Barry Boevers takes TCABT-XV with 1998 Braves

Jim Fraasch sends in this recap of the Neil Ess Memorial Twin Cities APBA Baseball Tournament-XV

XV is history and we crowned a “1^st-time” champ!!

Congratulations to Barry Boevers and his 1998 Atlanta Braves!!!  One of our most often entered teams, but only Barry was able to make his way through the labyrinth of TCABT with this powerful Braves squad … Barry’s Braves vs Jim Fraasch’s “the team that time forgot” 1901 Pittsburgh Pirates.  Game 1 went to the Braves 6-4 walk-off style with a 2-run, 2-out homer by Lockhart (Kevin Cluff’s HS sophomore football teammate) in the bottom of the 9th. 

The 1901 Pirates countered with a commanding 4-1 win in game 2.  Game 3, for “All the marbles” … the 2 teams matched each other with 2 runs each in the 4^th and 1 run each in the 6^th.  3-3 game entering the bottom of the 11^th , (and all pitchers a straight “D” at this point) with the Braves batting in the home half.  After the Pirates turned a double-play, clearing the bases, Ryan Klesko hits a majestic (“majestic” maybe according to Barry anyway LOL), solo, walk-off homer to end the tourney, a 4-3 win for the Braves and a TCABT Championship for Barry Boevers!! 

This was Barry and Jim’s 2^nd time reaching the finals (Barry in TCABT-XI and Jim in TCABT-I), and both looking for their first TCABT crown.  Barry, I can honestly say, that was the most fun I have had rolling dice in this tourney.  Barry’s path to the championship with the 1998 Braves, included winning the Dick Allen division with a 6-3 record and a +9 run diff, good for the #5 seed in bracket play.  He managed to take out the #4 seed, 1936 Yankees (Leroy Arnoldi) 2 games to 1, and then a quick 2-game sweep of Dave Norlander’s #8 seed, 1911 Athletics in the semi-final round.  Jim (1901 Pirates) entered bracket play as a #6 seed wild-card, a 5-4 division record with a +10 run diff.  Jim’s first round opponent was from his division, 1^st-time TCABT entrant, Dave Dawn from Monroe, MI and his division winning, #3 seed 2014 Dodgers, 6-3 with a +17 run diff.  Dave Dawn and Jim had just met in a 3-game series to finish out division play, with Dave winning that division series, 2 games to 1, and with it, the division crown.  However, the 1901 Pirates, after losing game 1 of the bracket play series 3-1 and trailing game 2, 2-0 in the bottom of the 8^th inning, the Pirates rallied to win game 2 with a walk-off suicide squeeze by Kitty Bransfield in the bottom of the 9^th.  Breathing new life, the Pirates then finished off the division rival 2014 Dodgers with a 7-3 win in game 3.  A footnote, the quarterfinals saw all 4 “worse” seeds win-out to advance to the semi-finals.

Standings and Bracket Results. 

The tournament summary will arrive later this week via the tournament blog site.  Please send to me, any pictures, highlights and/or lowlights you might want published.  Thanks to everyone for making this another great tourney for the Twin Cities!!! 

TCABT-XVI is scheduled for Saturday, October 2^nd, as we are back to the first Saturday of October (and April, hopefully, from here on out).  Our goal for TCABT-XVI will be getting back to 30+ teams.

Congratulations to newcomer Barry!