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Old 12-24-2019, 02:06 AM   #550
reds1
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Wolseley Unions (93-61) vs. Wellington Athletics (84-70)
Season Matchup: 5-1 in favor of Wellington

Wolseley: Runs scored – 806 (1st in West); runs against – 600 (3rd)
Wellington: Runs scored – 737 (5th in East); runs against – 692 (3rd)

The Wolseley Unions won their fourth straight Western League Pennant and will be appearing in their fifth United Cup in six years. The Unions were the class of the United Leagues this season and made relatively quick work of the Kingston Pelicans in the Western League Pennant Series, defeating them in five games. Meanwhile, the Wellington Athletics won their first Eastern League Pennant in 14 seasons, after defeating the Downie Chiefs in six games. Their previous Pennant came when they defeated the Queensland Eagles 4 games to 2 in the United Leagues’ inaugural season.

Both clubs are dealing with injuries as they plow through the playoffs, especially in their pitching staffs. Wellington is missing its top two starters: 25-year old RHP Bert Morrow (8-6, 3.97 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 3.77 FIP) and 27-year old RHP Troy Conlin (12-8, 3.87 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 4.05 FIP). However, they will have their starting catcher, 24-year old C Declan Bugbie (.309/.339/.450, 11 HR, 82 RBI, 25 BB, 4.7 WAR), back in the lineup for the United Cup.

Wolseley is missing two frontline starters as well: 28-year old RHP Jeremy Albury (8-1, 3.05 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 3.34 FIP) and 33-year old RHP Bill Blair (11-7, 3.18 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 3.15 FIP). Finally, with the loss of both 22-year old Carlos Ortíz (.284/.354/.424, 16 HR, 71 RBI, 57 BB, 3.5 WAR) and 30-year old Burt Willey (.378/.427/.476, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 7 BB, 0.6 WAR), 27-year old George D’Urberville (.278/.350/444, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB in WL Pennant Series) will continue to hold down third base.

The Series sees a return of manager Eugene Rogge (1015-1141, .471), who won the United Cup with the Fort Richmond Generals back in 1947-48. They defeated manager Tony Fay’s (1185-1125, .513) Unions in the Western League Pennant that year four games to one on their way to the championship. So there will be a bit of a grudge match vibe to the Series.

Despite the Unions overall success this season, they did not fare well against the Athletics in their six regular season matchups. After winning the first game 5-1, Wolseley dropped the next five. In fact, the last three games played in February saw Wellington win 10-8, 9-5 and 2-0. So if recent history is any indication, the Athletics are capable of ‘hanging’ with the Unions, whether outscoring them or shutting them down as necessary. Wolseley cannot afford to take anything for granted. Will they? Let’s play some ball!

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Game 1 – April 4

Game 1 gets underway at Wolseley’s Satchel Paige Park on the west coast, under partly cloudy and slightly cooler than normal (65F) skies and a light breeze blowing left to right (12 mph). 30,622 fans have packed the stadium to cheer on their Unions.

Both Wolseley’s 35-year old LHP Anastasio Rodríguez (1-0, 3.00 ERA in the WL Pennant Series) and Wellington’s 27-year old RHP Matt Price (1-0, 1.13 ERA in the EL Pennant Series) make their second start of the playoffs.

Top of the 1st:
Wellington gets on the board first when SS Rupert Bricknell leads off with double. After reaching third base when 1B Wayne Emmert flies out to RF Howard Ockey, Bricknell scores when Jim Mars grounds out to 2B Make-Make Kamaka.
Wellington 1 – Wolseley 0

Bottom of the 1st:

But Wolseley immediately responds with back-to-back singles by Make-Make Kamaka and 1B Alan Cavell to lead off the bottom half. With two out, C Éric Denis drives a single into rightfield. RF Harvey Thornber botches the pickup, however, allowing the runners to advance and Kamaka to score.
Wellington 1 – Wolseley 1

Bottom of the 2nd:

CF Owen Claridge leads off with a first-pitch single and reaches second on an Anastasio Rodríguez sac bunt. But Claridge is thrown out attempting to steal third base by C Declan Bugbie. Make-Make Kamaka singles into shallow centerfield and reaches second on a wild pitch. Alan Cavell then draws a walk. Up next is LF Carlton Hawking who stings Price for a 3-run home run, 387 ft. into the jubilant leftfield bleachers.
Wellington 1 – Wolseley 4

Bottom of the 4th:

Lighting strikes a second time, when Make-Make Kamaka draws a walk with one out and Alan Cavell singles into shallow leftfield. Carlton Hawking steps up to the plate and crushes a 1-2 pitch from Price, sending it 426 ft. into the left-centerfield stands for a 3-run home run. That ends Matt Price’s afternoon, as RHP Gavin Duckering takes over.
Wellington 1 – Wolseley 7

Bottom of the 6th:

Wolseley continues to pile it on as Alan Cavell leads off with a single and Carlton Hawking draws a walk. With one out, Éric Denis singles into leftfield. Cavell races around third and beats out LF Matthew Floyd’s throw home. After Hawking reaches third base on a fielder’s choice, 3B George D’Urberville singles him home.
Wellington 1 – Wolseley 9

Top of the 7th:

Matthew Floyd leads off with a first-pitch double and scores when C Declan Bugbie follows him with a single into left-centerfield.
Wellington 2 – Wolseley 9

Bottom of the 8th:

Éric Denis leads off with a single and advances to second when George D’Urberville draws a one-out walk. RHP Cameron Ueno then takes over and gives up a walk to Owen Claridge, loading the bases. With two out, Ueno gives up back-to-back walks to Make-Make Kamaka and Alan Cavell, forcing in two more runs.

In the top of the 9th, Anastasio Rodríguez gets two quick outs before PH Ricardo Rúbio reaches safely after SS George Kimpton loses control of a routine grounder. But PH Carl Townsend hits into a 6-4 fielder’s choice to end the game. Wolseley takes Game 1 in convincing fashion.
FINAL: Wellington 2 – Wolseley 11





For Wolseley:

It was all Wolseley today as Carlton Hawking continued his torrid ways and Anastasio Rodríguez pitched a complete game (2-0, 2.50 ERA, 122 PI, GS: 73).

For Wellington:

It was a rough day for the Athletics’ pitchers. Matt Price went just 3.1 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 2 HR, 66 PI (1-1, 6.35 ERA; GS: 11).

Gavin Duckering went 4.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 0 K, 75 PI, 9.00 ERA.

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Game 2 – April 5

The two clubs reconvene at Satchel Paige Park for Game 2, as 30,483 fans look to see if the Unions can keep their dominant play going. The skies are clear, the temperature has shot up (84F) and just a slight breeze blowing from left to right (11 mph) provides a meager measure of relief.

Wolseley’s ace 26-year old RHP Roberto Garza (1-0, 4.35 ERA) makes his third start of the playoffs, while Wellington counters with 31-year old RHP Ian Peter (2-0, 3.18 ERA). Peter too, is making his third start of this year’s playoffs.

Bottom of the 1st:
The Unions pick up where they left off, as Make-Make Kamaka, Alan Cavell, Carlton Hawking and George Kimpton bang out four consecutive singles to start the inning, putting a run on the board. Both Éric Denis and Howard Ockey then fly out to deep centerfield, scoring two more runs.
Wellington 0 – Wolseley 3

Bottom of the 3rd:

George Kimpton and Éric Denis hit back-to-back doubles with one out to add a run. With two out, George D’Urberville singles into left-centerfield. Denis rounds third and heads for home, but CF Jim Mars cuts him down at home plate to end the inning.
Wellington 0 – Wolseley 4

Bottom of the 6th:

Owen Claridge singles into leftfield with one out, then reaches second on a sac bunt by Roberto Garza. Make-Make Kamaka then lines a single into centerfield. Claridge races for home and beats out the throw from CF Jim Mars.
Wellington 0 – Wolseley 5

Top of the 9th:

1B Wayne Emmert battles Garza to a full count before tripling into centerfield with one out. That ends Garza’s day as RHP Shou-xin Chin comes on in relief. But Jim Mars pounces on Chin’s 0-1 pitch and slams a 2-run home run, 421 ft. into the right-centerfield bleachers.
But after giving up a four-pitch walk to Matthew Floyd, Chin gets Declan Bugbie to pop up to 2B Make-Make Kamaka and induces RF Harvey Thornber to ground out to 1B Alan Cavell to end the game. Wolseley takes the first two games as the Series now heads to Wellington.
FINAL: Wellington 2 – Wolseley 5





For Wolseley:

Roberto Garza puts in a sterling performance as he picks up his second victory of the playoffs (2-0, 2.89 ERA, 67 PI, GS: 73).

For Wellington:

Ian Peter went 6.0 IP, 11 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 93 PI (2-1, 4.30 ERA, GS: 29).

Jim Mars went 1 for 4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 HR

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Game 3 – April 7

Santop Stadium in Wellington sees United Cup action for the first time since 1938 when the Kingston Pelicans won four games to two. Wellington looks to get on track and 28,346 fans are on hand to cheer them on. The weather is simply gorgeous along the Pearl Sound coast: clear skies, warm temperatures (70F) and a light breeze blowing left to right (8 mph).

29-year old RHP Wilfried Schop (0-1, 6.89 ERA) has been tasked to lead the Athletics to victory in his third playoff start. The Unions will look to 32-year old veteran RHP Kai Tosh (1-0, 3.38 ERA) to keep Wolseley’s momentum going.

Bottom of the 1st:
Tosh gets two quick outs but then runs into trouble. CF Jim Mars singles and LF Matthew Floyd doubles, putting runners on second and third. C Declan Bugbie then singles into leftfield. Mars scores the game’s opening run. But Floyd is hot on his heels and beats out the throw to home plate from LF Carlton Hawking.
RF Harvey Thornber immediately doubles, once again putting runners on second and third. 2B Vaiga Bultarro singles into right-centerfield. Bugbie scores easily on the play. But Thornber is right behind him for the inning’s fourth run as Carlton Hawking doesn’t risk the throw.
Wolseley 0 – Wellington 4

Top of the 2nd:

But Wolseley comes right back as Schop experiences control issues. RF Howard Ockey leads off with a single, 3B George D’Urberville is hit by a pitch and CF Owen Claridge singles into shallow leftfield to load the bases. Kai Tosh is also hit by a pitch, forcing in Ockey. 2B Make-Make Kamaka then flies out to LF Matthew Floyd. D’Urberville tags up on the play and scores without a throw. 1B Alan Cavell follows and singles down the leftfield line. Claridge beats out Matthew Floyd’s throw home for the Unions’ third run before Schop can escape the inning.
Wolseley 3 – Wellington 4

Top of the 4th:

Alan Cavell singles with one out. Carlton Hawking hits a fly ball to leftfield, but Matthew Floyd cannot snag it, putting runners on first and second. With two out, Éric Denis singles into right-centerfield. Cavell races around third and beats out CF Jim Mars’ throw home to tie up the game.
Wolseley 4 – Wellington 4

Bottom of the 5th:

SS Rupert Bricknell battles Tosh for nine pitches before drawing a lead-off walk. With one out, Jim Mars doubles into leftfield. Bricknell tears around third and scores without a throw as Wellington takes back the lead.
After Matthew Floyd draws a walk, Declan Bugbie doubles into right-centerfield. That scores Mars and ends Kai Tosh’s afternoon. RHP John Palm takes over but promptly surrenders a single to RF Harvey Thornber. That scores both Floyd and Bugbie as CF Carlton Hawking has no play to make.
Wolseley 4 – Wellington 8

Top of the 7th:

Howard Ockey triples with one out. Wilfried Schop is injured on the play, reportedly favoring his elbow. So manager Eugene Rogge calls on RHP Cameron Ueno to take over. After striking out George D’Urberville, Ueno gives up a long single into rightfield to Owen Claridge. Ockey comes in to score on the play.
Wolseley 5 – Wellington 8

Bottom of the 7th:

Rookie RHP Joseph Sellwood comes in to start the 7th. With one out, Harvey Thornber hits a lazy fly ball to centerfield. But it deflects off the tip of Owen Claridge’s glove, allowing Thornber to reach safely. With two out, 3B Juan Maldonado triples into deep right-centerfield, scoring Thornber.
Wolseley 5 – Wellington 9

Top of the 8th:

Wolseley loads the bases with nobody out as Make-Make Kamaka doubles, Alan Cavell singles and Carlton Hawking draws a walk. With one out, Éric Denis singles home Kamaka. Wellington then makes a pitching change, calling on RHP Scott Wheeler. But a long sac fly to centerfield by Howard Ockey and a single by George D’Urberville score two more runs, getting Wolseley to within one.

In the top of the 9th, Scott Wheeler bears down, getting back-to-back ground outs from PH Blair Toman and Make-Make Kamaka and a fly ball from Alan Cavell to preserve the victory. Wellington gets into the win column as they head to Game 4.
FINAL: Wolseley 8 – Wellington 9





For Wellington:

It was not a sterling day for pitchers once again. But Wilfried Schop picked up the win, going 6.1 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 102 PI (1-1, 6.55 ERA, GS: 38). In the 7th inning, he suffered a sore elbow and is listed as day-to-day for the next 6 days.

Cameron Ueno went 1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 29 PI, (10.13 ERA).

Scott Wheeler picked up the save, going 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 15 PI, 1.50 ERA (3 SV).

For Wolseley:

Kai Tosh took the loss in a rough outing: 4.1 IP, 10 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 86 PI (1-1, 8.03 ERA; GS: 9).

Howard Ockey went 3 for 4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1-3B

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Game 4 – April 8

28,355 Athletics fans have returned for Game 4, as Wellington breathes new life. The afternoon matchup will be played under partly cloudy skies (73F) with a very light breeze blowing out to center (8 mph).

Wellington’s 24-year old RHP Vinnie Snell (0-1, 4.50 ERA) will make his second career playoff start, while Wolseley taps 32-year old veteran RHP Aaron Saunderson (0-1, 1.04 ERA). Both previously pitched in the fourth game of their respective Pennant Series.

Bottom of the 2nd:
Wellington strikes first when Declan Bugbie and Harvey Thornber bang out back-to-back doubles with one out.
Wolseley 0 – Wellington 1

Bottom of the 3rd:

Rupert Bricknell leads off with a single but is thrown out attempting to steal second base by C Éric Denis. Wayne Emmert follows with a single and reaches third base when Matthew Floyd singles with two out. Declan Bugbie steps to the plate next and extends the Athletics lead, cranking out a 3-run home run to the leftfield bleachers, 397 ft. away.
Wolseley 0 – Wellington 4

Top of the 9th:

Vinnie Snell keeps the Wolseley hitters at bay until the ninth, when things fall apart. First, Owen Claridge leads off with a solo home run, depositing it 373 ft. into the rightfield bleachers.
Make-Make Kamaka and Alan Cavell then bang out back-to back singles with one out, advancing 90 ft. when Carlton Hawking grounds out to 3B Juan Maldonado. A George Kimpton single and an Éric Denis double follows, driving in three runs and tying up the game. Howard Ockey and George D’Urberville keep the rally going by hitting back-to-back singles. That drives in Denis for the go-ahead run.

In the bottom of the 9th, RHP SHou-xin Chin takes over for Aaron Saunderson. Chen gets Vagia Bultarro to ground out to 1B Alan Cavell, Juan Maldonado strikes out swinging and PH Lyndon Inagaki grounds out to Alan Cavell to end the game. Wolseley pulls out the victory.
FINAL: Wolseley 5 – Wellington 4





For Wolseley:

Aaron Saunderson picks up the win, going 8.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 103 PI (1-1, 2.70 ERA; GS: 50).

Shou-xin Chin gets the save: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 10 PI, (3 SV, 1.93 ERA).

For Wellington:

Vinnie Snell was pitching brilliantly until the 9th. He went 8.2 IP, 13 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 140 PI (0-2, 4.86 ERA; GS: 38).

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Game 5 – April 9

Wellington looks to try and rebound from a heart-breaking loss the day before. Santop Stadium is filled to the brim with 28,279 fans, hoping the last home game of the season will end on a high note. The weather has turned up the heat on the proceedings: brilliantly clear, sunny skies, 79F, with just a slight breeze blowing left to right (9 mph).

The starters from Game 1 face each other once again. Wellington looks to 27-year old RHP Matt Price (1-1, 6.35 ERA) to right the ship, while Wolseley tasks 35-year old LHP Anastasio Rodríguez (2-0, 2.50 ERA) with the job of closing things off.

Bottom of the 3rd:
3B Juan Maldonado leads off with a first-pitch line drive double down the leftfield line and moves up 90 ft. on a Matt Price sac bunt. Rupert Bricknell lines it to 3B George D’urberville but his throw to 1B Alan Cavell is off the mark. Bricknell reaches safely as Maldonado scores on the play.
Wolseley 0 – Wellington 1

Bottom of the 5th:

With one out, Juan Maldonado hits his second double of the game, a first-pitch line drive into rightfield. Matt Price singles into leftfield. Maldonado rounds third and sprints for home. LF Carlton Hawking’s throw to C Éric Denis is not in time as Maldonado doubles the Athletics’ lead.
Wolseley 0 – Wellington 2

Top of the 9th:

For the second straight game, an Athletics pitcher keeps the Unions off the board until the 9th. George Kimpton leads off and lines it to 3B Juan Maldonado. But Maldonado can’t hang on to it, allowing Kimpton to reach base safely. Éric Denis and Howard Ockey follow with back-to-back singles to load the bases with nobody out. George D’Urberville then hits into a 5-4-3 double play with Kimpton scoring on the play. But Matt Price gets Owen Claridge to pop up to C Declan Bugbie along the third base line to end the game and preserve the win. The Series heads back to Wolseley with the Unions still looking for one more victory.
FINAL: Wolseley 1 – Wellington 2





For Wellington:

Matt Price pitched the game of his life, going 9.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 115 PI (2-1, 3.54 ERA; GS: 77).

For Wolseley:

Anastasio Rodríguez was almost as good. He went 8.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 95 PI (2-1, 2.42 ERA, GS: 64).

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Game 6 – April 11

After dropping two of three in Wellington (and very nearly losing the other), the Unions return to friendlier territory at Satchel Paige Park, with 30,475 packing the joint. Weather shouldn’t be an issue: it’s warm (78F), not a cloud in the sky and just a gentle breeze blowing out to right (10 mph).

As in Game 2, 26-year old RHP Roberto Garza (2-0, 2.89 ERA) will start for Wolseley, while 31-year old RHP Ian Peter (2-1, 4.30 ERA) pitches for Wellington.

Bottom of the 2nd:
C Éric Denis gets the Unions on the board with a lead-off solo home run that sails 381 ft. into the leftfield stands.
Wellington 0 – Wolseley 1

Bottom of the 3rd:

2B Make-Make Kamaka doubles Wolseley’s lead when he crushes a lead-off solo home run of his own, 430 ft. into the right-centerfield stands.
Wellington 0 – Wolseley 2

Top of the 4th:

Roberto Garza get two quick outs on two pitches to start the inning, but RF Harvey Thornber then lines a single into shallow rightfield. He is followed by 2B Vaiga Bultarro, who doubles into leftfield, scoring Thornber and getting Wellington on the board.
Wellington 1 – Wolseley 2

Top of the 5th:

Once again, Garza starts the inning with two quick outs. But CF Jim Mars, LF Matthew Floyd and C Declan Bugbie all hit consecutive singles. Mars scores to knot the game up at two.
Wellington 2 – Wolseley 2

Bottom of the 5th:

With one out, Make-Make Kamaka breaks the tie with his second solo home run of the game, sending it 400 ft. into the ecstatic rightfield bleachers.
Wellington 2 – Wolseley 3

Bottom of the 6th:

George Kimpton leads off with a full-count walk. Éric Denis then singles. Kimpton passes second and beats out RF Harvey Thornber’s throw to third to put runners on the corners with nobody out. RF Howard Ockey battles Ian Peter for 8 pitches before singling into shallow rightfield. Kimpton comes home to score Wolseley’s fourth run.

After relieving Roberto Garza to start the 7th, RHP John Palm looks to close things out in the top of the 9th. He needs just six pitches. Juan Maldonado goes down swinging on three pitches. PH Lyndon Inagaki flies out to CF Owen Claridge on two pitches. On the last pitch of the season, SS Rupert Bricknell grounds out to SS George Kimpton to end the game and the Series. The Wolseley Unions are United Cup Champions for the second year in a row!
FINAL: Wellington 2 – Wolseley 4





For Wolseley:

Roberto Garza get the job done, going 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 101 PI (3-0, 2.92 ERA, GS: 52).

John Palm goes 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 ER, 2 K, 26 PI (2 SV, 1.74 ERA).

For Wellington:

Ian Peter battled but had trouble with the long ball. He went 7.1 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 3 HR, 118 PI (2-2, 4.45 ERA; GS: 39).

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