It was a
tough barrage of pitching and hitting that the Camels
felt early and often. This started in the early innings
of the series, and it never stopped. The team chemistry
of the Coyotes was in "high performance mode" and the
team from the camp called Osama-ville could not catch a
break. Here is the game by game summary:
Game 1 Halladay vs.
Verlander
For the Camels, Hudson singled to lead over and was
doubled home by Miguel Cabrera. Doubles by Ibanez, Luke
Scott and Mike Jacobs put 2 runs on the board in the
second inning and amazingly enough from this point on in
the series Carefree was never behind in the score.
Another double by Ibanez and a double by Chad Tracy led
to a run in the 4th. In the fifth, Guzman tripled,
scored on a Hill FC when he slide home under the tag and
then Church ripped a homerun. Luke Scott tripled and
Tracy singled him in to increase the Coyote lead to 7-1
after 5 innings of play.
After the Sodomy Camp scored a run in the sixth
Carefree added 2 in the eighth to take a 9-2 lead. The
Camp added a couple in the 8th but ended up on the short
end of a 9-4 score. Halladay got the win striking out 8
in 6 innings. Verlander took the loss pitching 4 and a
third allowing 6 earned runs.
Game 2 Penny vs. Hamels
After 4 innings, it was a scorless pitchers duel as both
starters had their best stuff. In the fifth, Mike Napoli
drilled a fastball deep to left field to give the
Coyotes a 1-0 lead. In the top of the 6th ,Carefree
increased the lead with a John McDonald double and a
single by Aaron Hill. The Sodomy Camp fellows had 'game"
in the bottom of the 6th by tying the score. After
Orlando Hudson walked. Markakis grounded into a DP. But
they showed spunk by tying the game on a 2 out single
by Rios after a double by Cabrera and Ryan Zimmerman
drilling a double in the clutch. Both teams were
scorless in the 7th and 8th as Soria and Heath Bell held
the fort for the Coyotes with Hamels returing to form
and mowing down Carefree. Hill singled to start the 9th
and then Marcus Thames connected to left field with a 2
run homer. With Joe Nathan coming in to pitch and the
crowd SCREAMING at the home team to tie and win this
game, Zimmerman grounded out. Then Kemp and Casey lined
singles to make it first and third. Ellsbury grounded
out to score Kemp. With Casey on second and 2 outs,
Schierholtz pinch hit for Hamels. The crowd was in a
frenzy, but a popout to 2B ended the threat and the
Coyotes left the Sodomy Camp with a 2-0 lead and headed
to the friendlier confines of Coyoteville. Hamels struck
out 12 in a complete game and a yeoman effort on Cole's
behalf, but he took the heartbreaking loss. Heath Bell
got the win and Nathan the save.
Game 3 McGowan vs. Garland
Again both pitchers brought their "A" game early and
pitched well. Carefree scratched out a run with a couple
of singles, an error and a FC to lead 1-0 afrter 3
innings. Then in the 4th, all hell broke loose as the
Coyotes scored 4 runs with dinks and dunks...listen
in to the play by play:
Cust walked BFFBB)
0-1 0 1-- 32 Ibanez popped out to the catcher (SBBBSX)
0-1 1 1-- 01 Scott grounded a single between first
and second, Cust to
second (CX)
0-1 1 12- 11 Jacobs lined a single down the right
field line, Cust
scored, Scott to third (SBX)
0-2 1 1-3 10 Hill grounded a single between third and
short, Scott
scored, Jacobs to second (BX)
0-3 1 12- 11 McGowan threw a wild pitch, Jacobs to
third, Hill to
second (BFB)
0-3 1 -23 21 Ruiz lined a single to shallow left,
Jacobs scored, Hill
to third (BFB.X)
0-4 1 1-3 31 Guzman walked, Ruiz to second (BBCBB)
0-4 1 123 22 Tracy grounded to short, forcing Guzman
at second, Hill
scored, Ruiz to third, Tracy to first
(FBFBX)
0-5 2 1-3 12 Church grounded out to second (SSBX)
It was 5-0 until Ellsbury homered in the fifth, but then
the Carefree onslaught continued, again listen
to Carefree Homer annoucer Carey Harey:
Cust walked (SBBBB)
1-5 0 1-- 10 Ibanez lined a double to right center,
Cust to third (BX)
1-5 0 -23 32 Scott struck out (BBCBFS)
1-5 1 -23 12 Jacobs popped out to third (FBCX)
1-5 2 -23 00 Hill lined a single to left center, Cust
scored, Ibanez
scored (X)
1-7 2 1-- 02 Ruiz doubled deep to left center, Hill
scored (CFX)
Miller now pitching
Now it was 8-1 and the next inning Carefree increased
the lead to 10-1 with a McDonald double and a Church
walk and a two run double by Luke Scott.
Sodomy
Camp added a couple of runs late to makee the final
score 10-3 ...with Carefree taking a commanding 3-0
lead with Roy Halladay on the mound in game 4.
Yikes!
Game 4 Verlander and Halladay
After Halladay held the Campers in the top of the
first,.Carefree started fast with a leadoff single
by DeRosa and a 2 out HR by Ibanez to take a 2-0
lead after 1 inning. In the 5th, Carefree struck
again with Reynolds reaching by an error and Jacobs
launching a 2 run HR. Meanwhile Halladay was at the
absolute top of his game as Carefree won 4-0.
Halladay pitched the complete game shutout and he
refused to come out of the game as Carefree vaunted
bullpen sat idle. Halladay allowed only 2 hits and
stuck out 9 without a walk!
Carefree fans go nuts in celebration and the team
votes Roy Halladay as their season and World Series
MVP!
I give kudos to Scott who built a fine team in a
short period of time and who will continued to be
reckoned with. Matt Wieters is on his way! He could
not catch a break as this buzz saw called the
Carefree Coyotes played in the post season like a
team possessed.
I thought I had a chance to be a playoff team this
year despite very tough compettition and I feel
fortunate to have Lady Luck behind me to acheive
this outcome in a Class League (Thanks Rob!) with a
gang of highly talented managers and shrewd
evaluators of talent.
Thanks to everyone for a fine TBBL season. It has
been immense fun. On a personal note, many of you
many know that I had open heart surgery in May and
have been in a recuperation mode until now, so I
have had plenty of time on my hands to think of this
stuff . LOL.