MCSN: August 29, 2009

Kings Crowned

Semifinal/Championship recap

Tue, Sep 15, 2009

The 2009 MCSN Softball Champion Diamond Kings

All good things must come to an end. The 2009 season finished Saturday [August 29th], as the Diamond Kings won the playoffs and were declared rulers of MCSN, no longer in name only.

After beating the Inferno in the first round of the playoffs, Moody & the Blowfish faced the Diamond Kings, who squeezed by the Mt. Sinai Sluggers last week, in the semifinals.

Players on both sides of the roster fought injuries throughout the game, but refused to give up. Blowfish pitcher Phil ‘Pa’ Nelson, recently back from hand surgery, was nailed by a screaming line drive hit by Diamond Kings manager Rob Tong right on his previously-sutured hand. After yelping, he went after the ball and threw Tong out at first. “He was in a ton of pain but toughed it out like a warrior and stayed to pitch the rest of the game,” said an awed Tong.

Tong (or as his teammates now call him, Mr. Pain) had an injury of his own Saturday, playing with severely bruised ribs from a bike accident a couple days prior that forced him from playing his customary CF spot.

“I took some prescription painkillers and took the field but I was still in enough pain that I couldn't exert myself more than a jog,” Tong explained. “I tried to keep my injury a secret from the Blowfish but they found out.”

The two teams were tied 7-7 going into the bottom of the 6th but the bottom of the Kings’ batting order came through. Diamond King Jenkins Sekendi hit a triple with the bases loaded, bringing in 3 runs. Drienne Kerr brought Jenkins home with a perfectly placed infield hit. The Blowfish tried to rally in the top of the 7th but their efforts fell short, aided by a baserunning gaffe by All-Star Ryan Dollard. The Kings eventually held on to win 11-8 and moved to the Championship round.

In the second semifinal game, the Bombers beat their longtime rival, the Carter Administration, 10-9.

”The only things that I have to say is that I’m proud of my team for pulling out a great victory against the Carter Administration,” said Bomber manager Anthony Halpin. “With their two best players moving into their late 30s, I think they have passed their prime and we were happy to close the door on them.”

The two teams were neck and neck for much of the game, thanks to strong hitting on both sides. Carter Administration assistant to the manager Bill Van Tuinen hit for the fences…and beyond, nailing a Lexus parked outside Clarendon Park with an out-of-the-park home run. However, Bombers player Patrick Halpin later reported he saw the driver pull away from the curb without noticing the dent. Despite theatrics, the curtain was called on the Carter Administration’s season.

“The team played well, but we were one run shy,” said manager Chris Carter. “I think the Carter Administration is cooked. From now on, it is the Car-Tuinen Conglomeration or Explosion. I am tired of sticking only my name on the line.”

And then there were two.

The Diamond Kings met the Bombers for the third time this season at the Championship game, and won 18-17 in the most competitive Championship Game in MCSN history.

Halpin was gunning for a three-peat (his third consecutive MCSN championship), but Tong observed it would be a game of firsts for the Bombers.

“[Halpin] was shooting for his first championship without former MVP Michael Thate, kinda like how Kobe wanted to win one without Shaq,” said Tong. “The Championship was also the first time this year we got to see who was on the Bombers roster...and it turned out to be a roster loaded with talent!”

Trivia: Halpin and Tong have each managed three teams in Championship Games.

The game was a seesaw affair, as the teams tottered between leading and trailing literally every inning. The Bombers hung a quick 5 spot on the Kings while holding them to only 3 runs in the first inning. The Kings tied in the second; the Bombers regained the lead in the third; the Kings took their first lead in the bottom of the third and extended it in the 4th until the Bombers took it back, 14-11, by scoring a rare 6 consecutive runs in the top of the 5th inning.

“The [2009] Championship Game was the best game I have ever been a part of.”

- Bomber's Anthony Halpin on the epic 18-17 Championship Game battle

However, the Kings scored four runs in the bottom of the 6th inning to take a slim 15-14 lead going into the 7th inning, needing only 3 outs for the title. But the Bombers added 3 more runs to the board, giving them a 17-15 lead in the 7th and needing only 3 outs themselves to get Halpin's three-peat. However, Jenkins Sekendi came through again with a big double to start the Kings off, and Steve Borgstrom hit a two-run out-of-the-park home run to tie the game.

“Perfect timing to hit his first fence shot,” Tong marveled.

“I thought we were going to pull it out, [but with that hit] Borgstrom pulled the trophy right out of our
hands,” Halpin said.

Trivia: Borgstrom is the only player in MCSN softball history to play in all four of the league's Championship Games. This is his first win in those four years.

After Borgstrom, the Bombers dropped Robert Martinez’s pop-up, and he sailed to 2nd base, followed by Brian Pace who hit a double, so runners were on 2nd and 3rd. The Bombers intentionally walked Ben Thacker, who had hit two out-of-the-park home runs earlier in the day, but Tim Kerr made them pay with a walk-off game-winning single to give the Diamond Kings the thrilling come-from-behind win.

“Every player on our team scored a run in that Championship Game...what a team effort!” Tong exclaimed.

“The Championship Game was the best game I have ever been a part of,” said Halpin. “I wish we would have won, but I’m glad that Rob finally won his championship.”