2006

Montesano Parks & Recreation

Pacific Coast Adult Baseball League

Championship Series Re-cap

Sidney’s Casino, of Aberdeen-Hoquiam, recently captured the Pacific Coast Adult Baseball League Championship here at Pioneer Park.  It took a heroic three-run, line drive homerun by Rusty Standstipher in extra innings to finally overcome a pesky South Side Slingers team, from Aberdeen.

Both Sidney’s and the Slingers advanced to the Championship series by downing very strong teams from the Olympia and Yelms areas, in the divisional playoffs.  In the first divisional playoff game the Slingers won a pitchers duel, narrowly defeating the Yelm Cannons 2 - 0 behind the shut- out pitching of Bobby Jackson.  The second divisional playoff, between Sidney’s and the reigning champion Capital City Bombers turned into a slug-out, with a late inning offensive attack by Sidney’s proving to be the difference in the game. Down 9 to 6 in the top of the 7^th, Sidney’s scored 8 runs to take the lead for good, 14 – 9.  Michael Burgess collecting two hits during the rally.

Coming out of the divisional playoffs with only three days rest, pitching appeared to be thin for both Sidney’s and the Slingers, in game one of the three game championship series.  Ryan Kellog of the Slingers entered the game in late relief to collect the win, outlasting the combined pitching efforts of Jay Glaser and Curtis Perry of Sidney’s, who battled through tough innings and untimely, sloppy defense.  Ryan Kellog also blasted a 3-run homer to deep center field, helping his own cause in the 21 to 12 victory.

Up one game to none in the three game championship series, the Slingers called on ace pitcher Bobby Jackson in hopes of taking the second game of the double–header and making it a quick series.  But Sidney’s countered with their own ace, Carey Lundstrom, formerly of the Grays Harbor Gulls, who boasts great command of both a sneaky-fast, fastball and a hard biting breaking ball.  The game came as advertised, with both pitchers giving up only one run each entering the bottom of the 7^th inning.  But with the scored tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 7^th and final inning, Michael Boerner, of Sidney’s, led off with a solid double to left-center.  Boerner then quickly advanced to third base on a wild pitch.  Mike Standstipher followed with a walk and wasted no time steeling second, giving Sidney’s runner s on third and second with no outs.  Bobby Jackson, who appeared to be tiring on the hill for the Slingers, then struck out the next batter.  The Slingers then wisely elected to intentionally walk the bases loaded, in hopes of setting up a double play that would get them out of the inning.  But Jackson balked on the fourth pitch of the intentional walk, which pushed in the winning run for Sidney’s.  The win by Sidney’s tied the series at one game a piece and set up a hotly contested third and final game of the three game series.

In the third and decisive game of the Championship series, Sidney’s wasted no time setting the pace, by opening the top of the first inning with five runs.  The Slingers shaved the early Sidney’s lead by posting a single run on a sacrifice fly by Jason Failor.

Sidney’s then answered with one run in the top of the second inning on singles by Michael Burgess and Rusty Standstipher.  But the Slingers sent a clear message that they had no intentions of folding under the pressure of the early inning attack Sidney’s had mounted, by plating Jerrad Lacey and Shay Grigsby to post a two spot of their own in the bottom of the second.

Sidney’s kept the pressure on, opening up the third inning with Mike Boerner drawing a walk.  Dennis Stutesman then singled, setting the table for a two-run double by Jimmy Hargrove.  Hargrove later scored on a hit by Chuy Villalobos.  The slingers stayed in the game by tallying two runs of their own, making the score 9 to 5 Sidney’s, entering the 4^th inning.

In the top of the 4^th inning Sidney’s appeared poised to continue putting runs on the board.  Rusty Standstipher led of the inning with a double.  Sidney’s then loaded the bases on a hit by Mike Standstipher and a walk to Stutesman.  But the Slingers held getting a pop up and then a ground ball for outs two and three.   Posting the first inning without a run scored seemed to trigger a momentum swing, as the Slingers bats came alive in their half of the 4^th.  Exploiting a misplayed fly-ball that allowed Zack Reynvaan on base, the Slingers then took advantage of a walk to Jason Failor and timely hits by Ethan Cady, Ricky McKinney, Jerrad Lacey and Aaron Cleverly to put up six runs and take an 11 to 9 lead.

But Sidney’s quickly countered with two runs in the top of the 5^th to tie the game.  The Slingers then reclaimed the lead 12 to 11, in the bottom half of the 5^th when Jeff Wayman singled and later scored on a hit by Failor.

The Slingers appeared to take control of the game in the 6^th by blanking Sidney’s in top half of the frame and then padding their lead by scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning, on a 2 RBI double by Zack Reynvaan.

After leading much of the game, Sidney’s found themselves entering the 7^th and final inning down 14 to 11.  But Christian Burgess led off the inning with a single, sending a message that the feisty Sidney’s club was not ready to give up.  Michael Burgess and Rusty Standstipher each followed with singles of their own, with Christian Burgess plating on the hit by Standstipher.  Taking advantage of a rare error by Slingers shortstop Zach Reynvaan, both Michael Brugess and Standstipher eventually ended up scoring in the inning to tie the game at 14 all.  Ace pitcher Carey Lundstrom, who had entered the game for Sidney’s in the 6^th inning in a rare relief appearance, made short work of the Slingers in the bottom of the 7^th, punching out the first three batters to come to the plate, which sent the game into extra innings.

The Sidney’s club was turned away in the top of the 8^th, giving the Slingers the opportunity to run away with the championship with a single run in the bottom half of the inning.  But Lundstrom, who had obviously settled into his game, again turned away the first three Slinger hitters of the inning.

In the top of the 9^th, the Slingers who had ridden the tired arm of gutsy starting pitcher Aaron Cleverly through the first eight innings of the game, elected to enter the fresh arm of Ricky McKinney, in relief.   Sidney’s quickly mounted a threat with Rusty Standstipher drawing a leadoff walk.  Younger brother Mike Standstipher then advanced Rusty to third on a single.  Rusty eventually scored on a fielders choice to give Sidney’s a one run lead going into the bottom half of the inning.  The game appeared to be in Sidney’s control as Lundstrom continued his dominance of Slinger hitters by striking out Jeff Wayman to lead off the inning.  But the Slingers were not ready to concede.  Jason Failor hit a sharp single, which seemed to bring life to his team.  Ricky McKinney then followed with a deep shot to left center field that appeared as if it were going to leave the yard for a walk-off, series winning homer. But the drive ended up falling just short of clearing the fence, with McKinney coasting into second for a double.  Failor scored on the drive, tying the score at 15.

Jimmy Hargrove led off the 10^th for Sidney’s with a single and quickly stole second putting the winning run in scoring position. Villalobos then walked.  After a pop-up for the first out of the inning, Michael Burgess doubled, knocking in Hargrove.  The hot hitting slugger, Rusty Standstipher then delivered what eventually proved to by the final blow….  a screaming line drive homerun to left field which made the score 19 to 15.  Lundstrom then shut the door on the Slingers, with two of the three outs in the bottom of the 10^th coming as strikeouts.

Both teams were sited with gutsy play, as the Sidney’s Club was crowned “Champions” of the Pacific Coast Adult Baseball League, for the first time.  The league, now in its 14^th season, is ran through the Montesano Parks & Recreation Department.  It is an affiliate of the national, “Men’s Senior Baseball League” that is based in New York.  Teams participate in the PCMABL from all over western Washington. Local teams also have the opportunity to advance to Regional and National tournaments held all over the United States.  Some of which are played at Major League Baseball’s spring training facilities in Florida and Arizona. For information on how to start your own team, or to be placed on the PCMABL Free Agent List, please contact Mike Bruner, with the Montesano Parks & Recreation Department at, (360) 249-3021 ext. 112.