For the first time in their 13 year existance, the Bashers can call themselves the cream of the crop. On Saturday, June 24 the Bashers completed their run to the title by winning both the winner's bracket final and the championship game for the Arlington County Men's "D" League.
WINNER'S BRACKET FINAL
BASHERS 14 LAST CALL 10
Under cloudy skies the second-seeded Bashers and fourth-place Last Call met to determine the first team in Saturday's championship game. Last Call opened the scoring by putting up 3 runs in the top of the first. However, the Bashers responded in kind, and then some. The Bashers sent 16 batters to the plate in their half of the first, scoring 11 times.
Last Call refused to go away quietly, and posted a five-run second to cut the Basher advantage to 3. With the Bashers unable to score in the bottom of the second, Last Call had an opportunity to retake control of the game. However, "Old" Danny was able to retire them in order in the top of the third, a half-inning that marked a turning point in the contest. The Bashers would use their half of the third to put up an additional 3 runs, including a tape-measure solo home run by Tab, to extend the lead to 14-8. While the Bashers would not score again, Last Call was able to only score two more runs themselves as the Bashers defense stepped up.
"Old" Danny was able to get his second win of the tournament, as the Bashers advanced to the championship game for the second consecutive season.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
BASHERS 18 MCG CAPITAL 12
The tournament came down to the top two teams during the season, with the top seeded MCG Capital (14-2-2) taking on the second seed, the Bashers (14-3-1). The Bashers had to make due without several regular players, including Marty, Adam, Miguel and, for most of the contest, Dave. However, they were able to find a way to finish the season on a positive note anyways.
For the first time in the tournament, the Bashers batted first. They made the most out of their opportunity. The Bashers put up five runs in the opening frame, including Chris' three-run home run to left. The Basher defense held MCG to a single run in the bottom of the first to lead 5-1 after 1.
In the second, both teams added a single run to the scoresheet. The Bashers put up another in the top of the third to take a 7-2 lead. However, MCG's bats got rolling in the third. They added four to their tally and cut the deficit to a single run. In the top of the fourth, Glen hit a long home run down the right-field line to extend the Basher advantage to 9-6. However, MCG continued their hot hitting into their half of the fifth, taking their first and only lead of the contest. The regular season champions put up 6 runs in the inning, taking a 12-9 advantage after 4.
It is often said that championship teams know how to respond to adversity. Facing their first deficit deep in a ballgame in the entire tournament, the Bashers came out in the top of the fifth and did what needed to be done to take home their first title. The Bashers sent all 10 hitters to the plate, scoring 6 times to retake control of the game and a 15-12 advantage. In the bottom of the fifth the Basher defense came through and posted a three-up, three-down frame. The Bashers looked for insurance in the top of the sixth, and they got it with a three-run frame and an 18-12 lead.
As the Bashers took the field for the bottom of sixth, they stood just three outs away from glory. The first pitch was roped towards third, but Allan was there and came up with a sensational grab on the line-drive. The second batter hit a bullet towards short, but Chris was able to snag it out of the air for the second out of the inning. With a 2-1 count, the third batter for MCG hit a looping short fly ball to left. He expected to reach base and keep the game alive. However, Glen made a great break on the ball, reached in front of himself, and made the catch to give the Bashers the 2006 championship.
The win went to "Old" Danny, who ended up 3-0 in the tournament.
The Bashers ended the season with a final record 18-3-1. Pictures from the playoffs will be posted shortly.
The Bashers plan to return to the field in the fall. Rumors continue to swirl as to the level at which the team will compete. No comment was available after the game from any of the Bashers.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Bashers Advance to Finals of Winners Bracket
The Bashers swept their two games on Wednesday night, and the second seed has advanced to the finals of the winners bracket on Saturday.
GAME 1: BASHERS 16, CHICO'S BAIL BONDS 13
The Bashers and Chico's Bail Bonds battled for a third consecutive game in the opening round of the Arlington County Wednesday D League championship. After 23-4 and 14-1 losses the previous week, Chico's came out of the gate hitting, putting up a 3-0 lead before the Bashers came to bat. However, the home side batted through in the bottom of the first, sparked my Matt's monsterous 3-run home run to left-field. In all, the Bashers put up 6 in their half of the first.
However, the lead was short-lived as Chico's continued to hit starter "Old" Danny hard. A four-run second made the score 7-6 in favor of the visitors after an inning and a half. Adam led off the bottom on the second with a triple, and was brought home on Dave's sacrifice fly to make it 7-7 after two frames.
After a scoreless third, Chico's put up 2 in the top of fourth. However, the Bashers would put themselves out in front for good in the bottom of the frame, putting up 4 runs. Chico's would cut the lead to 11-10 after 4 1/2 innings, but in the bottom of the fifth the Bashers sent 9 to the plate, scored 5 runs and led 16-10. A Chico's 6th inning rally fell 3 runs short, and the Bashers pulled off the 16-13 win.
"Old" Danny pulled out the win with four innings of strong pitching, while Miguel came on for the two-inning save.
GAME 2: BASHERS 11 SPARTANS 10
On the back of their upset of third-seeded Badabing, the sixth-seeded Spartans looked for a second consecutive upset over the Bashers. The Spartans had history on their side, being the only team this season to beat a full-strength Basher team. Things look good for the lower seed, as they put up five runs in their half of the first inning. The Bashers managed two in their half of the first on a two-run home run by Chris. The score remained 5-2 until the bottom of the third, when the Bashers lived up to their name. The team sent 10 to the plate in the inning, scoring seven times to gain the 9-5 advantage. The Spartans cut it to 9-8 in the top of the fourth, but the Bashers would extend the lead by two in the bottom on the inning. The Bashers would extend the lead to 12-8 in their half of the fifth. The Spartans had one more rally left, and scored three in the top of the 6th to cut the Bashers advantage to a single run. However, time ran out on the upset-minded Spartans, as the Bashers' at bat in the bottom of the sixth used up the remaining two minutes on the clock.
Miguel picked up the win for the Bashers, going the distance.
UPCOMING GAMES
The Bashers (2-0) remain the highest seeded team left in the tournament, thanks to fourth-seeded Last Call's (2-0) upset of the top seed, MCG Capital (1-1). Last Call and the Bashers will battle in the finals of the winner's bracket at 11am on Saturday at Quincy Park. The winner advances to the championship game at 2pm, while the loser will play in the loser bracket's final at 1pm. The team that emerges unscathed from the winner's bracket will have to be beaten twice in the championship round in order to lose the title, but will only need to win once.
GAME 1: BASHERS 16, CHICO'S BAIL BONDS 13
The Bashers and Chico's Bail Bonds battled for a third consecutive game in the opening round of the Arlington County Wednesday D League championship. After 23-4 and 14-1 losses the previous week, Chico's came out of the gate hitting, putting up a 3-0 lead before the Bashers came to bat. However, the home side batted through in the bottom of the first, sparked my Matt's monsterous 3-run home run to left-field. In all, the Bashers put up 6 in their half of the first.
However, the lead was short-lived as Chico's continued to hit starter "Old" Danny hard. A four-run second made the score 7-6 in favor of the visitors after an inning and a half. Adam led off the bottom on the second with a triple, and was brought home on Dave's sacrifice fly to make it 7-7 after two frames.
After a scoreless third, Chico's put up 2 in the top of fourth. However, the Bashers would put themselves out in front for good in the bottom of the frame, putting up 4 runs. Chico's would cut the lead to 11-10 after 4 1/2 innings, but in the bottom of the fifth the Bashers sent 9 to the plate, scored 5 runs and led 16-10. A Chico's 6th inning rally fell 3 runs short, and the Bashers pulled off the 16-13 win.
"Old" Danny pulled out the win with four innings of strong pitching, while Miguel came on for the two-inning save.
GAME 2: BASHERS 11 SPARTANS 10
On the back of their upset of third-seeded Badabing, the sixth-seeded Spartans looked for a second consecutive upset over the Bashers. The Spartans had history on their side, being the only team this season to beat a full-strength Basher team. Things look good for the lower seed, as they put up five runs in their half of the first inning. The Bashers managed two in their half of the first on a two-run home run by Chris. The score remained 5-2 until the bottom of the third, when the Bashers lived up to their name. The team sent 10 to the plate in the inning, scoring seven times to gain the 9-5 advantage. The Spartans cut it to 9-8 in the top of the fourth, but the Bashers would extend the lead by two in the bottom on the inning. The Bashers would extend the lead to 12-8 in their half of the fifth. The Spartans had one more rally left, and scored three in the top of the 6th to cut the Bashers advantage to a single run. However, time ran out on the upset-minded Spartans, as the Bashers' at bat in the bottom of the sixth used up the remaining two minutes on the clock.
Miguel picked up the win for the Bashers, going the distance.
UPCOMING GAMES
The Bashers (2-0) remain the highest seeded team left in the tournament, thanks to fourth-seeded Last Call's (2-0) upset of the top seed, MCG Capital (1-1). Last Call and the Bashers will battle in the finals of the winner's bracket at 11am on Saturday at Quincy Park. The winner advances to the championship game at 2pm, while the loser will play in the loser bracket's final at 1pm. The team that emerges unscathed from the winner's bracket will have to be beaten twice in the championship round in order to lose the title, but will only need to win once.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Bashers History
The Spring 2005 Bashers were the first team to take home a trophy since the 1998 squad, placing 2nd in both the regular season and tournament. They took Consolidated Construction to the wall, beating them soundly in the first of two elimination games, but falling short in the second. The Bashers, playing in their fourth game of the day, were unable to finish off Consolidated, who were playing for the second time.
A HISTORY LESSON...
Back in the days before we were a mens' league team (powerhouse, sez Kevin S) we were a co-ed team in Alexandria. We always went 6-1 in the fall, and instead of setting the league record for walks, our fearful leader was leading the league in...ejections!
Here are a couple of shots from those (best) forgotten days...
Where on earth did you get those stylin' shoes and WHITE (?) socks? And why is the catcher playing second base? And whose hair is that?
What, he swung? Why? Where is the ball? What is happening here?
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