The Arachnids and Reds resumed the 62 Championship Series with Game 2 played under the lights at Central Park A-Diamond. On the mound for the home team Reds was HoF Ralph Caputo and Wayne Nicholsen for the Arachnids. With the Arachnids leading the best of 3 series 1-0 following a 9-8 Game 1 comeback win, both pitchers knew they needed to bring their best stuff.

In the top of the 1st inning, Caputo retired the first three batters he faced on 3 ground outs, the 3rd out saw TJ Scorsone pull up halfway down the base path after pulling his groin muscle, not a good start for the Arachnids. In the bottom of the 1st, Nicholsen responded getting the first 2 outs on a 1-3 groundout and reverse K. The third batter reached 1st on an E6, but Nicholsen got the cleanup hitter to ground into a 6-5 FC to end the inning.

In the 2nd inning, Caputo faced 4 hitters. The first hitter bounced into a 4-3 put out, Lee Madsen then singled and stole 2nd base. Caputo got the next batter to fly out to CF. With 2-out the next batter grounded into a E6 putting runners on 1st and 3rd. On the very first next pitch he tried to steal 2nd base, however, the Arachnids already used their 1 steal, and the runner was out trying to get back to first. In the bottom half of the inning, Dave Mitchell lead-off with a BB and a swipe of 2nd base. A wild pitch advanced Mitchell to third base. The Reds 6 hitter grounded into a 6-3 out holding Mitchell at third. Nicholsen then struck out the 7th hitter and got a comebacker for a 1-3 out to end the Reds threat.

In the 3rd inning both pitchers retired the sides 1-2-3. The 4th inning saw each team send 4 batters to the plate, leaving a runner in scoring position. After 4 full innings of play, the score remained 0-0.

In the top of the 5th, Rick Saidenberg led off with a double to LCF. Lee Madsen followed with an infield hit to the left side of the infield keeping Saidenberg at second base. Caputo then got the 6-hitter to pop out to first base, the 7-hitter to ground into a 1-5 FC. The 8th hitter reached first on an E5 to load the bases with 2 outs. Jim Edelman then got plunked on his left arm (left a nice bruise) to score the games first run. Caputo then got the next hitter to ground into a 1-3 put out.
In the bottom of the 5th the Reds immediately responded. Dave Mitchell lined the first pitch into the RF corner for what looked like an easy triple. However, on his way to 2nd base he tweaked his hammy but managed to jog his way to 3rd base with no out (Ken Shaw courtesy ran for Mitchell). The next batter Doug Hall singled scoring Shaw. Hall promptly stole second base. Nicholsen then got the 7th hitter to hit into a 1-3 out, with Hall advancing to 3rd. The 8th batter then hit a sharp grounder to a drawn in second baseman Lee Madsen, Madsen froze Hall at 3rd and completed the 4-3 out. With 2-out and the go ahead run still at 3rd base, Nichcolsen got the 9th hitter to ground into a 6-3 out to end the Reds rally, Score now tied 1-1 after 5 innings.

In the 6th inning Caputo continued his mastery, retiring the Arachnid 1-2-3 for the third time in 6 innings. The bottom half of the inning look liked the Reds make take the lead. Leadoff Dan Durback reached 1st on an E6. The next batter hit into a 2-3 put out advancing Durback to 2nd base. Up comes the top of the order. Jimmy Jaz singled moving Durback to 3rd base. Jaz then steals second on the next pitch. With runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out, Nicholsen got the 2nd hitter to hit a ground ball directly at a pulled in second baseman Madsen who looked Durback to 3rd and completed a 4-3 out. With 2-outs, a very dangerous hitter Paul Miles hit a line drive to second baseman Madsen for the final out. Game still tied 1-1 going to the 7th inning.

In the Arachnids half of the 7th inning, TJ Scorsone led off with a single to LCF. Gutting through a strained groin he hobbled to first. The Arachnids #4 hitter was up next, however he hit into a tailored-made 6U-3 double play. Madsen then reached on an E5 and stole 2nd and 3rd base. With the go ahead run 90 feet away, Caputo got the next batter to hit pop out to first baseman Dave Mitchell. In the bottom of the 7th, Nicholsen retired the Reds 1-2-3 for the first time all night.

On to extra innings.....all 15 fans were enjoying the suspense.

Top of the 8th, Caputo still on the mound and pitching lights out, strikes out the Arachnids leadoff hitter. Jim Wing then follows with a singled and promptly steals 2nd base. Feeling feisty, Wing attempts to steal 3rd however a batters interference on a catchers throw to third nullifies the stolen base. The batter is called out and Wing must return to 2nd. Using the 2-out catcher courtesy rule, the Arachnids pinch run for Wing. The courtesy runner is thrown out by Paul Miles trying to steal third base. In the bottom half of the inning, Nicholsen retires the Red on 3 pitches, a 6-3, 3U and 5-3 sequence.

As the clock is now chiming 10pm, the 9th inning is about to begin. Don Wixon leads off with an infield hit up the middle that second basement Ken Shaw made a great diving stop but could not complete the toss to first in time to get Wixon. Nicholsen then sacrificed/bunted Wixon to second base. Bob Bolt followed with a line drive single to LCF advancing Wixon to third base. Darrell Duncan hit a ground ball to third base, Wixon broke on contact but was thrown out in a rundown on a nice play by Rick Knipper & Paul Miles. On the play, Bolt advanced to third base with Duncan at first base. With runners on the corners and two outs, TJ Scorsone, who could barely move/run, hit a slow bouncer to third that was bobbled. Scorsone, in pain, ran as fast as his pulled groin would allow him. A short-hop-tough-to-scoop bounce went past the first baseman for an E5 as Scorsone was about to cross first base, allowing Bolt to score the go ahead run. With runners on 1st and 3rd, Caputo got the Arachnids cleanup hitter to hit into a 4-3 inning ending out. Arachnids lead 2-1.

For most of the game, the Reds had runners on base (6 of the first 8 innings). Did they have one more charge left against the crafty-underhand-throwing Nicholsen. First up were the Reds 10 and 11 hitters. Nicholsen, looking as fresh as he did in the 1st inning struck out both batters on 2-2 counts. With 2 outs and bases empty, Nicholsen got the third and final out on a 5-3 (Duncan to Bolt) ground out giving the Arachnids their second 62 Division Championship in 3 years. The Arachnids ended the season with an overall record of 17-1, despite winning a number of close 1-2 run games throughout the season. The Arachnids finished the season winning 17 games in a row after losing the first game of the season 3-2 to the Americans.

It should be noted that of the 27 Reds outs, Wayne Nicholsen pitched all 9 innings, recorded 22 ground ball outs, retired that last 11 batters in a row, gave up only 1 run/earned on 3 hits, while striking out 3 and walking 2.

Ralph Caputo also turned in a gutsy 9-inning performance of his own, with a magnificent stat line, giving up 2 Runs (1 Earned Run), 7 hits, 1 K, 1BB, 1HBP.

The Reds played one hell of a series. Jimmy Jaz is to be commended for putting together a fine team that will no doubt be a top team to be reckoned with in 2026.

Stat Line:

Team R H E LOB
Arachnids 2 7 3 7
Reds 1 3 4 6

Arachnids: Madsen (2 singles), Saidenberg (Double), Bolt, Scorsone, Wing, Wixon each with a Single.
Reds: Mitchell (Triple), Jaz and Hall each with a Single.

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