Haddix and 3 RBI From Duffy, Sheckhard Sink Otherton

NLDS Game 2
Otherton Fishbiscuits @ Rusty Kuntz All Stars

Harvey Haddix pitched brilliantly for the All Stars, lasting 1-out into the ninth giving up just 6 hits and walk. His counterpart Tommy Glavine struggled, allowing 4 runs in 5 innings with the biggest blow a 3-run Hugh Duffy homer in the 6th.  A piching change a few batters later, Jimmy Sheckard followed with a 2-run homer that gave the All Stars a 6-0 lead.

To their credit the Fishbiscuits made some noise in the top of the 9th, getting four hits in row that ruined the complete game and the shutout for Haddix.  Reliever Bryan  Harvey over matched Bill Terry and induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

Starter Lines:
Glavine(OFB): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 1 K
Haddix (RKA): 8.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K

Shadows Late Comeback Falls Short; Carnies Open 2-0 lead

ALDS Game 2
Brighton Shadows @ Bertrand Island Carnies

The Carnie's broke out the power stroke in game two, hitting 3 doubles, a triple, and 2 home runs.  It almost wasn't enough though, as the Shadows attempt to erase a 8th inning 6-1 deficit fell just one batter short.

Justin Verlander didn't have his best stuff, and left the game in the 6th with his team down 5-0.  Carnie starter Jason Schmidt fared better, putting his team ahead 6-2 at the end of eight.  Schmidt was called back out for the 9th however, and it nearly backfired.

After recording the first out, Schmidt gave up 3 hits in a row, capped by a 1-run double from Barry Bonds and was chased from the game.   Lefty closer Steve Howe entered the game to face Jason Giambi and the left hand hitting DH smacked a run scoring single up the middle, the Shadows closing to within two.

With runners at the corners, Billy Williams lifted a sacrifice fly to right plating another runner, but more importantly for the Carnies, recorded the second out.  Up stepped pinch hitter Vladimir Guerrero who ended the game on a grounder to second.

The series moves to Bertrand Island and it appears to be an uphill battle for the Shadows.  The Carnie ace Dan Haren faces Dazzy Vance in game three.

Starter Lines:
Verlander(BS): 5.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 5 K
Schmidt(BIC): 8.1 IP, 11 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 4 K

Repeat performance: Phillippe 6-1 CG win for Ee-Yah

NLDS Game 2
Ee-Yah Orators @ North Podunk Banana Bears

With 96 wins in the regular season, the Banana Bears were heavily favored heading into the NLDS against the Ee-Yah Orators.  Things haven't progressed according to plan however, as the Orator rotation has tossed back to back complete game wins, jumping to a 2-0 lead as the series heads to Ee-Yah.

On this night it was Deacon Phillippe who employed a "bend but no break" philosophy.  While seemingly on the ropes for much of the night, Phillippe never allowed the big hit, stranding nine runners.

In a game that was much closer than the final score indicates, the Orators scored five in the sixth on 5 hits, a hits batsmen, and a walk.

Starter Lines:
Phillippe(EYO): 9.0 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 3 K
Brecheen (NOB): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 3 K

Childs Walk-off Single Knots Series at 1-1

ALDS Game 2
Sparta Hoplites @ Gold Country Gossamers

In a wild back and forth contest, the Gossamers mounted a ninth inning comeback to tie the series at one a piece. Both teams went toe to toe for four innings, countering each others blows run for run, until the Hoplites took a 4-3 lead in the 5th.

The score stood until the 9th.  Rafael Soriano, who entered the game an inning earlier and struggled, took the mound to start the 9th as well and promptly gave up back to back singles to the Gossamer top of the order, John McGraw and Tris Speaker.  Soriano managed to strike out Frank Robinson but gave up a game tying double to pinch hitter Bobby Murcer.

Kevin Saucier came in to keep the game tied and almost managed it.  He was ordered to intentionally walk Roger Connor and induced a ground ball off the bat of Joe Kelley for the second out, but Cupid Childs proved to much.  The second basemen lined a single between third and short, scoring Murcer, and winning the game.

Starter Lines:
Shantz (SH):: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 0 K
Hubbell(GCG): 4.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 2 K

Brown tosses 3-hit shutout in Hoplite 2-0 win

ALDS Game 1
Sparta Hoplites @ Gold Country Gossamers

In arguably the best pitching performance of the game 1's, Kevin Brown shut-down the Gold Country Gossamers for 9 innings, yielding just 3 hits and no walks.  The Gossamer starter Preacher Roe was no slouch, and yielded just 2 runs, 1 earned, in 8 strong innings of his own.

The Hoplites scored one in the third, setup by a Cupid Childs error at second, and later added an insurance run in the 9th from back to back doubles by Babe Herman and Derrek Lee.

Brown retired the last 11 Gossamers in a row and induced 16 groundouts on the night.

Starter Lines:
K Brown(SH): 9.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Roe(GCG):::: 8.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 K

Pedro dominates Banana Bears in 6-1 victory

NLDS Game 1
Ee-Yah Orators @ North Podunk Banana Bears

Behind 8 strong innings from Pedro Martinez, the underdog Ee-Yah Orators took the series opener from the North Podunk Banana Bears.  Martinez walked one and struck out 8, keeping the Bears batters off balance all evening

The Orator batters scored 4 on Kevin Millwood in 2 innings, highlighted by a 3-run second innings that featured 4 singles.

Starter Lines:
Martinez(EYO): 8.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 9 K
Millwood(RKA): 1.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 2 K

Griffey Jr and Orth too much for the All Stars

LDS Game 1
Otherton Fishbiscuits @ Rusty Kuntz All Stars

Ken Griffey Jr. doubled, homered, and scored two runs in a hard fought Game 1 between the Otherton Fishbiscuits and Rusty Kuntz All Stars.  Starters Addie Joss and Al Orth each pitched well if not spectacularly.

The All Stars had the bases loaded with no outs in the 5th but couldn't plate a runner.  Charlie Gehringer popped out to short center and Wade Boggs grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.

Starter Lines:
Joss (OFB): 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 2 K
Orth (RKA): 7.0 IP, 10 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 5 K


Note:  Stats will be loaded to the division series page tonight after all games have been completed.

Cobb, Gore rock Key in 6-3 Carnie victory

LDS Game 1
Brighton Shadows @ Bertrand Island Carnies

Carnie center fielder Ty Cobb homered and doubled, ultimately chasing Shadow starter Jimmy Key from the game in the Bertrand Island series opening win.  George Gore added 3 hits and 3 RBI of his own as the Carnie's busted out for 13 hits in all.

Neither starter had their best stuff:

Schilling: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Key......: 4.0 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 0 K


Note:  Stats will be loaded to the division series page tonight after all games have been completed.

Hoplite and Gossamers Playoff Rotation

• Teddy Higuera, a late season FA move, gets the nod instead of Mort Cooper in game 4.

Orators and Banana Bears Announce Playoff Rotation

• Pedro on short rest