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Old 05-18-2019, 02:16 PM   #197
BirdWatcher
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1972 WPK World Series, Game 5 (at Columbus)

A couple of decisions made by the opposing managers in this one regarding how long to stick with their starting pitchers could easily have led to a winter's worth of debates, had things not gone as they did.

First of all, with his team trailing 2-1 in what was a possible knock-out game, Columbus manager Aaron Toth pulled his team's ace, Jake Harris, for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the 5th inning. It made some sense, as Columbus was desperate for offense and in fact the pinch-hitter, Mike Richmond, doubled with 2 outs. He was then stranded though when Larry Glinski hit a ground out to second base to end the inning.

Then, with the score still a very narrow 2-1, Charlotte manager Greg Maye opted to leave his starter, Adam Getchell in the game to face the heart of the Columbus order in the bottom of the 9th. Had Getchell faltered surely Maye would have come under intense heat for not bringing in a reliever, with several solid options fully rested. (Though stopper Jamel McNeil was pretty exhausted and likely not available.) Getchell bent a bit- walking Chad Jones with one out recorded, but he did not break- getting the ever dangerous Brad Tesh to hit into a fielder's choice and striking out the slumping Derrick Turner to end the game and the series.

The Charlotte Sting, against all odds, are your 1972 WPK World Champions!

Predictably enough, Jim Decker is named the series MVP in spite of going 0 for 4 in the deciding game.
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