[ZapMast]

1972 Eastern League Championship Sim

Charlotte Monarchs (2) vs. Indianapolis Racers (0)

vs.

Game 3



See it live or recorded on ...

Game 3 of the Eastern League Championship Sim Series delivered a tension-filled duel as the visiting Charlotte Monarchs squared off against the Indianapolis Racers at Victory Field on October 13, 1972. With the series finely poised, both teams were desperate to seize the momentum as the ball flew and the crowd roared in anticipation of the next twist in this high-stakes postseason battle.

The contest opened with a bang in the top of the first as Charlotte’s bats wasted no time. LHB Jose Cruz kicked things off with a fly out, but the Monarchs quickly found their spark when RHB Bill Melton’s plate appearance was punctuated by a series of disciplined swings. The real fireworks came when SHB Richie Scheinblum worked a walk, setting the stage for RHB Orlando Cepeda to launch a monumental two-run home run—a towering drive measured at an astonishing 428 feet that gave Charlotte an early 2‑0 lead. LHB Duke Sims’ subsequent fly out closed the frame, leaving the visitors buzzing with promise.

Answering in kind, the Racers took the bottom of the first under the watchful eye of Charlotte’s starter, RHP Luis Tiant. RHB Tony Perez got on base with a well-timed single, followed by RHB Dusty Baker’s timely ground ball that put Perez in scoring position. Later, RHB Buddy Bell’s single brought Perez home and narrowed the gap to 2‑1, as Indianapolis signaled that they would not go quietly.

The early battle continued into the second inning. Charlotte’s offense looked to build on their explosive start, but after a series of balls, fouls, and a fly out by LHB Del Unser, the Monarchs couldn’t add to their lead despite a hit-by-pitch on LHB Ed Crosby and a modest single from the pitcher, Luis Tiant, who was thrown out attempting to advance to second. The Racers’ reply in the bottom of the second was equally muted, as Eric Soderholm, Juan Beniquez, and Ken Holtzman were stifled by disciplined pitching, leaving the score unchanged at 2‑1.

By the third inning, the pressure was mounting. Charlotte’s batters continued to show flashes of brilliance—Bill Melton’s single punctuated the top of the frame—but a subsequent double play extinguished any hopes of further damage. Indianapolis, meanwhile, managed to answer in the bottom half when Tony Perez singled again, although a fly out by Dusty Baker and a double play involving Billy Williams kept the Racers’ total steady.

In the fourth inning, the tension escalated further. Charlotte’s offensive hopes were dashed after RHB Orlando Cepeda flied out and LHB Duke Sims’ promising single, when coupled with a ground ball double play from Del Unser, which left the visitors still clinging to a 2‑1 lead. Not to be outdone, the Racers powered through in their half of the frame. A disciplined walk to Buddy Bell, a swinging strike out from RHB Tito Fuentes, and a timely line drive from RHB Ellie Rodriguez all coalesced to put RHB Juan Beniquez in position to get a clutch hit that tied the game at 2‑2.

The battle’s momentum shifted yet again in the middle innings. In the fifth frame, both teams exchanged opportunities but neither could break through. Charlotte’s lineup sputtered as Carmen Fanzone and Ed Crosby were neutralized, while Indianapolis’ Billy Williams, Buddy Bell, and Tito Fuentes provided sparks that ultimately fizzled into a tense stalemate.

A pivotal moment came in the sixth inning. With the Monarchs looking for answers, Charlotte’s SHB Richie Scheinblum delivered a crucial single, and RHB Orlando Cepeda followed by doubling—a hit that not only advanced runners but hinted at the potential for a comeback. However, when Indianapolis answered in their half, a combination of solid defensive plays and a clutch single from Tony Perez (driving in a run after a well-orchestrated baserunning play) gave the Racers a slender 3‑2 lead, a margin that would set the stage for the final chapters of the game.

The seventh inning saw both teams jockeying for position. Charlotte’s batters, now under the emerging presence of Indy relief pitcher Clay Carroll, made a valiant effort. RHB Luis Tiant and contributed a single, and a subsequent spark from LHB Jose Cruz pushed runners into scoring positions. Yet, after a series of base advances and a hard-fought but ultimately fruitless rally by SHB Richie Scheinblum and RHB Orlando Cepeda, the Monarchs could not recapture the lead.

In the eighth, Charlotte’s hopes took another hit. LHB Duke Sims’ early single gave a glimpse of promise, followed by a sac bunt from LHB Del Unser moving Sims into scoring position. LHB Pat Kelly walked to fill an open first base. However, a double play from LHB Ed Crosby stymied any momentum. The Racers, meanwhile, managed to hold their slim lead as the inning closed without further scoring.

With the tension reaching fever pitch in the top of the ninth, the Monarchs sent in a pinch hitter, LHB Ed Goodson, but his swing fell short, and subsequent efforts by LHB Jose Cruz and RHB Bill Melton were met with timely outs by the Racers’ defense. As the final inning wound down, every pitch and every swing carried the weight of the championship series, and Indianapolis’ steadfast play proved too resolute for the visitors to overcome.

In the end, the tightly contested Game 3—full of timely hits, strategic baserunning, and nail-biting defensive plays—seemed destined to hinge on that one critical run. With the scoreboard reading a narrow 3‑2 in favor of the home team as the final out was recorded, the stage was set for the next chapter in this epic Eastern League Championship Sim.




⚾Play the NimBLe way!

================================================== ================================================== ================================
MSB on StatsPlus | MSB on OOTP | MSB Quick Start | MSB Stat of the day | Sim Baseball Vision | MSB Real Time Sim | Action Baseball League | The ABL