The Illowa APBA League learned an important lesson. Never count out the underdog.
Last Saturday, the City Boys defeated the Country Gents in a hard fought, 12-inning battle by the score of 6-5. The deciding factor was a walk-off homerun by Evan Gattis of the Global Glaciers who was named All-Star Game MVP.
The City Boys’ catchers ballot received a bit of attention. Both divisions felt the hitting stats left something to desired. Evan Gattis was second in the voting based on his .186 batting average and 10 homeruns.
That’s in the past now. The City Boys’ managers all see the value in Mr. Gattis’ bat now. As for the Country Gents, Don Smith grumbled, “We lost to a Catcher-6 with a 15-9??”
Mookie Betts of the Northside Hitmen contributed a two-run homerun and Mike Conforto of the Des Plaines Dragons hit a pinch hit two-run homerun.
The Country Gents put together a three-run rally in the fourth inning behind back-to-back doubles by Molly Putts Maurauders Freddie Freeman and JD Martinez of the Twin City Thunderchickens plus a homerun by Ozzie Albies of the Moline Upperdeckers. Upperdecker JT Realmuto contributed a solo shot and Javier Baez helped with an rbi double.
A well played game! Congratulations to the City Boys Managers!
While we were all together in Downers Grove, Illinois, we got some playing in. I did the math… I was in Downers Grove from 12 noon on Friday till 9pm Saturday. If my math is right, that’s roughly 33 hours. In that time,
- I played 29 of my regular season Twin City Thunderchicken games.
- I helped my buddy Chuck by pinch managing his Hitmen for six games
- We had our annual league meeting
- Of course, we played the aforementioned All-Star Game
That does not include getting a few hours sleep and the sustenance needed to keep rolling (read: a Fuddrucker’s burger).
Our league meeting had several proposals and I won’t go over all of of them. Two proposals passed.
- In a five-game series, the game 1 pitcher is allowed to pitch game 5.
- Any uncarded player (according to league rules) may use his APBA card if he receives one.
However, the biggest discussion was over the designated hitter. Some backstory: since I have been in the league going back to the 1980s, it has been tradition to end the IAL league meeting by voting on the DH. Up until the last few years, it has been mostly a ritual we go through. Lately though, it has become real. Like the DH or not, it seems that it is where baseball is headed.
There was some pretty intense discussion about the topic and when it came down to it, the proposal failed by just one vote.
More IAL All-Star weekend photos here!
Unofficial results: it looks like the Thunderchickens went 18-12 and hit the crap outta the ball. More on stats when they are official. Are we playoff bound??
