Play Off Game Awash In Controversy

The sun was out in one of those glorious crystaline Lincoln evenings that makes one stop and ponder how it is we all got so lucky to live in this time and place. The game was called for an early start at 5:30 and people showed up early to warm up and talk about strategy. Hit the ball often and hard was the strategy most of us settled on. The DR Power team was looking pretty good in their matching shirts and shorts. Special K made a timely arrival in the official wiffleball K car with a delivery of shirts for the Middlebury Mountaineers. The game got underway promptly at 5:35 and the tension was palpable in the clear air of Bird's Eye Field. The Mountaineers won the toss and opted to be the home team. Mountaineer manager Lonichro took the mound in the top of the first facing the formidable DR Power line up of El Guapo, Trot Thompson, Bubba Okajima, and the first LowBall appearance of School Bus Moriarty.
Lonichiro struggled early, as he usually does, walking a run in before the first out was recorded. He then settled down and managed three consecutive strikeouts to get out of the inning, but first blood was spilled, and the stage was set for what was to become one of the most epic and controversial games in Lowball history. School Bus Moriarty, just up from AAA New Haven, took the mound and gave up the first of what was to be a record tying four home runs over the course of the game to rookie sensation Pat "Kong" Moriarty, a two run blast that put the Mountaineers up 2-1.
DR Power answered with three runs of their own as Kong took the mound in the top of the second to bring the score to 4-2 and the Mountaineers countered with two long balls in the bottom of the second one by the Plastic Surgeon and the second by Kong bringing the score to 5-4
The third inning saw J-Rod struggle on the mound for the Mountaineers as he walked a stunning seven batters before pitching his way out of the jam. 7-4 DR. Tommie "Trot" Thompson took the mound in the bottom of the third and showed his veteran's poise as he sat the side down 1-2-3 with three pop ups that were easy plays for the sticky fingers of the Power crew.
The top of the fourth, however, saw a dramatic turn of events. Dan "The Plastic Surgeon" Guy, the number one over all draft pick for the tournament turned in the worst pitching performance of his career.
"I couldn't believe what I was seeing," said El Guapo, manager of team Power after the game, "The Plastic Surgeon is usually lights out." But that was not the case on the mound in the top of the fourth. The Mountaineers did manage to turn a double play, but only after team power had brought six runs across the plate. The Surgeon struggled from the outset seemingly unable to find his groove, or the strike zone, in a highly uncharacteristic performance. Rumor has it that there was some late night partying going on Thursday night and you can be sure the fast and free lifestyle of most of the LowBall league's players has caught up with all of them at one time or another. It was a huge set back to the Mountaineers on this particular occassion as the DR team managed to get the seventh run across the plate on a single by Bubba Okajima to end the inning on the mercy rule to bring the score to 14-5.
Trot Thompson pitched another spectacular inning in the bottom of the fourth and things truly seemed bleak for the Mountaineers. The top of the fifth saw them pile on another run in a long ball hit by Trot that was bobbled over the fence for a solo home run, 15-5. The bottom of the fifth inning, however, things looked to be turning up for the down-but-not-out Mountaineers. Kong Moriarty jacked a three run shot in his first at bat that was without a doubt the longest home run ever seen in the history of LowBall. Speculations put the distance between 110 and 120 feet. It was the start of a six run rally that brought the climbers back to within a tantalizingly close four runs.
Kong threw an excellent top half of the sixth getting three pop-flys to hold the Power scoreless for the frame.
It was then, in the bottom of the sixth, with the Mountaineers down by four runs, that one of the most controversial and dramatic events in LowBall history took place. An event that will be talked about and argued about for many years to come. Trot Thompson had been pulled mid-inning in the sixth to be replaced by the league's strike out leader, El Guapo. Guap started out the seventh strong striking out the Plastic Surgeon on a one and done that caught the strike zone by the thinnest of margins. J-Rod managed a single and Kong was struck out looking. With two outs and a man on first, Lonichiro drew a walk to put runners on first and second, and the Surgeon laid down a single to juice the bases.
And then came the hit: J-Rod at the plate got a hold of a Guapo curve ball that was high and outside and sent it screaming. The ball arced in the air as it sailed down the left field line and landed ten feet behind the fence and ten feet inside fair ground. GRAND SLAM! There was pandemonium as the Mountaineers came to welcome J-Rod home from his trot around the bases. Game tied at fifteen! But wait, was it a home run or not? Bubba Okajima, the left fielder from the southern Japanese leagues says he saw the ball curve in fair after it crossed the plane where the foul pole should be. Bird's Eye park fell silent. Was it fair, or was it foul? Who should call it? How can either team be expected to make a call on a ball that affects the outcome of the game so dramatically? To be honest, from my perspective it looked like a home run. El Guapo in a chivalrous act of valour let J-Rod make the call. He said "You call it, as you honestly believe it, and I will never argue with you about it." From J-Rod's perspective, as well as everyone else on the sidelines it seemed to be a fair ball. BUT, the person with the best perspective on the ball was Randy "Bubba" Barnes. He said it looked foul to him. He then said, in a comment that I will always respect him for, "It makes a better story if its a home run." and he let the call stand rather than argue what he has since clearly stated that he is 99.9% sure that the ball that left the park that evening was really just a long foul ball.
And what a story! The next pitch, El Guapo, seeing red, tossed a meat ball to his brother Pat "Kong" Moriarty who sent it over the right field fence to put a stake in the heart of the great Guap. Pulling himself from the game Guapo the manager put in Bubba Okajima to finish the side, which he did in three pitches. From that point on in the game there was not a single hit as J-Rod pitched like his hair was on fire and Bubba Okajima just put dents in the strike zone with pitches that nearly break the sound barrier as the Mountaineers stood and watched from the batter's box. It was K after K from both pitchers for the last three innings and the game ended, awash in controversy, with that fateful score of DR Power- 15, Middlebury Mountaineers- 16.
And so the Mountaineers push on to the finals against J-Mack and the Bird's Eye Builders at the Friendly Confines on Sunday. If this game is any indication of what's to come, we should be in for one rip-snorter of a game. Stay Tuned...