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Bob Costas on BNN – Pro Cup Series Game 4 Recap (1900)
“Good evening, everybody.
For three games, the story of this Pro Cup Series belonged entirely to Chicopee. The Braves won the first three contests, they had Fareed Tareen pitching like a legend, and they arrived at Comiskey Park needing just one more victory to capture their second Pro Cup championship.
Colfax had other ideas.
The Black Sox turned in their most complete performance of the season today, defeating Chicopee 7–1 and keeping this series alive.”
“Let's start with the man who refused to let the celebration happen on his watch: Wankegh Hecini.
What a remarkable response.
Just one day after losing a heartbreaking 10-inning duel to Tareen in Game 3, Hecini came right back out and authored a masterpiece. Nine innings, six hits, one unearned run, one walk, eight strikeouts, and complete command from start to finish.
This wasn't simply good pitching. This was the performance of a man pitching for his team's survival.
Every time Chicopee threatened, Hecini found another gear.
A runner at third in the fourth? Escaped.
A double by Joel Bressane in the seventh? Stranded.
Bases loaded in the eighth after a pair of Colfax errors? Hecini surrendered just one run and slammed the door.
The Braves left fourteen men on base and never once delivered the big hit.”
“For four innings, Fareed Tareen matched Hecini punch for punch.
Then the dam broke.
In the fourth inning, Koi-sho Xing and Chris Brison singled, Hai-dong Liu delivered an RBI hit, and Colfax grabbed a 1-0 lead.
The fifth inning was the turning point.
Pedro Llamas reached on an error.
Hecini helped his own cause with an RBI single.
Then Thiago Incio crushed a triple into the gap, bringing home another run. Moments later Juan Diaz added a sacrifice fly, and suddenly the Black Sox had a commanding 4-0 advantage.
That inning perfectly summarized today's game.
Colfax capitalized on opportunities.
Chicopee did not.”
“And what a day for Thiago Incio.
The Colfax first baseman finished with two hits, including that huge RBI triple, scored once, drove in two runs, and provided the offensive spark the Black Sox desperately needed.
Chris Brison collected three hits.
Hai-dong Liu added two hits and an RBI.
Koi-sho Xing scored twice and tripled.
Even Hecini contributed with a hit and an RBI.
Up and down the lineup, Colfax attacked.”
“The Braves, meanwhile, will look back at several missed chances.
In the fourth inning, Ijaz Medikonda was thrown out at home trying to score on a Devin McDaniels single.
In the seventh, Bressane doubled and reached third with one out, but never crossed the plate.
In the eighth, Colfax committed two errors and opened the door, yet Chicopee managed only one run.
Those are the moments championship teams usually cash in.
Today, Chicopee couldn't.”
“But before anyone writes the obituary for Colfax, remember this:
This franchise knows what it means to win a Pro Cup.
The Black Sox captured their championship three years ago in 1897 and have spent the last three seasons trying to climb back to this stage.
Now they've earned one more day.
The series remains firmly in Chicopee's control at three games to one, but the sweep is gone. The champagne stays on ice. The Black Sox have shown signs of life.”
“And now comes perhaps the most fascinating question of the series.
Can Colfax make this interesting?
Can Hecini's masterpiece inspire another victory tomorrow?
Or will Chicopee regroup and finish the job in Game 5?
The Braves are still one win away from their second Pro Cup title.
The Black Sox are still three wins away from one of the greatest comebacks Islandian baseball has ever seen.
For at least one more night, the dream remains alive in Colfax.”
“I'm Bob Costas. Good night from Comiskey Park.”
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