REVENGE IS A DISH BEST SERVED COLD

Although we were reigning champs, Network came into the championship game huge underdogs to the more dominant, powerful So Cal Tuzos. The Tuzos lost a heartbreaker to Network last year, 13-12 in 11 innings, after having Network on the ropes in the 9th 11-8. The loss sat with the Tuzos all year and they were determined to come back to dethrone the grittier, guttier Network squad.

The Tuzos ran through the competition in pool play and the playoffs. Network, besides an opening game loss to the Tuzos 11-1, did the same. The scene was set for a rematch and quite possibly the game of the century. I mean, could this game really be any better than last year?

Well, it came close.

Network came out like it did last year scoring early and often. The pitcher who had shut down Network in Game One found out why it's tough to keep a team down twice. Due to my pulled quad in the 7th inning of the semis, I was forced to move myself out of the lead-off spot and down to the bottom of the line-up. But Jim Davidson took over the role and immediately lead the charge. Hits by JD, T-Loe, Army and Mike Veronesi brought Craig Kasin up to the plate with one out. KC got a clutch hit to score two and then Chad Brown followed with another clutch hit. That brought me to the plate. I hit a high chopper to first that Ibarra, their monster first baseman, tried to turn two. He threw the ball into centerfield and Network scored 4 in the first.

Network continued the scoring in the 2nd and 3rd to take a 6-1 lead. DJ Austin was holding the Tuzos in check, a team that averaged over 16 runs a game in the tournament. The defense was solid and our emotions were running high. We continued the onslaught and although the Tuzos scored three more runs in the next two innings we matched them run for run. Going into the 5th we had the Tuzos right where we wanted them, up 9-4, pitching depleted on their end and emotionless.

After Ibarra hit a double in the gap, and the Tuzos knocked him in, Network got up in the 6th to try and match their runs scored for the third consecutive inning. Not only did we match their runs we quadrupled them. A double by Army and a bases loaded single by Mike Veronesi, along with a Chad Brown single through the right side and Network was up by 8. We had the game in the bag. We had our best pitcher on the mound, in a groove, and our emotions were running high.

After a two out double with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 7th, the Tuzos were primed for a comeback. They had reduced the score to 13-8 and had 2nd and 3rd with their best hitter Ibarra coming to the plate.

Terry Loe and I have this pickoff play that we've worked on all year (SUCCESSFULLY, I might add) and tried to execute in the World Series. It never worked once because the word got out that T-Loe had the best catcher's arm in the tournament and all week team's were careful not to stray too far from their bases.....Except this time. As the runner turned and lowered his head to stroll back to the base, T-Loe fired a strike to me and we picked our first guy off. What a timely out and it couldn't have happened at a better time in the game. This was Network's time. Or was it?

Usually when you hear of a comeback of more than 5 runs in any game your first instinct is to think a team unraveled and made a handful of errors. If there ever was a game where the natural elements came into play, this might have been it. It's one thing when fielder's have to deal with high skies and sunlight in their eyes. It's a completely different thing when it happens to your pitcher(s).

As DJ came out for the 8th inning the sun sneaked through an opening in the stadium and was shining right into the pitcher's eyes. DJ had so much trouble seeing the plate he actually had to walk 8 feet in front of the mound to receive the ball back from the pitcher. After three hits and two walks, along with two outs, DJ left the game with Network up 13-11. I decided to bring in the guy who had done it not only every game but every BIG game in Network and the Atlanta Bulls' history, Mikey Moore. All we needed was one out to get out of this pickle. It would prove to be the hardest out to get.

After walking three and giving up two hits including the tying run, the next batter hit a gapper with the bases loaded and Network was behind for the first time all game, 16-13. Robert Wasmund came in and got the last out after giving up a run scoring single to make it 17-13.

I wish I could write that Network duplicated their miracle comeback from last year but that was not the case. Network went quietly in the 9th and the Tuzos had their first World Championship. Network would have to settle for being the 2nd best team in the country.

Although we were all dejected, we realized that we lost to the better team today. We played error-less baseball and still lost. Our batting line-up hammered the ball and we still lost. Our pitcher's gave us their all, and we still lost. When you do all that, you can not feel dejected. That's life. Sometimes things don't always work out the way you want it to. It was our time last year, and it was the Tuzos time this year. The one thing that was joked about in the reward ceremony was that the series was tied 1-1 now and that we both had to come back next year and settle who's best once and for all.

Thank you all for your kind words and support. And as the Brooklyn Dodger's used to say, "Wait until next year!"

Rick