Saturday - Afternoon Championship Game

Fantasy Camp Championship Game – Hammond Stadium – Fort Myers, FL

It was a warm, partly cloudy start for the championship game and game time temperatures in the upper 70’s. The wind was blowing out to left field as the two top seeds in the fantasy camp fared in the final game of the week. Off in the Woods versus the Cuban Comets. Off in the Woods were coached by Gene Larkin and Erik Rasmussen. The Cuban Comets were led by their managers Tony Oliva and Lee “Stinger” Stange. John Gordon was announcing the game and when he announced, “Play Ball!” both teams were ready. Off in the Woods had a soft throwing lefty, RG, pitching and the Comets started JM, who had only pitched 2 innings prior in the week.

Top of 1st – the Comets were the visiting team and PB was the leadoff hitter in this final championship game. PB fouled a couple pitches off and worked the count to 3-2 – the next pitch he laced into right center field (and like Dan Gladden’s leadoff hit in Game 7 of the WS in 1991 in the 10th inning) he hustled to 2nd base just in front of the relay throw for a double. BB was up next and hit a nice line drive base hit to left field – PB could not advance to third - runners were on 1st and 2nd with nobody out. CC came up and sweetly dropped a looping hit over the shortstop’s head and the bases were loaded. MW stepped into the batter’s box. The Comets would love to get out to an early lead as earlier in the week they lost to Off in the Woods 6-0. MW worked the count to 3-0 – took a strike call to move the count to 3-1. On the very next pitch MW fouled off a potential ball four offering by RG. RG now had him with a full count – MW waited for the soft tossing lefty to throw the pay off pitch – MW smashed a hit over the left center fielder’s head, PB scored, BB scored, and all the way from first CC scored – MW with a stand up double, it’s 3-0 Comets! MS stuck out swinging and RM grounded out to first leaving MW still on 2nd with 2 outs. JM (the starting pitcher for the Comets) came up to bat and found a hole in between short and third, MW hustling all the way scored from 2nd to make it 4-0. Dick Bremer came to the plate and advanced to first on an error by the left fielder. The Comets continued the two out rally with a base hit by BM and because runners were able to advance on a wild pitch – they both scored to make it 6-0. MA came up on popped out to the first baseman to end the inning. The Comets were out to a big lead.

Bottom of 1st – Off in the Woods started the game with hot hitting as well starting out with two singles , followed by a RBI double. Off in the Woods on the board and the score is now 6-1. ‘Woods’ were n a good position for a big rally now with runners on 2nd and 3rd and nobody out. All week ‘Woods’ have had hot hitting and scoring many runs. The Comets knew they would need to play very good defense and get their bats going if they were going to have a chance to beat this undefeated team. With runners in scoring position JM struck out the next batter for the first out. The next batter grounded out to third – scoring the runner from third making it 6-2 - advancing from 2nd to 3rd was DL. A pop out to the catcher ended the inning. Comets 6 Woods 2.

Top of 2nd – TD led off the inning for the Comets by reaching first base by another error by Woods – it was clear they were not playing stellar defense so far in this game. RG was on the mound and laboring as the Comets have batted through the lineup (11 hitters) and only 3 outs have been recorded. PB stepped into the batter’s box. He took ball one low and away. The next pitch he drilled a long fly ball out to left field, the wind was helping, and it ended up landing on the warning track and one hopping the fence. TD scored easily from first and PB is at 2nd with a stand up double and a RBI. The Comets were now up 7-2. Woods decided that RG had pitched enough and brought in a new righthander SR. PB advanced to third on a wild pitch by SR. BB hit a slow roller to third, the throw over to first was low and BB ended up reaching on that error – PB scored easily from third making it 8-2 Comets. That closes the books on RG – he ended up pitching 1+ inning giving up 8 runs (probably 5 earned though….). CC came strolling up to the batter’s box (CC is 70 years old and is a retired doctor from St Paul, MN) – he swung and would have gotten credit for a base hit but BB tripped and fell going to third (he advanced to 2nd base on wild pitch) and CC was credited with a FC. MW stepped into the batter’s box with one out and a runner on first. After taking a couple pitches and fouling off one – MW lined a solid base hit to left field. The Comets are continuing the hit parade! Unfortunately the next two batters did not get the memo about the parade as both flew out to end the inning. The Comets are feeling good going into the middle of the 2nd inning up 8-2.

Bottom of 2nd – JM was just getting warmed up to put on a very good pitching performance. He was able to strike out one and as John Gordon said over the loud speaker, “The first 1-2-3 inning of the day” (the lower division championship game was played previously to this game). JM was looking sharp and the score holding at 8-2.

Top of 3rd – The Comets were able to get a couple runners on but stranded them both and did not score.

Bottom of 3rd – JM was able to get the leadoff batter to pop out but the next three hitters were able to each base and the bases were loaded with just one out. JL (the MVP of the camp) was due up at bat. JM threw an inside off speed pitch and the MVP popped out to the pitcher. A great pitch to get the camp’s MVP out in a clutch situation. The next batter – a lefty, who previously played QB for Georgia Tech, killed any chance of a Woods rally by popping up to the shortstop. JM escapes the inning by stranding the bases full. End of 3 – Comets 8, Woods 2.

Top of 4th – PB led off the inning and hit a nice fly ball that the left fielder was able to track down. BB flew out to left for the 2nd out. CC (Doc) was able to get on base (again) and MW came up to the plate. MW had another long at-bat versus SR, but this time it ended with a fly ball to left which ended the inning.

Bottom of 4th – With the big sticks of the order out in the 3rd inning JM was just finding his groove – a pop out to first, pitcher to first ground ball, and pop out to short highlighted this 1-2-3 inning. End of 4 – Comets 8, Woods 2.

Top of 5th – MS led off the inning with a line drive base hit to left center. RM was induced into a ground ball that turned into a 6-4-3 twin killing – two outs. JM worked a walk and was on first. Dick Bremer laced a single to left and the Comets had another two out rally going. BM came to the plate and found a hole with his seeing eye base hit and now the bases were loaded. MA (who played catcher all week for the Comets) stepped in to the batter’s box. He lined a hit up the middle and JM scored easily and Dick Bremer was waved in as well – a beautiful relay throw from shortstop and Dick was out at home by a half step – a potential crucial run for the Comets foiled and the inning ends. The Comets get one run and push the lead to 9-2.

Bottom of 5th – JM had another great inning – a grounder to 2nd, a ground ball back to the pitcher, and pop out to 2nd – JM had retired 8 straight Woods hitters. Comets 9, Woods 2.

Top of 6th – TD started the inning with a line drive over the shortstop for a base hit. PB was on deck. He took strike one and fouled off the next pitch. PB took the next three pitches and worked it to a full count. SR rocked and fired and painted the inside corner, all PB did was turn around and head back to the dugout on the called third strike – one out. BB flew out to left field and CC popped out to the pitcher to end the inning.

Bottom of 6th – JM ran his streak to retiring 10 straight Woods hitters – a fly ball to PB and a strike out were the first two outs of the inning. The meaty part of the order was coming up for Woods. A base hit, a run scoring double, and another base hit tightened the game up to 9-4. With a runner on third and two outs JM was able to strike out DW to end the inning. It was the second time he had struck him out and ‘Woods’ were only able to get two runs. Comets 9, Woods 4.

Top of 7th – MW flew out to left as Woods inserted a new pitcher to start the inning. Another base hit by MS got a potentially rally going for the Comets. A ground out to the pitcher followed by a pop out to 2nd ended the inning and we are going to the bottom of the 7th with the Comets up by 5 runs.

Bottom of 7th – JM was looking sharp and hoping he can finish out the complete game win. The first batter comes up – hits a weak pop up to short – the shortstop (TD) ended up closing his glove too quick and the lead off runner reached first via error. The next batter hit a fly ball out to PB for the first out of the inning. JM was able to induce a ground ball fielder’s choice at 2nd for the second out of the inning. RG (the starting pitcher for ‘Woods’) was the final chance to the keep the inning going. He hit a slow roller to Dick Bremer (Gary Gaetti?) and DB threw a strike over to MW at first (Kent Hrbek?) – MW squeezed the glove and the Comets are the CHAMPIONS OF THE 2010 EDITION MINNESOTA TWINS FANTASY CAMP. The players ran into the middle of the field – they were gracious enough not to tackle JM and hog pile him – we have to remember the average age of the campers are in the upper 40’s/lower 50’s.

Cuban Comets 9
Off in the Woods 4

PB: 2 for 4, 2 2b's, 2 Runs, RBI
MW: 2 for 4, 2b, Run, 3 RBI

One item to note about the fantasy camp is the references (some crude, some we cannot write in this blog) but the inside joke was this – the Comets were looking forward to hearing every one say this…..The Comets beat Off in the Woods for the Championship. The reality is Off in the Woods thought nobody could beat them.