Transcontinental Baseball League (TBA)

[luckymann]

52-Newark Colonials (NJ) v 34-Concord Graniteers (NH)

Game 1: Concord 12, Newark 0 (Concord lead series 1-0)

Game 2: Concord 10, Newark 7 (Concord lead series 2-0)

Game 3: Newark 4, Concord 1 (Concord lead series 2-1)

Game 4: Newark 6, Concord 5 (Series tied 2-2)

Game 5: Newark 11, Concord 6 (Newark leads series 3-2)

Game 6: Newark 6, Concord 5 10 innings (Newark wins Lincoln Cup 4-2)

52-Newark Colonials (NJ) WIN SERIES 4-2

[luckymann]

1951 TBA Most Valuable Player: Casey Young, Idaho Falls (ID) Spuds

1951 TBA Pitcher of the Year: Jon French, Brunswick (ME) Vulcans

[luckymann]

For any of you following along that feel this was a bit too easy, well I feel it, too. While I do want to keep things moving along briskly before file size stops this beast in its tracks, I don't want it to just be a matter of come in, gut the joint, win next season, move on. I suspect the two main factors in my rapid success at Honolulu are the low quality of the league and the fact that the entire universe is very new.

I don't want to overcorrect prematurely (pretty sure there's a doctor you can see for that...) by enforcing self-imposed restrictions and the like just yet. Although if the problem persists I most certainly will do so. In the meantime, I have decided to see out the final year of my contract with the Seahawks just to give the Association some time to settle down a bit.

I'll only report the big news items in one block at the end, along with the Lincoln Cup recap, before moving on to my next basket case at the end of the 1952 season.

All I know is that I'll be moving north, so I guess I'll be moaning about the cold this time around. The leagues with a reputation of 3 are Maine, Montana, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Vermont.

[HumanRainDelay]

The Cinderellas were definitely the story with all of the underdogs winning. Sorry to see your Hawaii team take the tough series defeat. To entice you to move North from an island life of surfing, great sunny weather, and fresh pineapple daily, those snowy cold teams had better load your contract with perks!

[luckymann]

I'll be getting free snowshoes and lumber jackets as a contractual obligation, that's for sure!

[HumanRainDelay]

Originally Posted by luckymann

I'll be getting free snowshoes and lumber jackets as a contractual obligation, that's for sure!

Haha. And insist on big-ticket items like a Range Rover as well to ensure you get places on time during the lousy weather off-season.

[luckymann]

The following Honolulu players won award for their performances in 1951:

• Chris Blair: Gold Glove @ C
• Ethan Williams: Gold Glove @ 2B
• Roland Taylor: Gold Glove @ SS
• Jonathan Moulton: Gold Glove @ RF
• Art Zachry: Reliever of the Year
• Tyler Canty: Platinum Stick @ P

And yours truly won Manager of the Year.

[luckymann]

Brian Malone is eligible for arb. His indicative figure is a tad over $25k, he’s looking for just under $30k, we agree to 1-year @ $27k.

RP Alex Ocaguera is also eligible but we pass.

ESP Brian Phillips is eligible for FA and we let him walk.

[luckymann]

In White and Valdez we have two elite outfielders. Our medical staff is concerned than Jonno Moulton’s injury may have a lasting effect. He already struggles for contact so if his power drops off he becomes very run-of-the-mill. Which makes me think we should trade him away to free up some $$ and go for a gun at LF.

Another area I want to upgrade is our rotation; I’m just not happy with Rob Moore in there, so I’d like to move him on and find a gun to replace him, as well as two more relievers, one of whom can step into the rotation if needs be.

Finally, I am after a good but cheapish utility IF / OF.

I have $240k room but only want to spend $180-200k of it. Hopefully the boss will tick it up a notch come preseason like he did last year. (He doesn’t.) Our good 1951 season means the Draft is a waste of time: we have pick #319.

I’m not going to bore you with all of the to-ing and fro-ing, here’s how it all panned out:

• I kill two birds when I trade Moore to Bismarck for John Lanman, a fantastic gamer of a player who plays anywhere but in the battery. It’s virtually a straight swap when we retain a sliver of Moore’s salary.
• I have a massive lash at Aaron Mecham, historically a 3B but plays LF well also and that’s where we’d slot him. To get him, however, involves a 6-year $400k deal and losing our 2nd and 5th round picks in next year’s Draft as compensation (not that they are worth much). Maybe the fact I won’t be here past this year sways me, but only a bit – this guy is an out-and-out gun. I lock him down.
• The FA market for starting pitchers is ludicrous, so I go the trade route instead, upgrading Steve Hart to another lefty Gene Bickett, costing us about $25k in salary.
• We swap Moulton for a backup OF, David Daley from Thornton. So long Jonno, I wish you all the best.
• The straight reliever I get is Jason Evans, a southpaw. He costs us $40k. I also trade Cory Hanes, who has never really been given a chance with us and is unlikely to from here, for excellent lefty relief prospect Cody Covington. That eases any residual guilt I might have about the Mecham deal.

Still after a swingman but waiting to see how things pan out.

Here's our OD Team Photo

[luckymann]

BNN predicts we’ll repeat as champions by 14 games from Lanai City with a 73-32 record (almost identical to last season’s 72-33), a team BA of .302 and ERA of 3.43. Our top prospects are #5 David Daley and #6 Jason Spurgeon.

April

We lose Art Zachry for 6 weeks to shoulder inflammation in the first game. A setback late in the month rules him out for the year.

Gene Bickett sets a new club record with 15 strikeouts in his debut for us.

Mid-month we lose John Leon for the year with a torn labrum. This is where that swingman would have come in handy, as neither Hoffman nor Spurgeon are up to the task just yet. Off I go to find one, or preferably a full-time starter given the length of John’s absence. I don’t want to outlay silly amounts so I know my expectations need to be reined in. But as it pans out we get Terrell Anderson, a good kid who might struggle for a while but projects well, for Nolan Fadely. I get them to throw in backup IF Vince Hendricks and we make the deal.

After a slow start, Malone goes on a .367 / 5 HR / 12 RBI tear and wins PotW for 04/21. He then proceeds to hit 7 more the next week to win it again.

We go 20-8 for the month and are 3 games ahead of Kahului, with Lanai City and Hilo both close behind them. Malone deservedly wins the Best Batter Award for his .321 / 16 HR / 42 RBI performance, while Erik Edwards’ 6-0 / 2.31 effort gets him the Pitcher honors.

May

We begin the new month strongly, with 7 straight wins. White goes 4-for-6 with a homer and 6 ribbies in the second of these. While not losing games, we do lose a couple of players. Ethan Williams strains an ab and looks set to miss a month or so, then Roland Taylor gets in a punch-up and is suspended for 5 games. A couple of days after that, Jason Evans feels a twinge in his back. He could possibly play through it but I’m not prepared to risk it, so he joins the growing list on the IL.

The bullpen implodes in each of the three games immediately after we lose Evans, which shows just how vulnerable we are in this area. By the time Draft Day rolls around, our bullpen ERA has blown out to 5.23. As I mentioned earlier, as part of the Mecham deal we lost our 2nd and 5th round picks, making what was already going to be a low-key Draft for us almost a non-event. I’m happy with our position players, so I decide to use our 1st Round pick, as low as it is, to pick the best reliever available. That reliever ends up being Brian Danielski. So little interest do I have in the remainder, I delegate duties to our Scouting Director Matt Barnes to pick up the three players he best likes the look of.

We put Danielski into action straight away, with Jason Geist shuffled to the RR. A couple of days later we get Jason Evans back, and Dave Klasen is bumped. But still I just feel we are underdone, so I trade Jonathan Paulsen to Johnson City for lefty David Tapia. I push young Cody Covington to the Reserve to make way for him. That kid will be fantastic, don’t want to unduly pressure him just yet.

From this point we go on a 12-1 tear. Chris Blair knocks up 7 ribbies in one game, we beat up on Hilo 17-2 in another. On the last day of the month, Ethan Williams comes off the IL and Brian Malone hits his 25th dinger. After a colossal 22-5 May, we are sitting at 42-13, 11 games up on Lanai City and Hilo, and looking good.

June

Jason Edwards wins the HAL Pitcher of the Month Award for May. He has come along better than we ever expected, and is killing it with a 9-1 record, 2.02 ERA and 3.0 WAR.

Results-wise, June begins brilliantly as we continue on our merry way. However we lose Terrell Anderson for the better part of two months to a triceps strain. Time to see if Junior Hoffman has what it takes to be a full-time starter. He’ll have 4 weeks to do so, which is when we anticipate John Leon’s return. Cody Covington comes back up into the pen.

That doesn’t seem to throw us off our game as we run up a win streak of 12. Malone is – not to put too fine a point on things – killing it. The rest aren’t far behind, with the lowest BA of our starters being Lanman’s .282 and our team average sits at .310. Fidel Vazquez ends up hitting in 31 consecutive games. Jason Edwards is 11-1 with a 1.87 ERA and an outside chance for the Triple Crown. His namesake Erik is still yet to lose a game all season.

The pinnacle during this run is a 21-7 demolition of Lanai City, in which Dustin White has 5 hits (including 2 dingers) and 6 ribbies; Vazquez goes 4-for-6 with a double, a triple and 3 driven in; and Taylor knocks in 4.

That doesn’t mean we aren’t having our challenges. John Leon is ruled out for the rest of the year. Hoffman, although he wins his first two starts, only does so thanks to excellent run support. A few more chances and if he can’t get it together I’ll have to go hunting for someone that can.

Jason Edwards one-hits the Juice toward the end of the month, striking out 12 and bashing two homers to take his total to 7 for the year. A week later he gets win #15 to pass Tyler Canty’s HAL record set last season.

I might be leaving, but I want this franchise to have continued success (preferably not at the expense of any of my future teams...). Brian Malone’s contract is up at the end of the year so I decide to see if he’ll extend. He’s on a very cheap $27k this year, I’m expecting he’ll want at least double that for 1953. When he comes back with $110k, my ears nearly fall off my head. OK, that’ll be the next guy’s problem. I ain’t touching it with a 40-foot wooden implement named Wotcek.

I do, however, pull the trigger on a deal to bolster the rotation. Unfortunately it involves shipping out John Leon, whose leadership will be sorely missed. But I want to give this season everything we’ve got, so I trade him to Edison for Garret Rozell. Slightly better, slightly more expensive but locked into a fairly reasonable 4-year contract. It’s a good trade for us both now and in the future, John’s qualities notwithstanding. Garrett goes into the rotation, with Hoffman back to the pen and Gaiser back to the Reserve.

Despite being shut out on its final day, we end up going 23-5 for June. We’re at 65-18 and our magic number is just 4. To cap off a great month, Malone (.356 / 10 HR / 30 RBI) wins BotM, and Jason Edwards (6-0 / 0.94 / 42 K in 47.2 IP) PotM.
The only dark cloud is an injury to Roland Taylor, with a full prognosis still to come from the medicos.

July

We get the not unexpected news that Roland is gone for the season. A devastating blow, for him and us. The only positive is that it has happened the day before the trade deadline. I go shopping for a solid backup / defensive sub at SS and get Bill Fitzmaurice from Federal Way for SP Ricardo Delgado, who is yet to pitch an inning in the HAL and now seems destined not to—he’s headed to the Northwest. Bill will be a great add, even if he’s no Roland.

Brian Malone gets his 100th ribbie of the year in the first game of the month, although we lose it 5-3 at Hilo. Aaron Mecham reaches the 20-HR plateau in fine style, banging out two and driving in 4 as we pummel Kapaa 14-1, giving Jason Edwards his 16th win. In his next start, however, he plunks a batter who charges the mound and it gets ugly. Even uglier when he is suspended for 7 games. At least he still got the win, our 6th on the trot, including Garrett Rozell’s debut for us, and one which clinches our second HAL pennant on the trot. Three days, another brawl and Malone is out for 3 games. It’s this heat, I tells ya!! I won’t miss it one bit, although the place really has grown on me these past three years.

Vazquez goes on a tear, and wins us one walkoff against the Sugar Cane with his second homer of the game and 26th of the season, second only to Malone; same goes with his 87 RBI.

We keep winning. But that pales into insignificance as we keep losing important players to injury. First Ethan Williams, which makes the Fitzmaurice acquisition seem like a rare spot of genius on my part. Then Rozell, which does not. Williams’ thumb has gone again—he’s done for the year, unless we go deep into the National Championship. Rozell has done his UCL. That means most of next year is lost as well. So glad we locked him down for 4 years...

The group takes it in their stride, running 8 more wins on the trot. Malone breaks his own HAL homer record with # 37, and ends up with 40. We get Terrell Anderson back, which eases some of the pressure in our rotation. His first start back is a rocky one, but we score 4 in the 10th to get past Kapaa 13-9. We win the final game of the regular season to finish at a superb 83-22, 22 games clear of Hilo.

We’re headed back to the Big Dance.

Jason Edwards misses out on the Triple Crown by 16 measly strikeouts. He finishes at 19-1 with an ERA of 1.55. I’d say he is a lock for Best Pitcher, perhaps even MVP. Although he’ll have plenty of competition from his teammates there, with Malone, White, Mecham and Valdez all having claims.
Our record is the best in the entire TBA. However, when graded on the curve we drop to the 4th seeding. Our first opponent will be Renton, the WC from Washington. The Lake Charles Explorers from Louisiana, who ended the season just one game worse than us at 82-23, get the coveted #1. I’ll live with it. Same goes with the fact that we aren’t even the highest-ranked Seahawks team, with the #2 Yonkers variety back for another shot at the title.

[HumanRainDelay]

Nice transition year in earning your ticket to the big dance.

It was kind of you (even thought only AI skippers will follow you) to not burn the building down with short-sighted trades. I am in an online league where another manager is dealing with a previous manager who locked-in good players using wildly overpaid contracts that end when these players are almost 40 years old--needless to say that is going to sink his team in the future.

Also, it was amusing thinking about how challenging selecting #319 must have been for you in the previous post. In a 30 team league, that would be the equivalent of having to wait until past the midpoint of the 10th round before selecting. Ouch.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by HumanRainDelay

Nice transition year in earning your ticket to the big dance.

It was kind of you (even thought only AI skippers will follow you) to not burn the building down with short-sighted trades. I am in an online league where another manager is dealing with a previous manager who locked-in good players using wildly overpaid contracts that end when these players are almost 40 years old--needless to say that is going to sink his team in the future.

Also, it was amusing thinking about how challenging selecting #319 must have been for you in the previous post. In a 30 team league, that would be the equivalent of having to wait until past the midpoint of the 10th round before selecting. Ouch.

Yeah, it didn't help that the pool was a bit weaker all over this year. Lucky we were only in dire need of an RP or else we would have been in strife!

I've got enough guilt in my life - I don't need ruining fictitious OOTP franchises added to the list !

[HumanRainDelay]

Originally Posted by luckymann

Yeah, it didn't help that the pool was a bit weaker all over this year. Lucky we were only in dire need of an RP or else we would have been in strife!

I've got enough guilt in my life - I don't need ruining fictitious OOTP franchises added to the list !

Well said--I think most of us can relate to the guilt thing. I assume someone else would divert the conversation to Karma.

[luckymann]

The defending champions are back, with the Newark Colonials winning the NJL title this year rather than getting in via the WC. Runner-up Concord is back to have another crack and see if they can go one better. Amazingly, the Jefferson 64 sees these two teams in a rematch. Our 1952 conquerors Sandy missed out this year. Bethlehem made up for the disappointment of missing out in 1952 by claiming the PAL title, but again there was drama involved with them needing to beat Williamsport in a tiebreaker.

64-Elgin Blackhawks (IL) v 1-Lake Charles Explorers (LA)
1-Lake Charles Explorers (LA) win series 3-0

63-Fall River Indians (MA) v 2-Yonkers Seahawks (NY)
2-Yonkers Seahawks (NY) win series 3-1

62-Wilmington Quicksteps (NC) v 3-Georgetown Baptists (KY)
62-Wilmington Quicksteps (NC) win series 3-2

61-Renton Fighters (WA) v 4-Honolulu Seahawks (HA)

Game 1: Renton 7, Honolulu 4
After looking in control at 3-0 after 5 we capitulate late, with David Tapia putting in a shocker as he allows 4 runs and we fall behind.

Game 2: Honolulu 11, Renton 9
This time it is our turn to stage a late comeback after Jason Edwards flags in the middle innings to leave us down 9-7 in the middle 8th. But we score 4 in the bottom half and hang on for an extremely unconvincing win. Lanman is instrumental, going 4-for-4 with a homer and 3 RBI.

Game 3: Honolulu 4, Renton 1
Eric Edwards gives us a stellar performance, allowing just 3 hits over 7, but again it takes some late magic to get the win. With the score knotted at 1 and one out in the bottom 9th, David Daley walks it off for us with a 3-run HR. Mecham’s .091 BA so far is a huge concern.

Game 4: Renton 3, Honolulu 0
The bats turn frosty as we are shut out on 6 hits to send the series to a deciding Game 5.

Game 5: Renton 4, Honolulu 3
Another disappointing National Championship as we are sent home with a 4-3 loss. Not the way I wanted my tenure with the Seahawks to end, but I’m proud of the lads and what we have achieved these past three years.

61-Renton Fighters (WA) win series 3-2

60-Grand Rapids Brewers (MI) v 5-Cranston Rays (RI)
60-Grand Rapids Brewers (MI) win series 3-2

59-Plano Falcons (TX) v 6-Parkersburg Marblers (WV)
59-Plano Falcons (TX) win series 3-0

58-Irvine Griffins (CA) v 7-Fremont Pathfinders (NE)
7-Fremont Pathfinders (NE) win series 3-1

57-Springfield Stars (OH) v 8-Las Cruces Golden Sombreros (NM)
8-Las Cruces Golden Sombreros (NM) win series 3-1

56-Williamsport Loggers (PA) v 9-Parma Progressives (OH)
56-Williamsport Loggers (PA) win series 3-1

55-Woodbridge Brawlers (NJ) v 10-Waukegan Whistlepigs (IL)
55-Woodbridge Brawlers (NJ) win series 3-2

54-St. Petersburg Pelicans (FL) v 11-Kent Comets (WA)
54-St. Petersburg Pelicans (FL) win series 3-1

53-Columbus Senators (GA) v 12-Newport News Swabbies (VA)
53-Columbus Senators (GA) win series 3-1

52-Virginia Beach Captains (VA) v 13-Fremont Bulldogs (CA)
13-Fremont Bulldogs (CA) win series 3-1

51-New Rochelle Huguenots (NY) v 14-Austin Outlaws (TX)
51-New Rochelle Huguenots (NY) win series 3-2

50-Broken Arrow Blades (OK) v 15-Summerville Pines (SC)
50-Broken Arrow Blades (OK) win series 3-1

49-Barre Grays (VT) v 16-Caldwell Larks (ID)
49-Barre Grays (VT) win series 3-0

48-Laramie Gems (WY) v 17-Greenville Greenies (NC)
17-Greenville Greenies (NC) win series 3-2

47-Orem Orisons (UT) v 18-Overland Park Hunters (KS)
47-Orem Orisons (UT) win series 3-1

46-Waterbury Timers (CT) v 19-Jackson Cottons (TN)
46-Waterbury Timers (CT) win series 3-2

45-Ketchikan Bootleggers (AK) v 20-Gilbert Geckoes (AZ)
45-Ketchikan Bootleggers (AK) win series 3-2

44-Concord Graniteers (NH) v 21-Newark Colonials (NJ)
21-Newark Colonials (NJ) win series 3-2

43-Hattiesburg Guards (MS) v 22-Tuscaloosa Entrepreneurs (AL)
22-Tuscaloosa Entrepreneurs (AL) win series 3-2

42-Madison Bulls (WI) v 23-Bend Berserkers (OR)
42-Madison Bulls (WI) win series 3-1

41-Maple Grove Sawmillers (MN) v 24-Savannah Sand Gnats (GA)
24-Savannah Sand Gnats (GA) win series 3-1

40-Great Falls Electrics (MT) v 25-Orlando Palms (FL)
40-Great Falls Electrics (MT) win series 3-0

39-Bismarck Willows (ND) v 26-Bethlehem Steelers (PA)
26-Bethlehem Steelers (PA) win series 3-1

38-Lee’s Summit Lumberjacks (MO) v 27-Ankeny Apostles (IA)
38-Lee’s Summit Lumberjacks (MO) win series 3-2

37-Biddeford Blizzard (ME) v 28-Watertown Bombers (SD)
28-Watertown Bombers (SD) win series 3-1

36-Frederick War Hawks (MD) v 29-Clinton Township C Sox (MI)
29-Clinton Township C Sox (MI) win series 3-2

35-Hammond Horseshoes (IN) v 30-Springfield Rifles (MA)
35-Hammond Horseshoes (IN) win series 3-2

34-Dover Dobbins (DE) v 31-Colorado Springs Oysters (CO)
34-Dover Dobbins (DE) win series 3-2

33-Sunrise Manor Pumas (NV) v 32-Bentonville Trotters (AR)
32-Bentonville Trotters (AR) win series 3-2

A bunch of series go the distance in an exciting Jefferson 64. And there’s a bunch of upsets. A bunch. Georgetown spare us from being the highest seed to bow out, generously losing to Wilmington. Only 4 of the top ten sides progress. Newark knocks off Concord again, winning Game 5 by 7 to 2.

[luckymann]

32-Bentonville Trotters (AR) v 1-Lake Charles Explorers (LA)
1-Lake Charles Explorers (LA) win series 3-1

34-Dover Dobbins (DE) v 2-Yonkers Seahawks (NY)
2-Yonkers Seahawks (NY) win series 3-2

26-Bethlehem Steelers (PA) v 7-Fremont Pathfinders (NE)
7-Fremont Pathfinders (NE) win series 3-0

40-Great Falls Electrics (MT) v 8-Las Cruces Golden Sombreros (NM)
8-Las Cruces Golden Sombreros (NM) win series 3-0

45-Ketchikan Bootleggers (AK) v 13-Fremont Bulldogs (CA)
45-Ketchikan Bootleggers (AK) win series 3-1

49-Barre Grays (VT) v 17-Greenville Greenies (NC)
49-Barre Grays (VT) win series 3-2

53-Columbus Senators (GA) v 21-Newark Colonials (NJ)
53-Columbus Senators (GA) win series 3-2

54-St. Petersburg Pelicans (FL) v 22-Tuscaloosa Entrepreneurs (AL)
54-St. Petersburg Pelicans (FL) win series 3-1

56-Williamsport Loggers (PA) v 24-Savannah Sand Gnats (GA)
56-Williamsport Loggers (PA) win series 3-1

60-Grand Rapids Brewers (MI) v 28-Watertown Bombers (SD)
28-Watertown Bombers (SD) win series 3-1

61-Renton Fighters (WA) v 29-Clinton Township C Sox (MI)
29-Clinton Township C Sox (MI) win series 3-1

62-Wilmington Quicksteps (NC) v 35-Hammond Horseshoes (IN)
62-Wilmington Quicksteps (NC) win series 3-1

59-Plano Falcons (TX) v 38-Lee’s Summit Lumberjacks (MO)
59-Plano Falcons (TX) win series 3-2

55-Woodbridge Brawlers (NJ) v 42-Madison Bulls (WI)
55-Woodbridge Brawlers (NJ) win series 3-0

51-New Rochelle Huguenots (NY) v 46-Waterbury Timers (CT)
51-New Rochelle Huguenots (NY) win series 3-1

50-Broken Arrow Blades (OK) v 47-Orem Orisons (UT)
47-Orem Orisons (UT) win series 3-2

The four remaining top ten sides all win through, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of surprises. No team between #8 Las Cruces and #28 Watertown remains, and there are still seven teams seeded 50 or below still alive. The series between Barre and Greenville ends in the most dramatic style, with Greenville going ahead with 2 in the top 10th before Barre walks it off on a 3-run HR by RF Toby Garber. Their reward is a matchup with top seed Lake Charles. Plano and Lee’s Summit need 16 to decide their Game 5, with Plano sneaking past 6-5 on a solo homer by Jonathan Morton. #2 Yonkers escapes by the skin of their teeth, winning their Game 5 against Dover by 2 to 1. Again it is a walkoff home run that decided the contest, this one by Jesse Owings. Finally, Newark’s defence of their ’51 Championship comes to an end at the hands of Columbus.

[luckymann]

49-Barre Grays (VT) v 1-Lake Charles Explorers (LA)
1-Lake Charles Explorers (LA) win series 4-2

47-Orem Orisons (UT) v 2-Yonkers Seahawks (NY)
2-Yonkers Seahawks (NY) win series 4-2

55-Woodbridge Brawlers (NJ) v 7-Fremont Pathfinders (NE)
7-Fremont Pathfinders (NE) win series 4-2

56-Williamsport Loggers (PA) v 8-Las Cruces Golden Sombreros (NM)
56-Williamsport Loggers (PA) win series 4-2

53-Columbus Senators (GA) v 28-Watertown Bombers (SD)
53-Columbus Senators (GA) win series 4-2

45-Ketchikan Bootleggers (AK) v 29-Clinton Township C Sox (MI)
45-Ketchikan Bootleggers (AK) win series 4-2

62-Wilmington Quicksteps (NC) v 51-New Rochelle Huguenots (NY)
51-New Rochelle Huguenots (NY) win series 4-1

59-Plano Falcons (TX) v 54-St. Petersburg Pelicans (FL)
54-St. Petersburg Pelicans (FL) won series 4-0

If not for the Williamsport win, this would have been a round entirely devoid of drama or intrigue. No series went past six games. Plenty of Cinderella Stories still being written, none more than Ketchikan, who are doing Alaska proud. At the other end of the spectrum, the campaigns of both New York teams endure.

[luckymann]

56-Williamsport Loggers (PA) v 1-Lake Charles Explorers (LA)
56-Williamsport Loggers (PA) win series 4-2

7-Fremont Pathfinders (NE) v 2-Yonkers Seahawks (NY)
7-Fremont Pathfinders (NE) win series 4-1

53-Columbus Senators (GA) v 45-Ketchikan Bootleggers (AK)
45-Ketchikan Bootleggers (AK) win series 4-2

54-St. Petersburg Pelicans (FL) v 51-New Rochelle Huguenots (NY)
51-New Rochelle Huguenots (NY) win series 4-2

Once again, no series goes beyond six games. #7 Fremont’s elimination of #2 Yonkers cannot at this late stage of the tourney be considered a major upset. #56 Williamsport knocking out the top seed lake Charles, on the other hand, most definitely is. Ketchikan prolongs the dreams of all Alaskan baseball fans by making it through to the final four – heady stuff indeed for a team from one of the TBA’s lowest-rated leagues. Amazingly, they are the higher-seeded team in their King 4 Series.

[luckymann]

51-New Rochelle Huguenots (NY) v 7-Fremont Pathfinders (NE)
51-New Rochelle Huguenots (NY) win series 4-2

56-Williamsport Loggers (PA) v 45-Ketchikan Bootleggers (AK)
45-Ketchikan Bootleggers (AK) win series 4-3

And into the Lincoln Cup they go! Ketchikan needs all seven to knock off a brave Williamsport, winning the decider 6-2, while New Rochelle earn their place in the Final by beating Fremont in six to set up the ultimate David v Goliath battle: New York versus Alaska.

[luckymann]

51-New Rochelle Huguenots (NY) v 45-Ketchikan Bootleggers (AK)

NB I don’t understand why, nor know how to fix it I actually don’t think you can if using your own seeding rules), but the program made New Rochelle the home side here despite the fact Ketchikan was the higher seed. Highly annoying.

Game 1: Ketchikan 5, New Rochelle 4 (Ketchikan leads series 1-0)
Game 2: New Rochelle 2, Ketchikan 5 (Series tied 1-1)
Game 3: Ketchikan 5, New Rochelle 1 (Ketchikan leads series 2-1)
Game 4: Ketchikan 6, New Rochelle 5 (Ketchikan leads series 3-1)
Game 5: New Rochelle 12, Ketchikan 1 (Ketchikan leads series 3-2)
Game 6: Ketchikan 5, New Rochelle 4 (Ketchikan wins Lincoln Cup 4-2)

45-Ketchikan Bootleggers (AK) WINS SERIES 4-2

[luckymann]

1952 TBA Most Valuable Player: Danny Liebenstein, Canton (OH) Terriers

1952 TBA Pitcher of the Year: Jon French, Brunswick (ME) Vulcans [2]