Black Sox: 2006 NRV MSBL Champions !!!!

It was a beautiful day for a baseball game. We won 15-7. I think everyone on our team is a bit shocked that we were able to rip through the playoffs and win the championship. This is the third year of the league and we have played for the championship twice. The first year there were only 4 teams, we won the first playoff game, lost the championship game. The second year the league had 6 teams and we lost in the first round. This year the league had 8 teams, and we won 3 straight games to take home the championship. After finishing the regular season in 5th place I don't think many of us believed we would be able to make it to the championship, much less win it. But, like most single elimination tournaments, anything can and will happen.

There were three key events that won today's game:

1. We scored 11 runs in the first inning, giving our pitcher tons of breathing room, after that we just had to play good defense and hang on.

2. We have played this team so many times we know how to play each batter defensively. Most importantly, after the butt kicking they handed us the last game of the year, we knew not to pitch to their fourth batter. He is an amazing hitter, it's better to just walk him and pitch to their other batters. This kid was the Babe Ruth of our league.

3. Ricky Smith. Ricky has been on our team all three years. He is a good player but had a really rough year at the plate. Ricky was put into the game in the 5th inning to play left field. In the 7th inning we were in a tight spot. The Warriors had managed to load the bases with two outs when Babe Ruth steps into the box. I was thinking to myself, let's just walk him (scoring a run) and pitch to the next guy. Our pitcher threw a pitch about 3 feet outside and Gerald (his real name) drives it deep to left field. I start yelling "Back! Back! You got room! Back! Back!". Ricky is running hard straight back. I'm sure he's thinking he will hit the fence at any point but snags it 2 feet in front of the wall. We all scream in excitement, understanding that Ricky just saved the game. If that ball isn't caught, 3 runs score and all of a sudden our win is in doubt. Our pitcher gave Ricky a big hug in the middle of the field as we trot off to the dugout.

I'm sure our team wasn't the best team in the league. We were probably the 4th best team talent-wise. But, the most talented team doesn't always win the big game. Our team is a good example of why we actually play the games. String together several hits, play good defense, and don't make mistakes and anything is possible.

Great job Black Sox! Just think, every time we take the field next year we take it as "Defending League Champions". ;)