[Westheim]

2037 FLCS

Let’s also not forget, there was also an FLCS while we were going through the agony of that CLCS. In that, the 1989 champions Wolves made only their *fourth* ever playoff appearances, which would now tie them for worst with the Gold Sox and Loggers. Oh, the Loggers… The Wolves had assembled a winner’s pitching staff, and were plucking into the lineup whatever they could find. They had finished the season with the best rotation in the Federal League, and had allowed the third-fewest runs. Their offense ranked #4. They were solid from most angles, including defensively. Phil Harrington (17-3, 2.89 ERA) was the undisputed best pitcher of his generation, and had a supporting cast worth fearing. On offense, catcher Morgan Kuhlmann (.303, 32 HR, 112 RBI) was the big threat, but Kyle Weinstein (.284, 20 HR, 98 RBI) had also not fallen exactly off the garbage truck. They had no injuries to worry about.

They would be hosted by the 100-win Blue Sox, who had clinched home field throughout the postseason. They had a solid rotation, but the very best bullpen, and had allowed the second-fewest runs overall. Their ERA leader, Kevin Stice (10-11, 3.45 ERA) couldn’t buy a win, but overall they were second in run scored in the Federal League. They were not hitting many home runs – Sean Ashley held the team lead with 17 – but they were robbing the opposition blind, encroaching on base and then stealing a blinding 186 bases during the regular season, with four guys stealing a quarter-century or more, led by Chance Bossert (40), and chipped in mightily by Ashley (35), Billy Bouldin (34), and Jon Sullivan (26). The established star still had yet to be mentioned, with Jim “Mastodon” Allen hitting .299 with 16 HR and a team-leading 100 RBI. It was surely not a lineup to play games with – they could bite, and they would! The Blue Sox made their 13th playoff appearance and only their third since 2006. They had two championships, dating back to the 80s.

These teams had faced another only once in the CLCS, with the Wolves prevailing in 1989.

The Blue Sox made a slightly better impression and might be able to squeeze this one out.

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SAL @ NAS … 2-0 … (Wolves lead 1-0) … SAL Chad Armfield 3-4, HR, 3B, RBI; SAL Phil Harrington 7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, W (1-0);

SAL @ NAS … 0-1 … (series tied 1-1) … SAL Brandon Nickerson 8.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, L (0-1); NAS Doug Clifford 9.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K, W (1-0)

Chance Bossert singles home Jon Sullivan for the only run in the third inning, while Hugo Salgado prevents the Wolves from getting no-hit in Game 2.

NAS @ SAL … 7-9 … (Wolves lead 2-1) … NAS Billy Bouldin 3-5, BB, 3B, 2B; NAS Cesar Talabera 2-2, 3B, RBI; NAS Stephon Nettles 2-3, 2 RBI; NAS Sean Ashley 2-3, BB, RBI; SAL Armando Herrera 4-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI; SAL Oliver Witte 3-4, 2B, RBI;

Blue Sox centerfielder Cesar Talabera shatters his ankle crashing into third base on his triple and is out for the rest of the playoffs and in a powder blue leg cast as we speak.

NAS @ SAL … 8-3 … (series tied 2-2) … NAS Jim Allen 3-4, BB, 3B; NAS Sean Ashley 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI;

NAS @ SAL … 6-3 … (Blue Sox lead 3-2) … NAS Jon Sullivan 2-4, BB, HR, 2 RBI; NAS Billy Bouldin 3-5, 2 RBI;

All Salem’s hopes were on Harrington, but he gets roughed up for all six runs and takes the loss.

SAL @ NAS … 3-4 … (Blue Sox win 4-2) … NAS Juan Espudo 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, W (1-1);

The Wolves score three in the second inning off Stice, who holds out for six before replaced by Espudo, who gets the win when the Blue Sox overcome Nickerson in the seventh.