distance, earning him PotG.
Game 4
Adelaide would send out Greg Ahern for the 2nd time this series, while Cairns opted for 28 y/o Harrison Mitchinson (8-14, 5.76 ERA, 4.67 FIP, 1.59 WHIP). Mitchinson threw a fastball, slider and screwball. He was one of only 2 established AUNZBL pitchers to throw a screwball, the other being 32 y/o teammate Hal Massingham, who had appeared 40 times out of the Crocs’ bullpen during the regular season.
Top of the 1st: Mitchinson got through the inning on 6 pitches, the final out being Moore, who popped out on a screwball.
Top of the 2nd: Young singled and Pickhills walked to start proceedings but both were left stranded, Mitchinson knuckling down to get the next 3 outs without the runners even advancing a base.
Bottom of the 2nd: Welch made an impressive leaping catch near the RF wall to end the inning, the commentators suggesting that the outfield might be where Welch was destined to play next year.
Bottom of the 4th: Ahern fanned his 6th, and that should’ve been the end of the inning but the dipping cutter went between Donaldson’s legs and all the way to the backstop, Kranjacic, the hitter, busting a beat to get to 1B safely. The wild pitch didn’t hurt the Venom, Ahern pulling off a sharp return catch off the next hitter to end the inning.
Top of the 5th: Both pitchers had allowed just 1 hit and 2 walks. Ahern had fanned 6 and thrown 70 pitches, while Mitchinson had struck out just 1 and thrown 58 pitches. Mitchinson eased through this inning too, with 3 groundballs equalling 3 outs.
Bottom of the 5th: Baker led off with a single, for only the 3rd hit of the game, but got no further than 1B.
Top of the 7th: Still no score, both pitchers and their defences operating at high capacity. Ahern had punched out 8 while giving up 2 hits and 2 walks on 93 pitches, while Mitchinson had conceded just the 1 hit, while walking 2 and fanning 2, on 79 pitches. Young led off the inning with his 2nd hit of the night, a single down the 3B line but was then cut down in a 6-4-3 double-play. Donaldson popped out and the score was still 0-0.
Bottom of the 7th: Krajancic rapped a cutter between the 1B bag and the first-baseman for a single to begin the inning. Dwyer popped out to shallow centre, 2B Young calling everybody else off to take the catch. Rhett Thurley came out to replace Ahern (6.1IP, 3H, 0ER, 2BB, 7K), and must’ve had his heart in his throat for a few moments after Baker made good contact on a fastball. LF William Fenton hunted it down, however, taking a good running catch. PH Cong Pi ground out 4-3 and the inning was over.
Top of the 8th: Fenton checked his swing but not in time, according to the umpire, going down on strikes for the 1st out. Ibanez cracked a screwball into the gap between 3B and SS for a single. Acevedo drove one deep to centre. It bounced in front of the wall and then over it for a ground-rule double, Ibanez having to turn around and head back to 3B. Acevedo left the field with a mild calf strain, but his double had broken down the wall, so to speak, Zartuche doubling down the 3B line and bringing both runners home. That marked the end of Mitchinson’s night (7.1IP, 5H, 2ER, 2BB, 3K), though he didn’t deserve to go into the sheds behind on the board. 2-0 Adelaide.
Bottom of the 8th: Lecomte ground out 6-3. Fenton denied Snell extra-bases with a nice running catch. Donovan hit a hopper back to Thurley and was retired at 1B.
Top of the 9th: Pickhills struck out and Donaldson walked. Fenton hit one straight to Lecomte who began a 6-4-3 double play.
Bottom of the 9th: Fingleson on the mound. Aitken ground out to 1B. Foreman popped out to 1B, Moore making sizing it up nicely near the wall in foul territory. Krajancic flied out weakly to right to put the full stop at the end of the game.
Final score: 2-0 Venom, in a match that contained only 8 hits.
Game 5
Hammer would take on Worsfold, Cairns needing a win to keep their title chances alive, Adelaide just 1 victory away from three in a row.
Top of the 1st: The Venom started fast, Zartuche singling to begin the game and Welch doubling over the rightfielder’s head to bring Zartuche home. Moore followed up with a double of his own and Welch crossed home plate. Young’s pop-fly to left found grass. Runners on 1B and 3B, nobody out. Worsfold got ahead of Pickhills 0-2, but then gave him a fastball in the middle of the plate which Pickhills punched to left for an RBI-single. Donaldson finally flied out to be the 1st out of the game. Fenton drew a walk and the bases were drunk. Ibanez flared a single to shallow right and 2 runners scored. Surprisingly, Worsfold stayed on the mound, even though the game was in danger of slipping out of Cairns’ grasp before an inning had been completed. The punches kept coming. Acevedo, recovered from his calf strain of yesterday, singled between 3B and short, scoring another.
Adelaide had batted around, but the hurt didn’t look like stopping yet. Zartuche singled sharply to right and the bases were once again full. Welch struck out on 3 pitches and the crowd sighed in relief. They were back to groaning however when Moore cracked one over the head of RF. It bounced awkwardly off the fence and Moore slid in safely with a triple, all 3 runners scoring. Finally, Worsfold was done, the expression on his face one that could only be described as shell-shocked. Reliever Mike Darke struck out Young to end the inning, the hometown fans dead silent. 9-0 Adelaide.
Top of the 2nd: Darke got through the inning allowing just a single.
Bottom of the 2nd: A 4-6-3 double play snuffed out any joy that Crocs’ fans might’ve felt at seeing Krajancic pick up their 1st hit of the night.
Top of the 4th: Adelaide loaded the bases with 2 outs, some Crocs’ fans already leaving the stadium. More hurried after them after Ibanez lofted his 1-1 pitch down the LF line. If it stayed fair it was a slammer... and it stayed fair! Grand Slam, and it looked like the Cairns players had lost belief now too. Darke got yanked and his replacement struck out the final batter of the inning, but every Cairns player was examining their shoelaces as they trudged back to the dugout for the change of innings. 13-0 Adelaide.
Bottom of the 5th: Cairns got on the board via a Lee double followed by a Lecomte single. 13-1 Venom.
Bottom of the 6th: Hammer struck out the side, though he did allow a 2-out single.
Top of the 7th: The Venom players were already in party mode, but Pickhills’ 3-run blast nearly sent them over the edge, the team almost spilling out of the dugout and onto the field to celebrate. 16-1 Venom.
Bottom of the 7th: Hammer (6.0IP, 5H, 1ER, 2BB, 5K) took a seat, and was quickly handed a congratulatory beer. The Venom defence hadn’t clocked off yet, however, Ibanez making a great throw to see Snell tagged out trying to extend a double to a triple.
Bottom of the 8th: Krajancic went opposite field deep to score 2 but Cairns needed a lot more than that and fast. 16-3 Venom.
Top of the 9th: The Adelaide offense wasn’t done kicking yet. They loaded the bases with 1 out but only scored 1 more for their efforts. 17-3 Venom.
Bottom of the 9th: Cairns added 2 more consolation runs before the Venom recorded the final out and leaped into full celebration mode.
Final score: 17-5 Venom. Moore went 4-6 with 4 ribbies, while Ibanez was 2-6 with 6RBI.
Gary Young (.455/.500/.591, 1HR) received the Championship Series MVP for his consistent hitting.
Crocs’ GM Julio Sousa had only one thing to say to media when they cornered him on his way into the Cairns’ changing rooms: “Well that was humiliating, wasn’t it?” Then he pushed past the throng and through the door and that was the only soundbite journalists got from anyone within the Crocs organization until the next day. It got a lot airtime, however.
2061 Championship-winning Venom