Congrats to Commish Mike Bunch and his Green Rock Bombers, the newest Illowa APBA League champion!
It was an interesting and exciting postseason for the IAL. The home crowd was not happy. In all ten games of the playoffs, the visiting team won. The visitor winning streak continued for three more games of the World Series.
Don Smith (right) handled Chuck Lucas nicely in the playoffs 3-2
As for the World Series itself, I think it was a consensus that it was the most exciting in years. Don Smith had defeated Chuck Lucas’ Northside Hitmen in the playoffs while Bunch was victorious over his son, Marcus Bunch. Both playoffs had gone the full 5 games.
Don Smith’s Molly Putts Marauders vs Mike Bunch’s Green Rock Bombers
But the World Series! I was ready for bed a full hour and a half before the Series was over but couldn’t tear myself away from it. Bunch’s Bombers got a nice 3-1 series lead but Smith’s Molly Putts Marauders weren’t giving up. Game 5 was one we all watched quite intently.
Late in the game with a tie score, the Bombers had Josh Hamilton on second and Buster Posey up. Posey had apparently been beating up on the Putts. Don turns his head to rest of us and says, “Watch this.” As Mike rolls the dice, Don says, “Walk him” before the dice turn up.
If you guessed the roll was 66, you would be right. I’m sure Don was just as surprised as anyone.
In the extras, Don’s Molly Putts scored and Mike’s Bombers tied it back up twice. The Putts eventually won it in the 14th inning.
Mike Bunch eventually got his due in Game 6. Molly Putts managed to make it exciting down the wire but in the end, the Bombers won the series 4-2. Adam Dunn was named World Series MVP.
Congrats Mike!!!
The 2012 rookies patiently wait for the draft the next day
In other news, it was good to see our friend John Heneghan again. John who lives by where we had our convention, stopped by Friday. He came with a neat gift, too. He gave me an authentic 1966 True’s Baseball Yearbook. Now that was awesome. We all had fun looking at that. And yes, it had an APBA ad (and Strato ad, too).
Good to see you John!
