Heros and Chumps (Round 2)

Montreal over Tacoma (3-1)

Hero: Pat Politte. Pat went 2-0 in this series, got off to a bit of a rocky start, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits thru the first 3 innings of game #1. He then proceeded to throw 4 innings of 1 hit baseball w/ just 1 walk and 7 strike outs, followed by 7 innings of 1 hit, 1 walk shut out baseball with 5 stikeouts to close out the series in game #4. Overall, 14 innings, 3 runs, 6 hits, 3 walks 14 strikeouts.

Chump: Kit Purcell. There were other Tacoma hitters w/ worse performances at the plate than Purcell, but safe to say, none were counted on more than Tacoma relies on MVP canidate Kit Purcell. Kit managed just 2 hits in 15 trips to the plate along w/ 1 walk. While he managed to cross the plate 3 times in this series, he failed to drive in a single run.

Salem over Philly (3-0)


Hero: Hick Hartley. All star 3B Hick Harltey lead the Salem assualt on Philly in their 3 game sweep. While Salem had 3 solid pitching efforts in the sweep, the outcome was never in doubt due to Salem's 26 run outburst over the 3 game set. Hick set the pace going 6 for 11 overall, including 3 home runs, 5 runs and 5 rbi in the first 2 games of the series.


Chump: Philly starting pitching. An otherwise solid rotation let the defending AL champs down; perhaps too much rest and too much dreaming of another world series trip clouded their approach, but each starter failed to answer the bell. Joe Cohen, Ted Phillips, and Brian Beak combined for 12.2 uninspired innings of 22 hit, 14 run (all earned) pitching.


Syracuse over San Diego (3-0)


Hero: The Syracuse bull pen. As Syracuse begins its quest for a repeat title, their bull pen proved the difference in this series, throwing 9 innings with out giving up a single run. Syracuse' relief core allowed just 4 hits over those 9 frames, along with 6 base on balls and 10 strike outs.


Chump: Lloyd Gibson. Finding his team down 1 game to none, Lloyd toed the rubber in the bottom of the first inning already given a 6-0 lead by the potent San Diego offense. Needing only a quality start to send the series back home tied 1-1, Lloyd failed to record a single out in his frame, giving up 11 runs (9 earned) on 3 walks and 5 basehits (including a grandslam before getting the hook) Leaving San Diego's psyche deflated, they managed just 2 runs on 10 hits over the next 17 innings before packing the bags and heading off into the sunset and next season.


Boise over Little Rock (3-2)

Hero: Clarence Guiel. All Star slugger Clarence Guiel lead the Boise charge into round 3 going 8 for 20 at the plate with 4 homers, 8 runs, 8 rbis and 4 stolen bases. With Boise facing an onslaught of key injuries, Guiel responded by taking the bull by the hornes and leading Boise into the divisional championship

Chump: Vic Sosa. The 1.000 + OPS slugging CF for Little Rock was counted on as a balance to the offense that Boise expected out of their big bats. Rather than shining like a star, Sosa made more like his late career cousin by striking out more often than collecting hits. Just 4 hits in the series on 18 at bats, along w/ 1 homer and 2 rbis, while scoring thrice was not nearly enough to sustain Little Rocks early 2 games to 1 lead. Further compounding his misery, it was Sosa's in ability to field an otherwise routing flyball in the 5th inning of game one that proceeding to a pair of Boise home runs to Guiel and Newfield, taking a 3-2 good ol' good one into a 7-2 Boise domination on the way to an easy 8 run Boise win.