The 55+ Dodgers continue to enjoy virgin territory as a hard-fought win over the Giants puts us in the finals for the first time. The game itself was a combination of the unexpected and the expected. The only sure thing was that the Watervliet field was in great shape.
With Steve Lounello matching up against John Weber, the Dodgers expected a tight, low-scoring affair. We did not expect to score 5 runs in the top of the first. Staulters led off by hustling out an infield single. A stolen base, a walk and a error scored Staulters. Another walk loaded the bases. With two strikes against him, Pat Alston hit a bomb well out of reach of Clary in CF clearing the bases. One out later, Greg Gougler pasted one to the hill in LF to score Alston. In both games of the series the Dodgers scored 5 in the 1st inning.
And in both games of the series the Giants fought back. Two walks and a HBP loaded the bases with nobody out. A sac fly to CF scored Nardacci. In what I consider the turning point of the game, the Dodgers defense shut down the rally with a force play at 2B and an unassisted out by Alston at 1B. The Dodgers held a 5 - 1 lead and were all smiles. Temporarily.
Lounello found his command and shut the Dodgers down in the top of the second. Maguire and Lounello led off their half of the frame with singles and scored on a Quackenbush single and a sac fly. The Giants were threatening. A sharp single to CF by Clary looked like it would cut the lead to one but a strong throw by Coletta to Ball (I had to get my name in here somewhere) nailed Quackenbush at the plate. 5 - 3 Dodgers.
As good teams do, the Dodgers responded in the 3rd. Patience at the plate was rewarded by three walks to Coletta, Alston and Bradley to load the bases. Greg Gougler lofted a fly ball into the sun in RF that dropped for an RBI single. A sac fly scored Alston and the Dodgers led 7 - 3. Weber pitched a scoreless 3rd and the Dodgers offense picked up on the momentum. Cortese and Staulters led off with BBs and Trinchillo laid down a perfect sac bunt. Lane singled in Cortese and Staulters scored on a sac fly. Weber pitched a 1-2-3 4th and the Dodgers held a 9 - 3 advantage.
Jimmy T came on to pitch in the bottom of the 6th and the Dodgers could taste a victory. The Giants were thinking comeback! Consecutive singles by Guido, Scutieri and Keegan loaded the bases. A sac fly and a Lounello single plated two Giants and Dodgers were a little nervous. Jimmy T settled in and induced a pop out and a ground out to end the scoring. 9 - 5 Dodgers.
A combination of walks, intentional walks and errors allowed the Dodgers to put up a four-spot in the 7th and put the game away. As dusk creeped in, Jimmy T struck out two batters in the bottom of the 7th to seal the victory.
As the Dodgers raked the field and put the tarps down, I noticed Steve Lounello and his Giants having a little team meeting. I hope Steve encouraged his teammates to recruit a few more players and return for the 2023 season. The Giants are a great group of guys. They are good and smart baseball players and the 55+ division is a lot better with the Giants in it.
Kudos to the Dodgers for getting over the hump and taking it to the next level, and to the Giants for their playoff run. Looks like the top tier will be a bit more crowded next rear.
I think I predicted your deep run in the playoffs, right here on the BB, after the Cubs played you the first time and we narrowly escaped with the victory. I am not surprised by your success. Nor do the Cubs consider their semi-final playoff series with the Whiz the "real championship series", as I have heard it described by others. Yes, we are going to need our best game and some breaks from the baseball Gods to get by the Whiz tonight and join the Dodgers in the finals. No question about that, but we will not celebrate if and when we do win tonight. The celebrating can wait until the job is finished.
We are expecting a tough series out of the Dodgers if we can earn our way in. We know how hungry your team is to hoist the trophy. John Weber is the addition that put you over the hump. Your team was already elite in hitting, fielding and running the bases, but a little shallow in the depth department with top notch pitching. Jimmy T is always tough, but to win a best 2 of 3 series against a top flight team you need 2 or 3 of those aces. Mr. Weber gives you that. Congrats on a great season! We hope to win our game tonight against the defending champs and join you in what will be a great Finals series.
Stevie Lou, congrats on making it to the semi-finals in a season frought with injuries and short roster issues. I know how tiring it can be just to get 9 guys to show to 17 games and the playoffs, with job commitments and injuries, as the Cubs had similar problems this year, entering the playoffs with just 11 healthy players that were playoff eligible. We will be entering a critical game tonight with just 10 players as the hot hitting Dave Mitchell will be in North Carolina tonight when we take the field. Your efforts were rewarded with likely the biggest playoff upset in 55+ division history. That is something you will always remember. Again, congratulations on a great year!
Thank you Mike. You have always been very respectful in your comments about the Dodgers and my guys appreciate that. We consider the Cubs, Whiz Kids and Yankees to be the standard bearers in the 55 Division and we feel great about being in the same conversation with the top-tier teams. Teams like the Dodgers and Giants just make sure you guys bring your A game to the field!
John Weber has been a solid addition to our team and Dennis Lane added a lefty bat and some youth to our line-up. As you said, we have a pretty solid line-up and this playoff experience has been very rewarding.
I wouldn't bet against the Cubs or the Whiz Kids - unless one of the teams hates cold weather! Some of us Dodgers will be there tonight to watch a great final game. Good luck to both teams.
