[ZapMast]

1972 Eastern League Championship Sim

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

vs.

Game 5



See it live or recorded on ...

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. On October 15, 1972, in a ballpark charged with anticipation, the Charlotte Monarchs clashed with the Indianapolis Racers in a contest that would test every ounce of grit and determination. The game unfolded as a masterclass in small-ball baseball, with each inning adding a new twist to the story.

The First Inning
The Monarchs jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first. Jose Cruz initiated the action with a steady eye, drawing a ball and fouling off a pitch before flying out to deep center. Then, Bill Melton stepped into the spotlight—he worked the count and unleashed a solo home run soaring to right-center, covering 389 feet and giving Charlotte a 1–0 advantage. Richie Scheinblum followed with a crisp line drive single, though subsequent fly outs by Orlando Cepeda and a strikeout by Duke Sims left one runner stranded. Not to be outdone, the Racers answered in the bottom of the first. Tony Perez, after a couple of swings and misses, ignited the inning himself with a solo home run to left, sending the game to a 1–1 tie. Dusty Baker drew a walk, and Billy Williams reached on an error, though subsequent outs by Buddy Bell and a double play on Tito Fuentes kept the score level.

The Early Rounds
In the second inning, both teams traded pitches and outs without adding to the scoreboard. For Charlotte, Del Unser, Carmen Fanzone, and Ed Crosby each had their turn at bat, but nothing materialized. Indianapolis’ batters—Ellie Rodriguez, Eric Soderholm, and Juan Beniquez—were equally stymied by sharp pitching, and the tie held.

The Third Inning’s Tension
In the top of the third, Charlotte’s bats tried to spark a rally. Tom Seaver appeared at the plate for the Monarchs. After a couple of balls and swings, Seaver couldn’t catch a break and struck out. Jose Cruz then drew a walk, and Bill Melton followed up by getting hit by a pitch—advancing Cruz to second. But it was Richie Scheinblum’s fly out—an effort deep to center—coupled with a determined Cruz tag-up and being thrown out at third, resulted in the third out with one man left stranded. Down in the bottom of the third, the Racers briefly stirred. Andy Messersmith, this time at bat, drew two balls before flying out to left. Tony Perez then had his turn, but after working a couple of strikes he couldn’t deliver, and Dusty Baker’s timely single was negated when he was picked off at first, ending the inning still locked at 1–1.

The Fourth and Fifth Innings
In the fourth inning, Charlotte’s offense remained patient. Orlando Cepeda started with a ball and then grounded out, while Duke Sims walked after a sequence of pitches. Del Unser and Carmen Fanzone both recorded fly outs, leaving one runner on base in the top half. The Racers, in their half, capitalized on a brief opportunity. Billy Williams hit a single, and Buddy Bell reached via a fielder’s choice. With Tito Fuentes drawing a walk and Ellie Rodriguez reaching on an error, Indianapolis loaded the bases, but the frame ended without a run as the pressure eased off. In the fifth inning, Charlotte’s efforts faltered further. Ed Crosby and Tom Seaver both flared out, and while Jose Cruz drew a walk—and even stole second—the subsequent at-bat by Bill Melton ended in a strikeout. For the Racers, Andy Messersmith struck out, Tony Perez grounded out, and Dusty Baker’s fly out closed the inning, keeping the score a stalemate.

A Game of Fine Margins in the Middle Innings
The sixth inning saw a glimmer for Charlotte when Richie Scheinblum singled on a ground ball, though Orlando Cepeda soon struck out and Duke Sims grounded into a double play to end the top half without further damage. The Racers’ bottom of the sixth was uneventful, as Billy Williams, Buddy Bell, and Tito Fuentes each recorded outs, maintaining the tie.

In the seventh inning, Charlotte’s bats went quiet. Del Unser, Carmen Fanzone, and Ed Crosby combined for three outs in rapid succession. Indianapolis then began the bottom of the seventh by having Ellie Rodriguez draw a ball and later single with a line drive to center. After a sacrifice bunt by Juan Beniquez—who was put out at first—the Racers had a runner on base, but pinch hitter Garry Maddox couldn’t advance the rally, and the inning closed with the tie intact.

The Eighth and Ninth: A Tight, Nerve-Wracking Affair
In the eighth inning, a pitching change brought RHP Clay Carroll into the mix for the Racers. Charlotte’s Jose Pagan drew a called strike before flying out, and Jose Cruz then connected for a ground ball single that put him on base. Bill Melton followed with a line drive single, moving Cruz to second. However, Richie Scheinblum’s ground ball resulted in a double play that extinguished the rally. Indianapolis responded in the bottom of the eighth as Tony Perez grounded out, Dusty Baker drew a walk, but then Billy Williams and Buddy Bell recorded outs, leaving one runner stranded. In the ninth inning, Charlotte’s offense could not muster momentum as Orlando Cepeda flew out, Duke Sims struck out, and Del Unser’s fly out ended the top half. The Racers, in the bottom of the ninth, saw Tito Fuentes, Ellie Rodriguez, and Roy Foster all make outs, keeping the score tied at 1–1.

The Tenth Inning: Still Searching for a Break
In the top of the tenth, pinch hitter Pat Kelly grounded out, and then Ed Goodson reached on an error—briefly igniting hope for the Monarchs—before Jose Pagan flew out. Jose Cruz kept the threat alive with a well-timed single, moving Ed Goodson to second, but Bill Melton’s subsequent strikeout ended the frame with two runners still on base. In the bottom of the tenth, the Racers’ Juan Beniquez struck out, and pinch hitter Ed Kranepool drew a walk. Tony Perez then grounded out with a line drive, followed by Dusty Baker’s ground out to put an end to the inning, and the game remained knotted at 1–1.

The Decisive Eleventh
With the tension mounting, the eleventh inning began under the watchful eye of RHP Ray Bare for Charlotte. In the top half, Richie Scheinblum snapped the silence with a crisp single to center, but Orlando Cepeda promptly grounded into a double play, dampening the rally. Duke Sims reappeared with an infield single, and Del Unser followed suit with a popup single that managed to drive both men further into scoring position. However, pinch hitter Angel Mangual’s ground out sealed the top half without additional runs.

Then, in the bottom of the eleventh, with every pitch laden with pressure, the Indianapolis Racers found their moment. Facing a new look from RHP Joe Coleman, Billy Williams stepped to the plate. With poise and power, Williams launched a line drive solo home run—a walk-off shot that carried 411 feet—securing the Racers a dramatic 2–1 victory.

In a contest defined by tight defense, timely hits, and fine margins, the Indianapolis Racers emerged victorious by a slim 2–1 margin over the Charlotte Monarchs—a game that will be remembered for its unyielding tension and the ultimate triumph that came down to one spectacular swing. With each home team having claimed victory so far, the series now moves to Charlotte, where the Monarchs will look to seize the momentum on their home turf in the next chapter of this hard-fought battle.






⚾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