Witness the 2013 Champs
Week 9/Championship Recap
By Bill Van Tuinen & Rob Tong
Thur, Sep 12, 2013
Dennis Diaz; in front: Anthony Perez, Ashley Veigel; absent: Anthony Halpin, Kevin Finn
Action opened with the No. 2 seed 3:16 Mafia hosting the No. 3 seed Killer Beehs. The teams split during the regular season and appeared evenly matched heading into the game.
The game started slowly with each team surviving the top of the other's lineup, which led to a 1-0 Beehs lead after the first inning. However, as the time passed each team began to stir from their slumber and the Mafia took a 5-2 lead after three innings. The Beehs would not go away, however, and surged to a 5-5 tie and then a 10-5 lead after five innings.
Things were looking bleak for the Mafia after a scoreless sixth inning for both teams. But pitcher Keshia Richardson shut down the Beehs in the top of the seventh inning and the stage was set. The Mafia rallied for five runs in the bottom of the seventh, highlighted by Andy Tisler's bases-loaded triple, producing three of his 2013-playoff-high seven RBI in the game, to tie the game and push it into extra innings. This would be only the second extra-inning playoff game in league history.
Once again, the teams went scoreless in the eighth inning, but in the ninth inning, the Beehs scored four times including a bases-loaded double by Juan Cruz. The Mafia needed another comeback, but could only muster three runs in the bottom of the inning and walked off the field dejected after their 14-13 loss, but knowing they had played in one of the most exciting playoff games in MCSN history.
In the next semifinal, top-seeded Witness faced No. 4 seed Cross the Bases. Witness was missing Anthony Halpin, and with Felipe Chavez gimping on only one good ankle, they headed into the playoffs hoping for the best. This game had pitcher Scott Whitaker outdueling wily veteran Gary Lockwood for a 12-6 Witness win.
The Bases crossed the, uh, bases three times in the first inning but Witness put up five runs in their bottom half with only one out to serve notice that Witness can cross the bases pretty well themselves. It was another balanced attack as six Witnesses (Nate Arnett, James Mitra, Alyssa Martinez, Dennis Diaz and Rob Tong) had perfect days at the plate, going a combined 14-for-14 with a sac fly and a walk. CTB had a stout outfield across the board but, under the watchful eye of the resting Killer Beehs, Witness still managed to get hits and scored in every inning but one.
This led to the intriguing Championship matchup between the rested but sun-baked Beehs and Witness. The two teams also had split their season series.
Witness' Tong noted, "The Beehs were without star pitcher Nick Ploegstra but we weren't going to take relief pitcher Bryan Beeh for granted, having just Witnessed the admirable job he did earlier holding his own against the Mafia's lineup of (batting) executioners."
Similar to their earlier game, Witness fell behind early as the Beehs put up two runs in the first inning but they responded with five runs in their half with only one out recorded, showing they hadn't missed a beat. Whitaker again pitched a gem against the Beehs, with the only real damage being a shot by the namesake Beeh into the trees for a ground-rule double.
The Witness women also saved their best for last, with Ashley Veigel and Alyssa Martinez going a combined 3-for-5 with a walk. Meanwhile, Witness kept the pressure on with solid defense and putting up another five runs in the fourth inning that effectively put the game away for an 11-3 lead. The Beehs couldn't muster another dramatic comeback as Witness went on to win 13-5 to secure the 2013 Moody Softball championship.
Witness manager Tong, sometimes referred to as the Jim Kelly of Moody Softball based on his 1-for-4 (now 2-for-5) Championship Game record, gained a measure of revenge for last year's upset loss in the Championship Game to a team led by Jeremy Huntington. The early start to the school year helped teacher Bryan Beeh actually make an appearance in the title game for the first time as manager in lieu of his usual late-summer cross-country traipsing. Anthony Halpin, the Adam Morrison of Moody Softball, didn't appear in the game but earned his third title, tying him with Robert Martinez for the most league championships and breaking a multi-player logjam at the top with two titles.
Signups for the 2014 league are only about seven months away! We look forward to seeing everyone back on the field next summer and don't forget to invite a friend!
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