Lead Story - 7/21/2022 SEASON 4 POST SEASON - DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF SERIES Scott Cooper of the Riverdale Jaspers was named MVP for the Divisional Playoff Series.
NORTH METRO CONFERENCE
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(#1) Corona Black Katz vs. (#4) Riverdale Jaspers
(Best of 5)
(Riverdale wins series, 3 - 1)
Game 1 - Corona Black Katz 5, Riverdale Jaspers 2
Game 2 - Riverdale Jaspers 4, Corona Black Katz 3
Game 3 - Riverdale Jaspers 3, Corona Black Katz 1
Game 4 - Riverdale Jaspers 7, Corona Black Katz 2
SERIES PREVIEW: Corona enters this series with the best record in league at 67 - 39. Plus they bested the Riverdale Jaspers in their regular season series, 8 games to none. Corona boasts one of the best lineups with three of their players: Scott Leius, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays each having 85 RBI's on the season. They also have a good starting pitching staff lead by Aaron Sele and Frank Castillo and a strong bullpen anchored by closer, Rollie Fingers. The Riverdale Jaspers looked like they were left for dead in the first half of the season with a record of 19 - 34. However, they turned things around in the second half going 36- 17 to earn the second wildcard spot in the North Metro Conference. Starting pitcher, Pete Harnisch who had a terrible first half of the season rebounded in the second half to go 8 - 1 during that stretch. If the Jaspers are going have a chance to win the Divisional Playoff Series against Corona, they will need to rely heavily on their starting pitching and bullpen anchored by Jim Poole and Dick Radatz as well timely hitting from Carl Yastrzemski and Barry Bonds. VEGAS LINE: Corona over Riverdale in a sweep, 3 - 0.
GAME 1 (CORONA, QUEENS) - With the game tied at 2 - 2 going into the bottom of the seventh, The Black Katz scored three runs on a three run homerun by Hank Aaron off of Jaspers pitcher, Pete Harnisch to take Game 1 by the score of 5 - 2. Aaon Sele ended up with a no decision for Corona going six and two thirds innings, allowing six hits on two runs (both earned), walking four and striking out four. The Black Katz bullpen clamped down on the Jaspers hitters going the final two and a third innings allowing only one hit. Pete Harnisch ended up with the loss for Riverdale going six and a third innings, allowing seven hits on five runs (all earned), walking three and striking out five batters. Mike Macfarlane went 3 for 4 for the Jaspers with a double and a run scored. Jaspers manager, Billy Martin was quoted during the post game news conference as saying ,"I thought we hung in tough with the Black Katz tonight until the bottom of the seventh. We know Corona is a great team and they owned us during the regular season. But we're in the post season now and things can change. We'll shake the monkey off our back tonight after a good night rest and come out refreshed for Game 2 tomorrow."
GAME 2 (CORONA, QUEENS) - With the Corona Black Katz leading most of the game 3 - 0, the Riverdale Jaspers rallied for two runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth, to stun Corona, 4 - 3 and tie the series at one game a piece. Scott Leius went yard twice off of Jaspers starter, Trevor Wilson to drive in all three runs for Corona. Riverdale started their comeback in the top of the eighth, with two outs already in the inning, Dick Groat singled followed by a double by Travis Fryman to drive home Groat to make it 3 - 1. Mark Lemke then came on as a pinch hitter for Jody Reed and laced a double down the right field line off of Black Jatz starter, Ben McDonald to cut the lead down, 3 - 2. Then In the top of the ninth inning, with Rollie Fingers on in relief of McDonald and in a save opportunity situation, with the bases loaded and one out, Scott Cooper whacked a double to deep left center field scoring Kenny Lofton and Barry Bonds to give the Jaspers a 4 - 3 lead. Dick Radatz pitched the final three innings of the game for the Jaspers to earn the win, retiring the side in order in the bottom of the ninth. The series moves to Riverdale now for Games 3 and 4.
GAME 3 (RIVERDALE, MANHATTAN) - The Corona Black Katz were limited to one run on three hits in their 3- 1 loss to the Riverdale Jaspers. Mark Langston was superb for the Jaspers going eight and a third innings allowing two hits on one run (earned), walking none and striking out five. Rod Nichols suffered the loss for Corona, going five plus innings allowing six hits on two runs (Both earned), walking two and striking out three. The Jaspers got timely hits from Mike Macfarlane, Scott Cooper and Jody Reed. Riverdale had chances to score early in the game in both the first and second innings. Kenny Lofton of the Jaspers reached on a fielder's choice when Jose Vizcaino was forced out at second base. Then with Carl Yastrzemski at the plate, Lofton stole second base. Lofton though got a little too greedy and tried to steal third base as well but was gunned down on a laser throw from Corona's rookie catcher, Tony Eusebio to third baseman, Scott Leius. Yastrzemski struck out to end the inning. Then in the bottom of the second with one out both Mike Macfarlane and Scott Cooper hit back to back singles to put runners on first and third. But Black Katz starting pitcher, Rod Nichols buckled down and induced a ground out from Dick Groat and a pop out from Travis Fryman to escape the scoring threat. It wasn't until the bottom of the fourth inning with Corona leading 1 - 0, that the Jaspers hitters got things going. Barry Bonds lead off the inning with a walk and then with Macfarlane up at the plate stole second. Macfarlane then scorched a double down the left field line to bring home Bonds for the Jaspers first run and tie the game, 1 - 1. Nichols then threw a wild pitch with Scott Cooper up next to move Macfarlane over to third. Cooper then hit a single into left field to score Macfarlane and give Riverdale a 2 - 1 lead. However, Nichols escaped further trouble by getting Groat to ground out, Fryman to fly out tot center and Jody Reed to pop out to first to end the inning. Riverdale would add a run in the bottom of the seventh to pad their lead to 3- 1. Corona did try to threaten to score in the top of the ninth when with one out, manager Billy Martin made a pitching change to bring in reliever Todd Jones with Willie Mays coming to the plate. Mays hit a double off of Jones to bring the tying run to bat up next in the form of Hank Aaron. Jones however got both Aaron and Leius to ground out to end the threat and secure the save for the Jaspers giving them a 2 -1 series lead over the Black Katz with Corona now on the brink of elimination from the playoffs if Riverdale should win tomorrow.
GAME 4 (RIVERDALE, MANHATTAN) - Back to back homers from Carl Yastrzemski and Barry Bonds powered a Jaspers four run first inning enroute to a series clinching victory over the Corona Black Katz, 7 - 2. Kirk Rueter went seven innings for the Jaspers, allowing four hits on no runs, walking one and striking out two for the win. The Jaspers struck early against starting pitcher Frank Castillo in the bottom of the first inning. Jose Vizcaino led off the inning with a sharp single to left field followed by a walk to Kenny Lofton. Then with an 0 - 2 count to Carl Yastrzemski, Castillo threw a slider down and in which Yastrzemski crushed to the upper deck in left field for a three run homer giving the Jaspers a 3- 0 lead. Barry Bonds was up next and was also behind on an 0 - 2 count and crushed a fastball to straight away center field for a solo homerun, making it 4 - 0 in favor of Riverdale. The Jaspers would tack on another run in the bottom of the third when Kenny Lofton smoked a double down the right field line followed by a sharp single to center by Yastrzemski. Castillo then got Bonds to ground out to first, but Lofton was able to easily score from third to give the Jaspers a 5 - 0 lead. Black Katz manager, Gil Hodges then came out of the dugout to make a pitching change bringing in reliever Mark Wohlers. Wohlers got Mike Macfarlane and Scott Cooper to pop out to end the inning. The Jaspers would add two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on a Jose Vizcaino solo homerun and an RBI double from Cooper. Luis Aquino would come on in relief of Rueter in the top of the eighth and gave up a pair of solo homeruns to Willie Mays and Moises Alou to make it a 7 - 2 game to put the Street Meat on the board but that would be all the runs they would score. Aquino would come back out in the ninth and set down the side in order to secure the Jaspers win and the team advancing to the North Metro Conference Championship. Scott Cooper of the Riverdale Jaspers was named MVP for the Divisional Playoff Series going 5 for 15 (.333 BA), with two doubles and four RBI's. He had the game winning RBI in Game 2 and 3 of the playoff series. Cooper had this to say, " I am honored to be named the Divisional Playoff Series MVP. I look back at Game 2 as the turning point of this playoff series. I mean the Corona Black Katz are very tough team...they had the best record in the league for a reason. And they had all the momentum in the series winning Game 1 and leading most of Game 2, 3 - 0 until we made that big comeback to win the game. We were literally down to our last wo outs and looking at a 2 - 0 series deficit and I was up at the plate against Rollie Fingers, one of the best closers in the game at the moment. To get that key hit to turn the game around for us was huge. We built on that momentum from there." General manager, Michael Jordan of the Corona Black Katz was quoted as saying, "We really had a great season this year winning the Queens Division title and all. t sucks and it's going to sting us for a bit that we came up short in this series. My hat's off to Riverdale, their a really good team had they had a tremendous comeback in the second half of the season after a not so good first half. I think we'll take a few days to let this one sink in and then get our mindset onto next season. With the owners voting, it looks like free agent bidding will be finally implemented in this league. So we'll
(#2) Upper West Side Mets vs. (#3) Morningside Heights Street Meat
(Best of 5)
(Morningside Heights wins series, 3 - 1)
Game 1 - Upper West Side Mets 3, Morningside Heights Street Meat 2
Game 2 - Morningside Heights Street Meat 9, Upper West Side Mets 0
Game 3 - Morningside Heights Street Meat 8, Upper West Side Mets 2
Game 4 - Morningside Heights Street Meat 9, Upper West Side Mets 4
SERIES PREVIEW: A rivalry that has spanned all four seasons of NYC Metro Baseball League begins a new chapter when the Upper West Side Mets take on the Morningside Heights Street Meat in the Divisional Playoff Series. The Mets won the regular season series from the Street Meat, 8 games to 6, but this is now the post season and anything can happen. The Mets won their second Bronx/Manhattan division title, making their third playoff appearance after a disappointing season last year. The Mets are led by Stan Musial who had another good season batting .298 with 21 homeruns and 87 RBI's. The main strength of the Upper West Side Mets however, is their starting pitching staff. Chris Nabholz had a breakout season going 15 - 4 with a 3.90 ERA in 145.1 innings pitched with 88 strikeouts. Roger Clemens, who won this season's North Metro Conference Cy Young Award, amid stiff competition, went 13 -7 on the season with a 2.88 ERA with 181 innings pitched and 127 strikeouts. their bullpen also boast rookie relief pitcher, Bill Risley who in his first season notched 33 saves as the closer of the team. The Morningside Heights Street Meat offense is led by Geronimo Pena who had a .311 batting average with 27 homeruns and 73 RBI's. Also, Frank Robinson batted .265 on the season with 24 homeruns and 63 RBI's. Dave Otto had a stellar season for the Street Meat with a record of 12 - 5, 3.69 ERA, 139 innings pitched and striking out 78. Both teams boast a good offensive lineup but the edge has to be given to the Upper West Side Mets in he pitching department. VEGAS LINE: These teams go the distance but Upper West Side wins the series, 3 - 2.
GAME 1 (UPPER WEST SIDE, MANHATTAN) - The Upper West Side Mets fended off a late scoring threat from the Morningside Heights Street Meat to take Game 1 of the Divisional Playoff Series, 3 - 2. Roger Clemens pitched eight solid innings for the Mets to get credited with the win. Bill Risley came on the top of the ninth in a save situation and with one out gave up back to back singles to Albert Belle and Orlando Merced before settling down to get the final two outs to secure the win for the Mets. The Street Meat opened up the scoring in the top of the third with a Paul O'Neill double and a single by Geronimo Pena to take the early 1 - 0 lead. Upper West Side would answer back in the bottom of the fourth with singles from Tom Pagnozzi, Buddy Bell and Robby Thompson to load up the bases. Starting pitcher, Arthur Rhodes would then walk Darrin Jackson to bring home Pagnozzi tying the game, 1 - 1. The Mets would score two more in the bottom of the fifth inning off of Rhodes to take the lead, 3 - 1. The Street Meat would get a run back in the top of the eighth on a solo homerun from O'Neill. After the game, Mets manager, Mickey Calloway was quoted as saying, "Hard fought game by our boys tonight. We knew the Street Meat were going to come out firing on all cylinders, but Clemens pitched a solid game for us this evening. Hopefully we carry that momentum into tomorrow's game as well."
GAME 2 (UPPER WEST SIDE, MANHATTAN) - Mark Gardiner went the distance for the Street Meat earning a complete game and securing a 9 -0 romp over the Upper West Side Mets in Game 2 of the Divisional Playoff Series to tie the series at 1 -1. Gardiner's line on the night was nine innings pitched, allowing only three hits on no runs while striking out seven. It was scoreless until the top of the fourth inning when with one out, Frank Robinson blasted a pitch for a homerun off of Mets Starter Ken Hill giving Morningside Heights a 1 - 0 lead. It stayed that way till the top of the eighth, with one out Mike Schimdt reached base on error by Mets second basemen Robby Thompson. Robinson came up to the plate next and rocketed another homerun off of Hill extending the Street Meat's lead to 3 - 0. The Street Meat would then blast the door off the hinges in top of the ninth scoring six times for the 9 - 0 victory. Geronimo Pena, Albert Belle and Paul O'Neill all homered in that inning. After the game, Street Meat's manager, Yogi Berra said, "Nice way for us to regroup and come out fighting after losing a close game in the opening game last night. Our bats definitely woke up tonight! Mark was spectacular for us tonight. That was definitely one of the best pitching performances I have seen out of him to date."
GAME 3 (MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS, MANHATTAN) - For the second straight game, the Street Meat's offense was on fire leading Morningside Heights to a victory over Upper West Side, 8 - 2 to take a 2 games to 1 series lead. Jose Guzman got the "W" for Morningside Heights pitching eight a nd a third innings, allowing five hits on two runs (both earned), giving up four walks and striking out two. Guzman got out of scoring threats from the Mets in both the first and second innings before in the bottom of the second, the Street Meat would score two runs to lead, 2 - 0. Morningside Heights would score an additional three runs in the third inning, highlighted by a solo homerun from Orlando Merced. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Street Meat would load the bases with one out when Andy Stankiewicz hit a sharp single between third and short, bringing home Robinson and Pena to extend the Street Meat's lead to 7 - 0. The Mets would score two runs of their own in the top of the fifth on a Stan Musial single cutting the Street Meat's lead to 7 - 2. Chris Nabholz suffered the loss for the Mets, going five innings pitched, allowing eight hits, two homeruns, seven runs (three of them earned runs), walking two and striking out four. The Street Meat can go for the series win tomorrow night if they can get another victory over the Mets.
GAME 4 (MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS, MANHATTAN) - Morningside Heights got to starting Mets pitcher Ken Holtzman early, knocking him out of the game after two plus innings enroute to a series clinching victory over the Upper West Side Mets, 9 - 4. With the victory, the Morningside Heights Street now advance to the North Metro Conference Championship against the Riverdale Jaspers. The Mets started the scoring first in the top of the first inning with one out, Fred McGriff launched a towering moonshot to deep left center field field for a solo homerun putting the Mets up 1 - 0. The Street Meat fired right back in the bottom half of the inning off of Holtzman. With two out, Frank Robinson and Geronimo Pena both doubled to tie the game, 1 -1. Orlando Merced then hit a hard single to center field to give the Street Meat the lead, 2 - 1. The Mets, however would come back in the top of the third on a two run homerun by McGriff, his second of the game, reclaiming the lead at 3 - 2. Morningside Heights would come back in the bottom of the third after a Mike Schmidt bloop single to left field, Ken Griffey Jr. hit a monstrous two run homerun to straight away center field, giving the lead back to Morningside Heights, 4 - 3. Mets manager, Mickey Calloway would then come out from the dugout to make a pitching change bringing in reliever, Billy Brewer. On the first batter Brewer faced, Frank Robinson laced a 3- 1 pitch down the right field line for a double. Brewer then got Pena to hit a ground ball to second baseman, Robby Thompson for the first out, moving Robinson to third base on the play. Orlando Merced then came upto the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field, allowing Robinson to tag up and score from third giving the Street Meat a 5 - 3 lead. Morningside Heights from there would tack a run in both the fourth and fifth innings as well as two more in the bottom of the eighth to build to a 9 - 4 lead. Tug McGraw came on in relief for street Meat starting pitcher Dave Otto in the top of the eighth. McGraw came on and got the final two outs of the eighth and stayed on to pitch the top of the ninth. In the ninth, Tom Pagnozzi of the Mets led off the inning with a single. The next batter, Buddy Bell drew a walk to put runners on second and first. Gilberto Reyes came up next, pinch hitting for Kevin Young. Reyes ground out for the first out but the runners advanced to second and third. Darrin Jackson was up next and also grounded out but Pagnozzi was able to score from third to make it a 9 -4 Street Meat lead. McGraw then got Jose Valentin to strikeout to end the game and series. Paul O'Neill was named the series MVP. O'Neill went 7 for 14 (.500 BA) with a double, three homeruns and 6 RBI's. Mets manager, Mickey Calloway said, "We knew when it was definite we were going to play the Street Meat in the Divisional Playoff Series, we knew it was going to be a dog fight. There a really good solid team from top to bottom. They played us hard throughout the series. Not to take anything away from our team. I'm proud of them for what they accomplished this year. We captured another division title. Roger (Clemens) was named Cy Young award winner for the conference. We'll lick our wounds, take a few days to reflect and then start thinking about next season." Yogi Berra, manager of the Morningside Heights Street Meat had this to say, "I've said this about several hundred times already...'It ain't over till it's over!' We knew this was not going to be an easy series to win off the bat. I'm proud of our players. They stayed resolute and bounced back after that Game 1 loss. Our pitching staff was superb all four games. Couldn't ask for anything more from them. And our lineup...up and down the batting order contributed...O'Neill, Griffey Jr., Robinson...we got those timely hits when we needed them. We're ready to take on Riverdale in the next round."
SOUTH METRO CONFERENCE
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(#1) Sunset Park Stallions vs. (#4) Oakwood Heights Jokers
(Best of 5)
(Sunset Park wins series, 3 - 2)
Game 1 - Oakwood Heights Jokers 1, Sunset Park Stallions 0
Game 2 - Sunset Park Stallions 9, Oakwood Heights Jokers 8
Game 3 - Sunset Park Stallions 7, Oakwood Heights Jokers 2
Game 4 - Oakwood Heights Jokers 3, Sunset Park Stallions 0
Game 5 - Sunset Park Stallions 6, Oakwood Heights Jokers 4
SERIES PREVIEW: In a highly anticipated matchup, the Sunset Park Stallions take on the Oakwood Heights Jokers. The Jokers took the season series from the Stallions, 5 games to 3. The Sunset Park Stallions will make their fourth straight playoff appearance, winning their third Brooklyn Division title. The Stallions come into the Divisional Playoff Series matchup the best team batting average in the South Metro Conference with a .259 BA. The Stallions offense is led by Rafael Palmeiro who had a .287 batting average with 16 homeruns and 67 RBI's. Cal Ripken had a .248 batting with 13 homeruns and 62 RBI's. Also, Thurman Munson had a .259 batting average with 18 homeruns and 56 RBI's. The Stallions also touted the best ERA as well in the South Metro Conference with a 2.63 team ERA. The starting pitching staff has a good one-two- three combo led by former South Metro Conference Cy Young award winner, Greg Harris with a 14 - 6 record, 3.20 ERA, 174.1 innings pitched and 109 strikeouts. Juan Marichal had a 13 - 5 record with a 3.31 ERA, 171.1 innings pitched and 108 strikeouts. Chris Bosio had a 12 - 4 record on the season with a 4.13 ERA, 144 innings pitched and 93 strikeouts. The bullpen is led a star closer, Jose Melendez with a 2.28 ERA with 25 saves. The Oakwood Heights Jokers make their third playoff appearance earning the second wildcard spot in the conference. Jeff King had a .287 batting average, with 38 homeruns and 94 RBI's. Mickey Mantle had a .311 batting average with 27 homeruns and 90 RBI's. Also, Al Kaline had a .285 batting average on the season with 25 homeruns and 67 RBI's. The starting pitching staff is led by Sam Militello who had a 8 - 7 record with a 3.87 ERA, 153. 2 innings pitched and 85 strikeouts. If their is a chink in the Jokers armor it would be the bullpen who had 14 blown saves on the season. VEGAS LINE: This series can go all the way but Sunset should edge the Oakwood Heights Jokers, 3 - 2.
GAME 1 (SUNSET PARK, BROOKLYN) - In a highly anticipated pitcher's duel to open up Game 1 of the Divisional Playoff Series, the Oakwood Heights Jokers edged out the Sunset Park Stallions, 1 - 0. Sam Militello got the win in his start for the Oakwood Heights Jokers going eight and third innings pitched, allowing one hit on no runs, walking three and striking out four. Jeff Gray came on in relief for Militello in the ninth for the save. Greg Harris ended up with the loss for the Stallions going eight and two thirds innings pitched, allowing four hits on one run (earned), walking none and striking out six. The only run of the game came in the top of the fourth inning, when with two out, Jeff King launched a homerun to straight away center field off of Harris to give the Jokers a 1 - 0 lead which they would hang on to win the game. The Stallions would threaten to score in the bottom of the ninth when with one out, Richie Ashburn torched a double down the left field line off of Militello. Jokers manager, Dave Roberts came out of the dugout and made the pitching change to bring in Jeff Gray. Gray then on a full count to Rafael Palmeiro walked in the put the winning run on first with Thurman Munson coming to the plate. Gray got Munson to ground into a game ending double play to seal the victory for Oakwood Heights. Manager, Dave Roberts of the Jokers said this after the game, "What a great game pitched by two of the best pitchers in the league! It was a classic pitcher's duel with little margin for error. Militello was fantastic for us today, limiting Sunset Park to one hit...that was huge." Sunset Park Stallions manager, Lou Budreau was quoted with saying, "This game was electric from the first pitch of the game till the last out. Greg (Harris) was on his game this evening. If it weren't for that one pitch I think Harris wanted to take back from King when he launched that homerun, We might have been going into extra innings or had a different outcome in the game. We had a couple of scoring chances in the score that we squandered. We'll march back out there tomorrow to try to even up the series."
GAME 2 (SUNSET PARK, BROOKLYN) - If Game 1 of the series was a pitcher's duel, then Game 2 was a slugfest. In a game which saw the lead change four times, The Sunset Stallions won in dramatic fashion over the Oakwood Heights Jokers, 9 - 8 to even the series at 1- 1. The Stallions struck first in this game scoring three runs in the bottom of the second inning off of Jokers starting pitcher, Scott Erickson. Dick Allen led off the bottom half of the inning with a double off the left field center wall. Erickson then got the next two outs before giving up a Paul Molitor for the Stallions first run of the game. Devon White was up next and drew a walk from Erickson. Junior Felix was up next and singled up the middle to bring home Molitor to give the Stallions a 2 - 0 lead. Then with Richie Ashburn up at the plate, Erickson threw a wild pitch which allowed Devon White to score from third to make 3 - 0 in favor of Sunset Park.
(#2) St. George Yankees vs. (#3) Coney Island Cyclones
(Best of 5)
(Coney Island wins series, 3 - 0)
Game 1 - Coney Island Cyclones 3, St. George Yankees 2
Game 2 - Coney Island Cyclones 1, St. George Yankees 0
Game 3 - Coney Island Cyclones 7, St. George Yankees 6 |
