On a beautiful Fall afternoon the Golden Marlins took game 1 of the championship series 8-5. Pete Westfall went six plus innings to get the win, scattering five hits. John Latorre finished up to pick-up the save. Tom Maney, Randy Craft, John Reel, and Randy Wood all had two hits for the Marlins. After a scoreless first two innings, the Hornets scored an unearned run in the top of the third. The Marlins tied it in the bottom of the inning when Jim McQuade drew a bases loaded walk. The Hornets again scored a run in the top of the fourth on a Whitford single. The Marlins took control of the game when they answered with four in the bottom of the inning, as Randy Wood, Tom Maney, Randy Craft, and Mike Girard had consecutive RBI singles. Both pitchers got through the fifth without allowing any runs. The Hornets scratched out another run in the top of the sixth as Mark Lenox scored on a RBI groundout by Carpenter to make the score 5-3. The Marlins again had an answer in the bottom of the inning when they were able to take advantage of three Hornet miscues to plate three runs to push the advantage to 5 runs. Pete Westfall came out for the seventh, but walked the first two batters and turned it over to Mr. Latorre. John took the ball and got out of the jam by inducing two grounders to third and striking out the final batter. Tom Maney had two nice scoops on balls in the dirt that could have changed the Marlins fortunes had he not been able to dig them out. MARLINS TAKE GAME ONE!!!
Then we all jumped in our cars and rode around to the other side of Cook Park for game two. The temperature was dropping and the old bodies were getting stiff in all the wrong places, but a very important game had to be played. The Marlins jumped out to a great start off of Hornet starter Jimmy K., scoring 2 in the first and 6 in the second. Meanwhile, Dennis Scimeca held the Hornets scoreless through the first two. Most teams fold their tents an go home at this point, but the Hornets didn't get to the final by acting like most teams. They pounded out six hits and four runs to get back to 8-4. The Golden Marlins acted like a team that really wanted to put the game away, by scoring 3 in the top of the fourth to push the score to 11-4, but the Hornets would not relent, scoring four more in the bottom of the fourth to make it 11-8. With three innings still to play, the outcome was still very much in doubt. The Marlins scored one in the top of the fifth to push the lead to four on a John Reel RBI groundout. Then in the bottom of the fifth, Manager John Reel put John Latorre on the mound in relief of Dennis Scimeca. John got the Hornets in order in the fifth and got them out without a run in the sixth to right the ship. The Marlins added an insurance run in the top of the seventh, to get the score to 13-8. With three out seperating the Marlins and the 46+ crown, the Hornets again found life. Jack Perry was hit by a pitch. Ron Lochner then made a great play on a ball in the hole to force Perry at second. Mark Lenox doubled to put ruuners on second and third. Whitford then grounded out, to score the runner from third and Carpenter singled home Lenox, to cut the lead to three with a runner on first. John Latorre then induced the last groundball of the season, as Ron Lochner fielded it and fired to Ed Daigle covering second to end the game. MARLINS WIN 13-10!!! Randy Craft and Jim McQuade both went 4-5 in the finale. Mike Girard had three hits and Ron Lochner and Ed Daigle had two apiece.
Great effort by the Hornets in both games and congratulations on a fine season!!!
The Marlins were missing some key contributors from the regular season. Three injured players represented a lot of production and defense: Skip Treece, Jim Ansel, and TJ Scorsone. The other player - Mike Lafave was out of the country. Mike was a great new addition to the Goldens. All four were missed at the cooler celebration session after the game.
The Hornets send their congratulations to the Golden Marlins on winning the 46 division championship.
After going 12-2 in the regular season the Marlins won five consecutive games in the playoffs, nicely done.
For those of you who have been in the league a long time and couldn't make the games yesterday let me recap. You have seen it before and you will no doubt see it again.
Imagine if you will Randy Craft making at least 5 great plays in the field, Randy, Tom Maney, Jim McQuade, Mike Girard and Ron Lochner hitting line drives all afternoon. Pete Westfall and John Latorre baffling the opposition by changing speeds with pin point control. John Reel making the right moves at the right time. Put it all together and it equals another Marlins championship.
You need to be at the top of your game to beat such a quality team. Congratulations from the Hornets.
Thanks for the kind words, Dick... my only suggestion is that next year we try to get the finals in a little earlier - weather permitting, of course....
Speaking of Craft: Him charging a grounder and while off-balance throwing a strike to first base is what posters are made of. And he must have done it 3-4 times, not to mention going into the hole between SS and 3rd to make that long throw and nip the runners.
And a pitch that missed his belt buckle by an inch it was so far inside, Randall keeps it fair down the left-field line. All year, guys pull that foul. Unbelievable. In a league of his own. MVP of the series.
Ron Lochner dives to his left, does a complete roll and comes up throwing like he's practiced it all year and gets a key force at 2nd. Defense wins championships; that's why they are champions.
After being out of the league for 2 years i came back to play about half a season last year with the marlins. it was fun being back,but i really didn't feel like part of the team. when i came back to play this year,these guys welcomed me with open arms, and i realized just what i was missing. the comraderie, the stone busting, being with a group of fellas who knew how to have fun, but most of all the baseball.win or lose, we always had fun playing the game we've loved since we were kids. Thanks to all my teammates for a great year, and i'm looking forward to next season allready. Pete Westfall
P.S.---- Yesterday,in the championship series,Tom Maney and I got to play on the same fields we played on when we were 13 yrs. old. Very cool Long live baseball
Special congratulations to my Cubbie brothers Jim McQuade and Tommy Maney. Jim captured titles in both the 37 division and the 46 division, while Tommy added three more championships, in the 37's, 46's and 55 divisions. Truly remarkable.
the best fans in the league! , and Jay and Nora too. Pete and Tom , I think Ed Diegel has you topped ...he played on that field the year it was laid out, it had a temporary fence around, "pretty rough" ....and "Abner Doubleday was on hand to go over the rules..."
Amazing the championships racked up by HOF'er Tom Maney.....I count 15!
It was a fun playoffs, had its surprises with the Whiz upsetting the Sox....we had a nice run starting with the Dodgers in the opening round...and we were not taking them for granted ....then the semi series with the defending champs and really 2 great pitching performances from Pete then Dennis to overcome the formidible Yankee lineup that actually out hit us...and Gerry Soloman who destroyed us in past match -ups. they truelly missed last years Bill Jones winner Ralph Caputo. ( Ralph how you doin?)
The finals series was about who would stirke first and who'd then hold on. Pete's game showed why he had only one loss all year, though he slowed in the late innings we ahd John Latorre to shut thing down. Chris Abrams also dished some cagey stuff. Its hard to hit the vareity of pitches he throws. his style requires a geat deal of endurance and and he even returned again in the second game when all men were on deck for the Hornets. Jim Konstantakis just met an eager hitting Marlin team. the short stint on the mound doesn't do justice to the stellar 5-1 record with 2 playoff victories he had posted to that point. Dick Stark was all the bull-pen left and he filled in to staunch the hitting quite admiralby. I have to say Bob Bolt (38+ Bill Jones 2007 winner) pitching in this series would have made major impacts all around. The league, the Goldens and I ,wish Bob the best. he is one of the grittiest competitors in the entire league.
Although not as serious I wish our own guys a speedy recover from injuries and surgeries. there was a hole in the team not having Skip Treece , Jim Ansel, and TJ Scorsone there. and we missed Chris Meyer all year. I hope you all find your way back to us.
The 2008 Goldens were a re-tool in motion. we did have 6 original Goldens from the first year (and second year signee Randy Wood.) alot of our Goldens have "moved'up " to the Platinums making room for a fine rookie class from the ageing (but not tarnished) Silvers and and Jim and TJ from the Cubs. CDMSBL rookie Mike Lafave found hardball again at 47 and once he got his feet under him proved to be a great pick-up.
And this divsion , now 6 years on, has come a long way. but I am proud that managers and teams like Jim Porter's Whiz, Tony Scanu's Vets, and Don Hudson's now Dick's Hornets are still here from that first season. and we haven't lost a franchise yet ! Its a good group of diverse talent, takes on the game and varying off the field opinions, (you guys should see the email exchanges on any given subject...) but since the beginning we have held firmly to our hallmark of sportsmanship and I know that given this group's vigilence that will continue. Great year CDMSBL over 46's. I am humbled to be this years champs.
Ugh! Those Marlins.... All right. Congratulations, Fine job boys. The pin stripes will be gunnin [ Sarah Palin and I drop our g's] for you guys, next year! Best of luck in Fla ole men. I'm still looking at a couple more months rehab ,but you know I'll be there in spirit. My dancing feet will be itching to hit Shepherd's ,but hey Johnny Reel, will you boogie woogie woogie in my place? I know that's a lot to ask. But it's tradition. Bring it home guys. There is nothing like being a champion.
i am so glad that you came back again this year...you are part of the marlins, through and through....also i'm happy to hear that you are going to florida with us this year. this is ron and my first year going....should be a great time and have that finger ready to put on that championship ring.......
