NABC NEWSLETTER - 2013 WORLD SERIES / PLAYOFF SPECIAL
DANBURY DEFEATS WYANDOTTE, 4 GAMES TO 2,
TO WIN 2013 NABC WORLD SERIES!
This newsletter contains series and game summaries for the 2013 NABC World Series and other playoff series. The box scores and playoff statistics are all available in the final C-file that I distributed by e-mail. Congratulations to the 3rd seeded Danbury Dirt Dobbers, managed by Steve Davis, who defeated manager Dave Brim and his 5th seeded Wyandotte Falcons, in a tightly-contested 6 game series. Wyandotte led 2 games to 1, before Danbury rallied to take the final 3 games. This was the first matchup of #3 and #5 seeds in the World Series since seeding began in 2000 and just the second time the #3 seed won the title. The WS games were played online via join.me, as, once again, this season all playoff games were contested via either a phone or chat connection. Thanks to all playoff managers for completing games promptly.
For Danbury manager Steve Davis, in his third NABC year, this was his second playoff and finals appearance, having lost the WS in 2012. The Danbury franchise, in the playoffs for the first time since 2005, now has 20 playoff runs in 33 seasons overall, plus 4 World Series titles in 11 tries, with the most recent previous championship in 2001. For Wyandotte’s manager Brim, in his 29th season in the NABC as the only Falcons manager, this was the 5th World Series appearances, plus the 10th qualification for the playoffs. The Falcons’ two previous titles were won in 1994 and 2005.
In the series, Danbury dropped the opener in 12 innings, won game 2 and lost game 3, before bouncing back to win the last 3 games, including a 10 inning 3-2 walk off in the clinching game 6. Over the course of the post-season, the Bison offense was led by Ben Zobrist (.319, 22 for 69, 12 runs and 14 walks), the pesky Marco Scutaro ( .357, 20 for 56) and Buster Posey (.233, 6 hr, 14 rbi). Kyle Lohse (3-0, 2.08, with 3 complete games) and Jake Peavy (2-0, 1.99) led the Dirt Dobbers starting staff. For Wyandotte, Paul Goldschmidt (.283, 15-53, 6 doubles, 8 runs, 6 rbi), Andrew McCutchen (.220, 4hr, 13 rbi) and Justin Ruggiano (.259, 14-54, 10 runs) were the most productive hitters, while Felipe Paulino (4-0, 1.41, 3 complete games and 14 hits allowed in 38.1 innings was spectacular. Indeed, an injury to Paulino in WS game 5, after facing just 1 Dobbers batter, seemed to take the wind out of the Falcons’ sails.
Congratulations to both Steve and Dave for making it to the finals, and thanks to all NABC managers for another great year!
PLAYOFF RESULTS:
First Round: Danbury Dirt Dobbers over Woodland Warlocks, 4 games to 3.
Wyandotte Falcons over Buffalo Bison, 4 games to 1.
Second Round: Wyandotte Falcons over Rivertown Otters, 4 games to 0.
Danbury Dirt Dobbers over Aliso Viejo Redbirds, 4 games to 2.
World Series: Danbury Dirt Dobbers over Wyandotte Falcons, 4 games to 2.
WORLD SERIES – Danbury 4, Wyandotte 3 (Played online via join.me, by Steve Davis and Dave Brim, highlights from Steve Davis and write-ups from script files by John Duke)
The 3rd seeded Dirt Dobbers won the final 3 games to overcome a 2-1 deficit and win the NABC championship over the #5 seeded Falcons. Each team scored exactly 23 runs in the 6 games. Buster Posey (7-26, 3 hr, 7 rbi) led the way with solid support from Ben Zobrist (7-25). Paul Goldschmidt (9-22, 4 doubles, 5 runs) topped the Wyandotte attack. Danbury out homered the Falcons 6-3 for the series.
Game 1 Wyandotte 3 Danbury 2 (12 innings)
Wow, the first 2 games were well pitched tense nail-biters with Wyandotte pulling out a dramatic game 1 win 3-2 in 12 innings.
Danbury 4th: Buster Posey solo HR, 1-0 Dirt Dobbers
Wyandotte 5th: Jose Reyes walk, Pedro Alvarez 2-run HR, 2-1 Falcons
D7: Curtis Granderson reaches 2nd on Wilin Rosario E-2,E-2 (double error), Alex Gordon ground out moves Granderson to 3rd, Marco Scutaro RBI infield single, tied 2-2
W12: RP Troy Patton in, Paul Goldschmidt double, RP Kelvin Herrera in, Rosario RBI double, 3-2 Falcons
D12: RP Junichi Tazawa in, with 2 outs, PH Irving Falu single, PR Roger Bernadina SB, Kevin Frandsen popup to SS Reyes, 3-2 Falcons
Game 2 Danbury 4 Wyandotte 1
Danbury escaped with a 4-1 game 2 victory with the Falcons leaving the bases loaded in the 9th. Danbury starter David Price went 8.2 innings with 17 K’s.
D2: Granderson single, Ben Zobrist reaches on 2-out Reyes E-6, David Murphy RBI single, 1-0 Dobbers
D5: Posey solo HR, 2-0 Dirt Dobbers
W7: Goldschmidt double, Reyes RBI double, 2-1 Dobbers
D8: RP Jonathan Broxton in, Garrett Jones double, PH Irving Falu RBI single, goes to 2nd on throw, Alex Gordon RBI single, 4-1 Dobbers
W9: Goldschmidt double, then 2 outs, then Kyle Seager walk, Pedro Alvarez walk, RP Herrera in, Nelson Cruz popup to 1B Jones, 4-1 Dirt Dobbers
Game 3 Wyandotte 12 Danbury 1
The Falcons destroyed Dobbers pitching in game 3 (particularly poor Jeremy Affeldt who gave up 9 earned runs in 2 innings) and won 12-1.
D5: Granderson solo HR, 2-1 Falcons
W6: Goldschmidt double, RP Casey Janssen in, Phillips RBI single, 3-1 Falcons
W7: RP Jeremy Affeldt in, Shin-Soo Choo double, Justin Ruggiano single, Joe Mauer RBI single, Andrew McCutchen RBI single, Goldschmidt walk, Reyes SF, Phillips RBI single, 7-1 Falcons
W8: Ruggiano single, Mauer H&R single, McCutchen RBI single, Goldschmidt single, Rosario grand slam HR, 12-1 Falcons
Game 4 Danbury 3 Wyandotte 1
Game 4 was back to another pitchers' duel, with Posey's 2 run 1st inning homer holding up for the Dirt Dobbers in a 3-1 series tying victory (though Wyandotte loaded the bases with 2 outs in the 9th against 5 Danbury pitchers).
W4: Goldschmidt single,SB, Reyes RBI single, Brandon Phillips H&R single, Brett Lawrie RBI single, 2-0 Falcons D1: Zobrist single, Posey 2-run HR, 2-0 Dirt Dobbers
D8: Zobrist solo HR, 3-0 Dobbers
W8: Ruggiano walk, McCutchen RBI triple, 3-1 Dirt Dobbers
Game 5 Danbury 10 Wyandotte 4
The Falcons suffered a terrible blow early in Game 5, as staff ace Felipe Paulino was injured against the 2nd batter of the game and will miss the rest of the series. Danbury took full advantage against reliever Tommy Milone and others in coasting to a 10-4 win (there were a few tense moments where Wyandotte threatened to make the game close but Kyle Lohse wiggled out of trouble each time en route to a complete game).
D1: With 1 out, SP Felipe Paulino injured for 15 days, misses remainder of series, RP Tommy Milone in
W1: Choo single, Goldschmidt RBI single, 1-0 Falcons
D2: Aramis Ramirez solo HR, Garrett Jones double, Granderson single, Alex Gordon GIDP scores, Jones, 2-1 Dirt Dobbers
W2: Reyes triple, Rosario RBI ground out, tied 2-2
D3: Zobrist single, Murphy double, Zobrist scores on Rosario PB, Posey RBI ground out, 4-2 Dobbers
D4: Scutaro walk, Zobrist double, Murphy RBI ground out, Posey RBI double, 6-2 Dirt Dobbers
D5: Ramirez single, RP Jonathan Broxton in, Granderson walk, Gordon RBI single, Scutaro RBI ground out, Zobrist K’s but reaches on Rosario PB, Murphy RBI single, 9-2 Dobbers
W5: Ben Revere single, Seager H&R single, Choo RBI single, 9-3 Dirt Dobbers
D7: RP Cory Gearrin in, Gordon walk, Scutaro RBI single, Zobrist GIDP scores Gordon, 10-3 Dobbers
W7: Ruggiano single,SB, Phillips single, Choo SF, 10-4 Dirt Dobbers
Game 6 Danbury 3 Wyandotte 3 (10 innings)
Wyandotte jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the 3rd inning on a 2 run homer by Justin Ruggiano, and Matt Harvey made the lead hold up into the bottom of the 7th. An error on SS Jose Reyes with Cabrera on first and Ramirez batting led to a first and third no out situation that eventually plated 2 unearned runs for the Dirt Dobbers (on a 1 out SF by Alex Gordon and a 2 out single by Marco Scutaro to tie the game). The game stayed tied to the bottom of the 9th, when Scutaro led off with a double against Harvey. Zobrist walked after attempting to bunt early in the count, and so did Murphy to load the bases. Tazawa came in to pitch for the Falcons, but Buster Posey greeted him with a single to right to score pinch runner John McDonald from 3rd and the mob scene was on at the Dobber's Nest...a walk off series winning hit!
Congrats to Dave for a terrific season!! Dave did a great job managing his team and with a few breaks would have won it all. Probably the worst blow of course was losing Paulino in Game 5, causing Wyandotte to blow through a lot of good relief...and the Reyes error came at the worst time possible in Game 6. The series was very closely contested and Games 1,2, 4, and 6 could have easily went either way with a little luck for either team...the difference in the series was Danbury was fortunate enough to win 3 of those 4.
W3: Choo walk, Ruggiano 2-run HR, 2-0 Dirt Dobbers
D7: Cabrera single, Ramirez reaches on Reyes E-6, PH Roger Bernadina walk, Gordon SF, Scutaro RBI single, tied 2-2
D10: Scutaro double, Zobrist walk, Murphy walk, RP Tazawa in, PR John McDonald for Scutaro on 3rd, Posey walk off RBI single, 3-2 Dirt Dobbers
PLAYOFF SUMMARIES
Second Round – Wyandotte 4, Rivertown 0 (Played via phone by Dave Brim and Rick Christianson, highlights from Rick Christianson and Dave Brim)
The #5 seeded Wyandotte Falcons scored and unexpected 4 game sweep over the #1 seeded Rivertown Otters in a series featuring all low-scoring tight games. Andrew McCutchen (6-15, 4 homers, 5 runs and 8 rbi) led the way for Wyandotte, while Paul Goldschmidt (4-14, 3rbi) added some support. Falcons pitching held the powerful Otters to a .177 batting average and just 9 runs in the 4 games. Robinson Cano (4-12) was the only Otters hitter to top a .231 BA. No carryover injuries for Wyandotte.
This was the second straight playoff appearance for second year NABC manager Rick Christianson, but he has yet to reach the World Series, while the Rivertown franchise has qualified for the playoffs 20 of 37 years, and has 6 World Series wins in 8 tries.
Game 1 Wyandotte 4 Rivertown 3
Paulino vs Weaver.
Bottom of the 3rdAdrian Beltre smacks a two out bases loaded triple to break the ice. Rivertown takes a 3-0 lead.
Top of the 5thThe Falcons get on the board withan RBI single by Alonso scoring Reyes. Rivertown 3, Wyandotte 0
Top of the 8thWith two outs, Choo takes off from first on a hit and run. Mauer puts a charge into it, deep to right center...Jackpot! A two run homer that ties the game! McCutcheon steps up. He hits one, high and long to left center...gone! A monster shot! The Flacons come from behind to score three runs with two outs and take a 4-3 lead.
Paulino then gets to work and escapes an 8th inning Cano double with no damage. And he works a 1-2-3 ninth for a complete game win.
Game 2 Wyandotte 6 Rivertown 3
Matt Harvey for Wyandotte, Matt Latos for Rivertown
Top of the 3rd.Mauer singles home Ruggiano, then comes around to score on a two run homer by McCutcheon. Wyandotte 3, Rivertown 0
Top of the 5thMcCutcheon clubs his second two run homer of the day (and third homer in his last four at bats) to give the Falcons a 5-0 lead.
Bottom of the 6thAlex Rios smacks a two run homer and the crowd comes alive with hope that the Otters bats will come to life. Falcons 5, Otters 2.
But the Otters curl up and go back to sleep as Strop and Horst put them down in order in the 7th and 8th.
Top of the 9thA double by Choo plates Reyes. Wyandotte's lead is increased to 6-2.
Bottom of 9thTazawa comes on. He gets PH Dirks to fly out to right. Votto rips a double to right center. Kemp walks. Miggy Cabrera steps to the plate. He gets under one to left, Ruggiano tracks it down. Votto scores. Two down, it's all up to Josh Hamilton. Fly ball, center field,can of corn, McCutcheon grabs it and the game is over.
So the underdog Falcons come to Rivertown and take the first two games behind strong pitching and timely hitting by Mauer, and especially McCutcheon. The allegedly powerful Otters lineup manages to get just 4 hits in each game.
Game 3 Wyandotte 4 Rivertown 1
B3—McCutcheon single drives in first run of game
B3—Two run double for Goldschmidt, 3-0
T8—Rios solo shot. 4-1
Niese finishes strong and finishes with a 5 hitter.
WP—Niese LP—Beachy
Game 4 Wyandotte 3 Rivertown 2
T4—Rivertown scores first run of game on GIDP, 1-0 Otters
B4—Goldschmidt solo shot ties the game 1-1
B4—Rosario follows with another solo shot, 2-1 Falcons
B5—McCutcheon SF, 3-1
T6—Kemp rbi single makes it a one run game, 3-2
Falcon relievers finish strong with Crain, Horst, and Tazawa each pitching an inning.
WP—Lynn LP—Strasburg SV—Tazawa
Wyandotte beats all odds to sweep the series and as I write this all of the Falcons are peeing in a cup at the request of Commissioner Duke.
Second Round – Danbury 4, Aliso Viejo 2 (Played online, via join.me, by Steve Davis and Tony Kontokanis, highlights from Tony Kontokanis and Steve Davis, write-ups from script files by John Duke)
The #3 seeded Dirt Dobbers took the first 3 games, before the Redbirds rallied with a couple of wins, only to see Danbury romp to the series win in game 6. Aramis Ramirez (9-24, 3-2b, 4 hr, 5 runs, 6 rbi) led the Dirt Dobbers offense, with help from Melky Cabrera (7-22, 3 runs) and Marco Scutaro (8-18, 2-3b). Cliff Lee pitched well as the Danbury starter in games 2 and 6. For the Redbirds, Torii Hunter (7-25, 2 hr, 6 runs), David Wright (7-25, 3rbi) and Neil Walker (6-23, 4rbi) led the attack. One carryover injury to David Price of Danbury for the first game of the World Series.