Syracuse over Iowa City (3-1)
Hero: Pat Politte (SP, Syracuse) Lets see, 16 innings, 1 earned run, 11 hits, 14ks, and only 2 bbs in his 2 wins in this series, including series clinching game 4. Politte set the tone early, by throwing 9 innings of 3 hit, shutout ball in an easy 11-0 game 1 win showing that Syracuse's staff was going to live up to the hype and their offense may just be catching fire at the right time. Pat had a perfect game going thru 6 innings, a 1 hitter thru 8, before finally surrending 2 hits in the bottom of the 9th, combined w/ an error to load the bases, but got out of it unscathed w/ getting an easy out to left and striking out the final 2 Iowa City batters.
Goat: Benny Melton (1b, Iowa City) Benny had a typical season, and by typical we mean all-star level .300+ average, .900+ ops, 30+ homers, 100+ rbi, 90+ runs scored and nearly 20 stolen bases. A left handed masher, Benny's drawing card his his ability to tear thru opposing right handed pitchers. However, top two starters, Pollitte and Baumann, held Melton to 1 hit in 16 at bats in games 1, 2 & 4.
Salem over New York (3-2)
Hero: How good was this series? Jesus Fernandez threw 17 innings, of 2 run, 10 hit, 13k, and only 1BB baseball over 2 starts, yet his team manged to loss both games he started. Therefor, Sandy Murphy (SP, Salem) get the node for series hero w/ an equally impressive 17 inning, 3 run (2 earned), 10 hit, 21k, 5bb performance.
Goat: In a series this good, with this much pitching, its impossible to point to a goat for either side. Therefor we've got no goat for either side
Richmond over Sioux Falls (3-0)
Hero: Diego De la Vega (1b, Richmond), in his first postseason trip, Diego helped turn a 4-2 battle into an 11-2 laugher in game 1 w/ an rbi single in richmond's 8 run 8th. He followed that up w/ 2 homers in game 2 along w/ 4 rbi and 3 runs, then followed that up w/ another run in game 3 while collecting 2 more hits. Overall, Diego was 6-13 with 6 runs, 2 homers, 5 rbi and a walk.
Goat: Ryan Carr (3b Sioux Falls) Ryan has been the hero in these parts on more than one occasion, so perhaps he was due, but an 0-12 showing at the top of Suix Falls lineup lead to an early departure for the Northern division champs. Rumors have already surfaced about teams hoping to catch Carr on the cheap in his contract year next year hoping he can rebound from this terrible showing.
Dover over Florida (3-2)
Hero: Another series that went the distance, highlighted by Dover's 7 9th inning runs in the last 2 games. While the 4 runs in game 4 left them 1 run short of Florida's own 4 spot in the bottom of the 8th, the 3 runs in game 5 wrapped up the series and moves Dover into round 2. Al Romero (1b, Dover) 9th inning shot in game 5, following Scott Tankersly game tying 2 run shot will be remembered for seasons to come. It was Al's 2nd homer of the series and 5th rbi.
Goat: Cody McPherson (bullpen coach, Florida) Lets see, they guy charged w/ keeping the pen in order, watched his bullpen give up 13 runs thruout the series. Cody hasn't even waited for the season to end, and has cleared out his coaching locker in anticipation of hoping to catch on w/ somebody's minor league system next season. At 63, this may well be his last rodeo, unfortunatly for Florida, they let him one 1 too many broncos this season.
