[Westheim]

2054 WORLD SERIES
Portland Raccoons (94-68) vs. Sioux Falls Warriors (97-65)

Off to Portland for the middle three games of the series… or at least three games. The Raccoons’ lineup appeared to have gone soft, and Chris Gowin especially looked like a bit of a problem in the #4 spot right now. What have you done for me lately…?

Game 3 – Seisaku Taki (9-11, 3.48 ERA) vs. Hiroyuki Takagi (15-6, 2.72 ERA)

This pairing of pitchers, too, had taken place in the August series, in the last game of the set. Taki had beaten Takagi with eight inning of 1-run ball for a 2-1 win. Takagi had not allowed an earned run in his FLCS outing, though, while Taki had been touched up quite a bit for six earned runs in 10.2 innings in two games against the Knights. I was told that Takagi meant “tall tree” in Japanese, while Taki was best translated as “falling water”. I would have preferred to not know.

For the first time in the series, the Coons chased a bit about their top five in the lineup, with Pucks moving into the cleanup spot.

The ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by Herb Williams, who had opened the first “FREE!” store in Portland in 2025. Remember, folks: if you’re short on cash, just shop at FREE! Just walk in and take what you need. It’s FREE!

SFW: CF Marroquin – 3B Moriel – LF M. Villa – C Samuel – 1B Schaack – RF Rodriquez – 2B DeFusco – SS R. Harris – P H. Takagi
POR: 1B Crum – SS Lavorano – LF Brassfield – CF Puckeridge – C Gowin – 3B Venegas – 2B Waters – RF Cox – P Taki

Taki retired the Warriors in order the first two innings, but DeFusco and Harris hit a single and double to begin the third inning, and reached scoring position. Both scored, one on Takagi’s groundout, and the other on a 2-out hit by Mario Villa much later, after a pop by Marroquin and a full-count walk to Moriel. Nick Samuel grounded out as both catchers continued to struggle. Schaack and Harris reached the corners with singles but were stranded with a K to Takagi in the fourth inning.

Takagi faced the minimum the first time through the Coons’ lineup. While Lonzo hit a single in the bottom 1st, Brassfield doubled him up, 6-4-3 style, and that was it for the early going. Ken Crum whacked a leadoff double in the bottom 4th, but was stranded with a Lonzo grounder, a K to Brassfield, and a fly out by Pucks. Taki got through six innings, but needed 90 pitches and was hit for in the bottom 6th after Cox hit a leadoff single to center. Ed Crispin, who had appeared in every game of the CLCS, but not at all in Sioux Falls, singled to right, and the tying runs were on base. When Ken Crum poked at a 3-0 pitch, I screamed, but he singled to right, and Slappy handed me a fresh bottle of booze to calm the nerves.

Here, the Coons had three on and nobody out. They needed runs. Lonzo was batting against Takagi, but there was action in the bullpen. Not quick enough, though. Takagi fell 2-0 behind Lonzo, and Lonzo raked a ball over the glove of Moriel for a game-tying 2-run double! Brassfield hit a sac fly to give the Critters a 3-2 lead, but Lonzo was left on base by Pucks and Gowin, who both flew out.

Of the nine outs that needed collecting, the Coons would get three from Hyun-soo Bak, who retired the 8-9-1 batters in order in the seventh inning. It was Lillis for the eighth, then with Suzuki in center after having pinch-hit for no gains against Fernando Salazar in the bottom 7th. Pucks was in right, the pitcher spot was now at #8 for the Coons. Mario Villa lined a 1-out single off Lillis, and was run for with Bobby Rivera. The Coons at this point very much ignored the cleanup man Samuel, who struck out to fall to .114 in October, but Schaack was a problem. Since he was even more dangerous against southpaws, the Raccoons brought Daley in the eighth inning, bidding on a 4-out save. Schaack still dished one up the middle, but LONZO! What a play! And the inning was over! No insurance run came about in the bottom of the eighth inning, and Daley would face 6-7-8 in the ninth inning. Tony Rodriquez flew out to Dave de Lemos, the Coons’ third rightfielder on the day. DeFusco grounded out to Venegas. Ryan Harris fanned – ballgame.

Raccoons 3, Warriors 2 – Raccoons lead series 2-1

Crum 2-4, 2B; Lavorano 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI; Crispin (PH) 1-1; Taki 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, W (2-0);

Game 4 – Rafael de la Cruz (5-5, 3.98 ERA) vs. Jason Palladino (9-4, 4.48 ERA, 1 SV)

Game 4 arrived, and it was a bit of an “aw shucks” matchup. The Warriors would have loved to see Ricardo Montoya here, while the Raccoons were none too confident in having Raffy in this spot. The good news was that there was ample of long relief available if things went pear shaped early. Raffy had taken the L in the opener of the August series, giving up all runs in a 3-1 loss, runs driven in by DeFusco (2) and Montoya (1, …).

The ceremonial first pitch was delivered by Balú, Portland-born mime of world renown. He required no actual baseball to do so, instead going through some motions on the mound, and Tyler Philipps just pretended to catch the imaginary baseball when he was sufficiently tired of it all.

SFW: CF Marroquin – 3B Moriel – LF M. Villa – C Samuel – 1B Schaack – RF Rodriquez – 2B DeFusco – SS R. Harris – P Palladino
POR: 1B Crum – SS Lavorano – LF Brassfield – CF Puckeridge – C Gowin – 3B Venegas – 2B Waters – RF Cox – P de la Cruz

Nope. It wasn’t gonna work out. Raffy walked a guy in each of the first two innings, but in the second, the free pass to Rodriquez was followed by a DeFusco double off the wall in left, and the runners scored on Harris’ sac fly and a 2-out single by Palladino, who also ended the inning getting caught in a rundown.

The Critters had stranded a pair in the first inning, but had another pair on in the second inning… somehow. Waters hit a 1-out single, while Palladino then struck Matt Cox in the wrist, and he was in obvious pain. Dr. Padilla collected him, and Suzuki pinch-ran. A bunt advanced the runners, Palladino walked Crum, but Lonzo grounded out to Harris and the Raccoons already had five left on base and one ded after two innings. Suzuki took over centerfield, with Pucks to right.

Mario Villa doubled home Jose Marroquin in the third inning for a 3-0 lead, a run that was answered with Brassfield (forced out by Pucks) and Venegas hits and a third-inning run for the home team, but Raffy was yanked after giving up a 1-out triple to DeFusco in the fourth inning. Kyle Brobeck’s very first pitch was belted over the fence in left by Harris, and the gap was up to four runs. Brobeck tried to make up for that, and doubled in the bottom 4th after Suzuki had already hit a leadoff single. Crum walked onto the open base in a full count, which got us into ever-delightful three-on, no-out territory again. The Warriors might just as well have led by twenty… Lonzo was at 3-2 when he popped out behind home plate on a defensive swing. Brassfield struck out on three pitches, the first K for Palladino. Pucks also ran a full count, then raked one to center. Marroquin ran after it in vain, the ball fell onto the warning track for a bases-clearing double…! Gowin killed Palladino for good with a single to left, on an 0-2 pitch, and Pucks came around to score, and we were even at five…! That wasn’t all: left-hander John Taylor allowed a first-pitch single to Gowin, and a single on a 2-1 pitch to Waters. Gowin was waved around aggressively and scored just ahead of Marroquin’s throw for a 6-5 lead. The remaining runners advanced, and went for home plate when Suzuki dished another single on the very next pitch, but only Gowin scored – Mario Villa struck down Waters at the plate, and the inning ended after a 6-run onslaught.

Still five to go, by the way. Villa and Samuel singles scored a run off Brobeck in the fifth, 7-6, but after that things calmed down significantly. Ivan Ornelas pitched two scoreless for the Warriors, while Brobeck got the Coons through the seventh inning with 3.2 innings of not exactly great, but serviceable long relief. He was in line for the W on merit, too. Hitchcock got the eighth, allowed a leadoff hit to center to Samuel, but Schaack struck out and Rodriquez found Lonzo for a double play to bugger out of the inning. Juan Rivera would not allow an insurance run to the Critters. In the ninth it was Daley against DeFusco, Harris, and Nick DeMarco, ex-Coon with mixed track record. DeFusco grounded out to Lonzo. Harris whiffed. DeMarco – didn’t bat. After four games of waiting on him, Matt Wartella finally appeared as lefty pinch-hitter in this series. AND STRUCK OUT!

Raccoons 7, Warriors 6 – Raccoons lead series 3-1

Venegas 2-4, RBI; Waters 2-4, RBI; Suzuki 2-3, RBI;

Phew!

Game 5 – Jason Wheatley (14-10, 3.64 ERA) vs. David Concha (16-6, 3.28 ERA)

The Raccoons were back up against a left-hander, which made Matt Cox’ bruised wrist that left him day-to-day for the rest of the series hurt a little less… on my scorecard at least. I hear his actual wrist was still smarting pretty good on the morning of Game 5. It was back to the matchup from the opener, where Wheats had been no bueno in particular, but had survived, and Pucks had singled-pawedly down the Warriors with a 3-run blast.

Dave de Lemos would get the start in centerfield, with Pucks moving over to right.

The first pitch was thrown out by Alberto Ramos (HOF), 2026 and 2028 World Series champion with these Raccoons, who had by now taken on baseball shape himself after having started to fatten up gradually in his 30s. He was wheeled on and off the field with a forklift. Threw it precisely to the catcher, though!

SFW: CF Marroquin – 3B Moriel – LF M. Villa – C Samuel – 1B Schaack – RF Rodriquez – 2B DeFusco – SS R. Harris – P Concha
POR: 1B Crum – SS Lavorano – LF Brassfield – 2B Waters – RF Puckeridge – 3B Venegas – C Gowin – CF de Lemos – P Wheatley

Lonzo’s error put Julio Moriel on base in the first inning, but Wheats struck out Villa and Samuel, which was already more strikeouts than he had picked up in Game 1. He also picked up a lead in the bottom 1st on a leadoff walk to Ken Crum and a 2-out RBI triple by Matt Waters. Pucks grounded out sharply. Wheats allowed a hit to Schaack and walked Rodriquez in the second inning, but Water crucially speared a DeFusco liner to help him wobble out of the inning.

It didn’t get better any time soon for Wheats. Moriel singled in the third and this time Villa hit the RBI triple. A passed ball charged to Gowin plated the runner, and now the Warriors had the 1-run lead … briefly. The Raccoons got straight leadoff singles from Crum, Lonzo, and Brassfield in the bottom 3rd, and the rookie’s liner to left-center tied the game when it plated Crum from second base, two-all. Lonzo was caught stealing third base, but Waters singled home Brassfield for a 3-2 lead. Concha lost Pucks on balls, and the Coons loaded the bases with a 2-out single by Gowin, but de Lemos struck out.

At this point, it began to rain and Rodriquez opened the fourth with a double to right-center. Wheats would get through the inning, but that would be it. An hourlong rain delay ended his start, his season, and since we could not come to terms on a contract, his Raccoons career. When play resumed with the bottom 4th, the #9 spot led off, but it was Crispin pinch-hitting and singling to left. The Warriors were still going with Concha, but paid with three singles by the 9-1-2 batters, a Brassfield sac fly, and three runs to fall behind by a slam.

Moriel singled in the fifth off Matt Walters, who otherwise struck out every batter he faced in the inning *plus* Jason Schaack to begin the sixth. Rodriquez popped out, at which point the left-handed part of the lineup was over and the Raccoons double-switched in Bak and Suzuki. DeFusco socked a double, Harris walked, and Tarver somehow grounded out to Lonzo in Bak’s least impressive outing of the postseason. He got a groundout from Marroquin to begin the seventh, then yielded for Lillis, who also stumbled. Moriel legged out an infield single that Venegas stopped from going to the corner, but had to scurry after and had no play on. Villa hit a single to right, sending Moriel to third base. Samuel struck out to continue his rotten postseason, and Schaack sent a fly to center… but Suzuki was there and made the catch. Rodriquez drew a leadoff walk in the eighth, which meant Hitchcock came in with a body on base… at least until DeFusco hit into a double play. Harris flew out to center.

The Raccoons had the occasional hit against the Warriors pen, but didn’t score again through eight, even when Spencer Dalrymple nicked not one, but two batters – Philipps and Crum – in the bottom 8th. Philipps remained in the game for the ninth inning with Daley pitching with a 4-run lead. Wartella pinch-hit in the #9 hole, but grounded out to Crum. Marroquin put an 0-2 into play, but Venegas made a sure grab and threw him out at first base. One more! Julio Moriel, batting .412 in the postseason, upped that measure by 17 points with a single to right, bringing up Mario Villa, also hitting .400. He fell to 2-2, then socked a ball to left. Brassfield couldn’t get it, it was a double. Moriel was held at third base. Schaack appeared in the on-deck circle as the tying run… but that required Nick Samuel, .140 in October, to reach base. The Raccoons formed one last, hopefully, huddle on the hill. It started to rain again. Daley fired a 98mph fastball – and Samuel punked it away for a 3-run homer.

Okay. Splinters in the snout and all, this could be worse. We were still leading. We still had options. Daley was going to face Schaack, and then Sencion would face Rodriquez unless Schaack homered. Arthur Pickett was available for long relief if necessary. We still had options.

Who needs options, though? We had Brassfield. Schaack hit the 0-1 to left, and he knew it immediately, slamming down the bat and making a half-arsed attempt for first base. Brassfield came in six, seven steps, reached up, and pawed the ball. That was the end of the season.

Raccoons 6, Warriors 5 – Raccoons win series 4-1

Crum 2-3, BB; Lavorano 2-5, RBI; Waters 2-4, 3B, 2 RBI; Crispin (PH) 1-1; Walters 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, W (1-0);

Mario Villa was named MVP while on the losing team, batting .500 (10-20) with four extra-base hits and 3 RBI. He looked like the only thing he wished to do with the trophy was to beat to death the league representative that handed it to him.