[illeracula]

It all comes down to the final game, winner moves on, loser goes home... Isn't this what the playoffs are about? This is a rematch of game 1 with Brock on the hill for the Sixteens (he waas 1-1 1.88 against us this season) and Shepherd on the hill for us. It should be a close game and I am rooting for our team to be up for the challenge. Just like last game Raul Garcia and Juan Guzman will be getting the call. I almost decided to go with Leon Hernandez and play the lefty/righty numbers, but in the end I believe Guzman deserves it... I will tell you know the key is keeping Stephen Bentall and Naoaki Okubo from doing too much damage, or really any damage!

An awful first inning for Shepherd, as Weaver doubled with one out to get thigns going, and he was knocked in by Bentall. Shepherd walked Okubo, then retired Asther, before giving up yet another single to Pacheco to lead the bases. Luckily for me, my defense would come through and Matt Douglas would make a diving catch in centerfield. If that ball drops Mendoza drives in three... luckily we are only down 1.

We however answered right back. Phil Davis singled to get things started, after Porter stuck out Douglas drove him in with a triple. The next batter Ohayashi hit a deep fly to center plating Douglas and giving us a 2-1 lead after 1. Looks like it might be one of those games, however, I am hoping Shepherd settles in.

What is that saying? Walks will kill you? Well its true... in the third Okubo drew another walk, he heads to third on a double by Asther (who is quickly becoming the most hated man on the Sixteens). Pacheco singled to center plating Okudo, then Mendoza hit into the 6-4-3 and Asther would cross the plate. After 2.5 the Sixteens re-take the lead 3-2.

In the 5th the Sixteens added an insurance run as Okubo wouldn't walk, but crush a solo-shot. After 5.5 the Sixteens hold a two run advantage 4-2.

Juan Guzman gave us a much needed run with a solo-shot in our half of the 5th, but we still trail 4-3. Shepherd has thrown 84 pitches heading into the 6th, this looks like it will be his last inning... hopefully the bullpen is up for the task.

In the 8th the Cannons had some magic. A 1-0 single by Howard Porter was followed by a 4-3 ground-out by Douglas, but Porter would be safe at second. The next pitch, and the final pitch for Chris Brock, would end up 433 feet from home plate, and Naofumi Ohayashi gave the Cannons the 5-4 lead! I have been waiting for Ohayashi to come through and he finally did, at such a key moment!

Three outs to go to move on to the next round...
Lefty Dani Rubio was brought on to face the switch hitting Jose Silva.
Jose Silva flies out to center field on a routine pop-out.
Once the announcement was made that righty Antonio Castandea was going to be pinch hit the lefty Rubio was pulled and our closer Jonathan Loeffler was given the ball.
Antonio Castaneda strikes out! Out #2.
Now up Stephen Bentall, who is followed by Okudo. Loeffler has his hands full.
Stephen Bentall battled and drew the 3-2 walk, bringing up the go-ahead run Okudo who has already gone deep today.
Strike 1! (Called)
Strike 2! (Swinging)
Strike 3!! (Swinging)

And we are heading to the Conference Championships!!!!!!

Round 1: Best of 5:
Game 5 (Series tied 2-2): Georgetown 4, Chadds Ford 5
Robert Shepherd: 7.0 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 6 K
Oscar Robinson (1-0): 0.2 IP, H, K
Jonathan Loeffler (SV 3): 0.2 IP, BB, 2 K
Matt Douglas: 2-4, 3B, R, RBI
Naofumi Ohayashi: 1-2, HR (1), R, 3 RBI
Donald Hampton: 2-4
Juan Guzman: 1-4, HR (1), R, RBI
H: 11, LOB: 6

Chadds Ford WINS the series 3-2

Wow. I didn't think we were going to be able to come back, but what a game. With Chris Brock on the hill and us down by 2 I was worried. The worst part is Brock had only thrown 79 pitches through 7 innings. But wow Ohayashi would come through big, with only his 3rd hit in 16 post-season AB's. We will need him to step-up in the next round if we expect to get some W's.

This was a true team effort. Top to bottom. The bullpen came in and locked the Sixteens offense down. I am excited, it has been 6 seasons without a playoff game, and now that feeling is back. How much further can we go??

Other Scores:
Game 5: Lewes 3, Seaford 4 (Seaford Wins 3-2)

Stars:
Naoaki Okubo, Georgetown: 2-3, HR, RBI, 2 R
John Smith, Seaford: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 4 K
Naofumi Ohayashi, Chadds Ford: 1-2, HR, R, 3 RBI
Howard Gray: 3-3, 2B, R

Blue Jays Prevail, as The Wild Card Goes to the Wire:
The Seaford Blue Jays and Lewes Braves didn't hold back anything in the The Wild Card, with each team pulling out all the stops in an effort to advance to the Conference Championship. Seaford won the final game by a score of 4-3 at Blue Jays Ballpark and that concluded the series, 3-2. "Relief is the biggest thing," Seaford left fielder Howard Gray said when asked how he felt. "It's a grind both mentally and physically to have a long series like this, but our guys stuck with it and Lewes deserves credit for the hard fight." Gray paced the Seaford offence and earned MVP honors. For the series, he hit .400 with a .429 on-base percentage, 0 home runs, 1 RBI and scored 2 runs. The Seaford Blue Jays will play against the Chadds Ford Cannons in the next round. Chadds Ford won their series against the Georgetown Sixteens 3 games to 2. The Conference Championship schedule will be announced after the The Wild Card finishes.

The Wild Card Goes the Distance, Chadds Ford Prevails:
The Chadds Ford Cannons and Georgetown Sixteens held nothing back in an entertaining The Wild Card that went the distance. In the end, it will be Chadds Ford advancing to the Conference Championship, after a 5-4 triumph in the final game at The Cannons Battefield, to wrap up the series 3-2. The Cannons players celebrated jubilantly in their clubhouse after the game, while the scene was one of dismay on the opposing side for the Sixteens. Matt Douglas was named series MVP for Chadds Ford. For the series, Douglas hit .474 with a .545 on-base percentage. He had 0 home runs, drove in 6 RBI and scored 7 runs. The Chadds Ford Cannons don't know who they will face in the next round. They will play the winner of the Lewes Braves - Seaford Blue Jays series. That series is tied at 2 games apiece. The Conference Championship schedule will be announced after the The Wild Card finishes.

Up next the Conference Championship Round!
Chadds Ford (Ying-Hua Ji) at Seaford Blue Jays (Yi-Xiao Zha)
Annapolis Admirals (Lanny Reese) at Washington Senators (Jesus Cruz)