The Helena Vigilantes laid claim to being the Jersey League's most successful franchise with its second World Series title in Season 13. Helena also won in Season 10 and now has 3 NL pennants. Helena joins the Las Vegas Dealers and the Houston We Have a Problem with 2 World Series titles each. The New York Irish have three titles, but owner buffaloqb left the league after season 4 and the team has languished since.
Helena was the best Jersey League team from start to finish in season 13, winning 108 games, the most in the league. Helena then swept Tacoma 3-0 and beat Tuscon in 7 games to reach The Fall Classic. In the World Series, Helena bested the Iowa City Independence in 6 games. The Independence, the #5 AL seed, upset both the #1 seeded Las Vegas Dealers and the #2 seeded Rochester Orphans to bring home their second AL pennant.
Congratulations joemac55 and the Helena Vigilantes!
Showing posts with label Season wrapup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Season wrapup. Show all posts
Monday, July 26, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Beagles Take Series in 7; Buffalo Rocks
The City of Buffalo held its first championship parade in decades as the Buffalo Beagles, led by psanders84, finally broke through to the World Series in his 8th year of ownership. Buffalo won in an oustanding 7-game World Series over the heavily favored Las Vegas Dealers.
Buffalo surged to a 2-0 at Las Vegas' home field, quickly putting the Dealers behind the 8-ball after demolishing the Dealers bullpen in both games. Game 1 was tied 3-3 in the 11th when the Beagles errupted for 5 runs in the top of the 11th. The Dealers held a 5-2 lead going into the 9th of game 2, but the Beagles put 7 runs up in that inning, led by a 3-run bomb from Erick Webster. The losses stunned Dealers fans, who had enjoyed a solid bullpen all year, which operated on a successful "closer by committee" that converted 51 of 62 save chances. Game 3 was in Buffalo, and the Beagles never got to the Dealers' bullpen, as Rigo Franco tossed a 3-hit complete game shutout. Buffalo stormed back to win game 4 by a 10-3 score, as the Dealers defense had a sloppy game and Beagles took advantage behind leadoff hitter Ed Boyd who had 3 hits and 3 RBIs.
With the Dealers' backs up against the wall they won game 5 by a 4-3 score, as 8 strong innings by Lance Ward and a 3-run homer by Rick Lennon were enough to survive a 2 run homer off the Dealers bullpen in the 9th. Las Vegas took game 6 by a 5-0 score behind 6 shutout innings from Max White and (finally) some solid work out of the bullpen. The entire season then came down to game 7 in Las Vegas, with the Dealers sending Rigo Franco to the mound, hoping for a repeat of his game 3 shutout and Buffalo sending Randy Matthews for his 3rd World Series start. The day belonged to Matthews, who turned in 6 innings of one run ball, while Franco gave up a 3-run bomb by future free agent 2B Julio Mercedes in the 5th inning. That HR was the game winner, and Buffalo won game 7 by a 4-1 score, ending the Dealers' dream.
Buffalo's Julio Mercedes was named World Series MVP, an honor sure to drive up his free agent value. Mercedes was 10 for 29 during the World Series, scored 6 runs, hit 3 HRs, knocked in 11 runs, was 3 for 3 in SBs, and reportedly visited every strip joint, casino floor, and buffet table in Vegas during the long World Series.
The NL playoffs featured two big upsets, as top seeded Helena was denied its 3rd NL penant after being upset in 5 games by 5th seeded Tuscon, while 2nd seeded Tacoma was knocked off by Buffalo in 4 games. Buffalo then took down Tuscon in a 6 game NLCS.
The AL playoffs played more according to expectations, as the #1 seed Dealers stormed to their 5th AL penant in 7 years without a single playoff loss. #2 seeded Syracuse made it to the ALCS, only to be blown out in 4 straight by Las Vegas.
In the minors, Vancouver took the AAA World Series, Las Vegas won in AA, Boise won in HiA, LoA, and the Rookie League. Either Boise has some ringers down there or they are a year or two a way from dominating the Jersey League!
Congratulations to Buffalo and to everyone else: Wait til Next Year!
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| World Series MVP |
| Julio Mercedes |
Buffalo surged to a 2-0 at Las Vegas' home field, quickly putting the Dealers behind the 8-ball after demolishing the Dealers bullpen in both games. Game 1 was tied 3-3 in the 11th when the Beagles errupted for 5 runs in the top of the 11th. The Dealers held a 5-2 lead going into the 9th of game 2, but the Beagles put 7 runs up in that inning, led by a 3-run bomb from Erick Webster. The losses stunned Dealers fans, who had enjoyed a solid bullpen all year, which operated on a successful "closer by committee" that converted 51 of 62 save chances. Game 3 was in Buffalo, and the Beagles never got to the Dealers' bullpen, as Rigo Franco tossed a 3-hit complete game shutout. Buffalo stormed back to win game 4 by a 10-3 score, as the Dealers defense had a sloppy game and Beagles took advantage behind leadoff hitter Ed Boyd who had 3 hits and 3 RBIs.
With the Dealers' backs up against the wall they won game 5 by a 4-3 score, as 8 strong innings by Lance Ward and a 3-run homer by Rick Lennon were enough to survive a 2 run homer off the Dealers bullpen in the 9th. Las Vegas took game 6 by a 5-0 score behind 6 shutout innings from Max White and (finally) some solid work out of the bullpen. The entire season then came down to game 7 in Las Vegas, with the Dealers sending Rigo Franco to the mound, hoping for a repeat of his game 3 shutout and Buffalo sending Randy Matthews for his 3rd World Series start. The day belonged to Matthews, who turned in 6 innings of one run ball, while Franco gave up a 3-run bomb by future free agent 2B Julio Mercedes in the 5th inning. That HR was the game winner, and Buffalo won game 7 by a 4-1 score, ending the Dealers' dream.
Buffalo's Julio Mercedes was named World Series MVP, an honor sure to drive up his free agent value. Mercedes was 10 for 29 during the World Series, scored 6 runs, hit 3 HRs, knocked in 11 runs, was 3 for 3 in SBs, and reportedly visited every strip joint, casino floor, and buffet table in Vegas during the long World Series.
The NL playoffs featured two big upsets, as top seeded Helena was denied its 3rd NL penant after being upset in 5 games by 5th seeded Tuscon, while 2nd seeded Tacoma was knocked off by Buffalo in 4 games. Buffalo then took down Tuscon in a 6 game NLCS.
The AL playoffs played more according to expectations, as the #1 seed Dealers stormed to their 5th AL penant in 7 years without a single playoff loss. #2 seeded Syracuse made it to the ALCS, only to be blown out in 4 straight by Las Vegas.
In the minors, Vancouver took the AAA World Series, Las Vegas won in AA, Boise won in HiA, LoA, and the Rookie League. Either Boise has some ringers down there or they are a year or two a way from dominating the Jersey League!
Congratulations to Buffalo and to everyone else: Wait til Next Year!
Monday, January 11, 2010
Iowa Takes First World Series in Classic 7-game Battle
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| Jersey League Season 11 World Series MVP |
| Spike Chase |
Iowa City--Across the State of Iowa last night, the normally staid fans of the Iowa City Independence celebrated until deep into the night (nearly 11pm!) after their hometown boys won an epic 7 game series over the NL Champion Tacoma Sasquatches. Iowans then rose early this morning for the team's parade, which started at 7am (right after cow milking). The parade passed through several quiet single-family neighborhoods as well as corn fields, barns, and the co-op before reaching the climactic "Canyon of Heroes" cluster of grain silos. Fans were quiet and polite, and in deep contrast to previous championship celebrations in Las Vegas and Helena, no unruly behavior was observed and no arrests made. The county sherrif did report that after several incidents of weight issues aboard floats and one unfortunate stage collapse, parade organizers requested that no more than 4 of the local high school's cheerleaders climb aboard any parade floats or stages at one time. Players were also requested by team officials to cease throwing Twinkies off the float, after several local women stormed a float, nearly toppling it. Local merchants reported that the new "World Champs" hats sponsored by the local seed company are flying off the shelves.
Iowa, of the tough AL West, battled to make the playoffs, starting the season a cold 3-8, enduring a miserable 8-game losing streak in May, and fought back to earn a wild card. In the first round of the playoffs the New York Mutuals took Iowa to 5 games, which forced Spike Chase to return and seal the victory as the game 5 starter. In round 2, Iowa defeated the Las Vegas Dealers, to end their quest for a 4th straight AL title, largely by holding AL MVP and Rookie of the Year Quilvio Castro to only 1 extra-base hit in 5 games. After that, it was anti-climatic when Iowa City blew out Syracuse Comics in 4 games to reach their first Fall Classic.
In the NL, Tacoma also had to battle in the NL's toughest division--the West--to earn a #5 seed. In the playoffs Tacoma first swept the Santa Fe Lobos before taking the #1 seeded Tucson Hohokams down in 5 games. In the NLCS, underdog Tacoma faced the #2 seed and defending World Series champion Helena Vigilantes and co-NL MVP Sam McCallum. Tacoma won the series in just 5 games, with the clincher behind a masterful 3-hit complete game shut out by Jorge Renteria, which sent Tacoma to the World Series for the second time in three years.
As for the World Series, it all hinged on if Spike Chase was on the mound or not and if the bullpen could hold a lead when Chase headed in for his traditional early shower. The brilliant young Chase is virtually unhittable but due to a rare muscle condition stemming from a venereal disease Chase picked up in cheap hotel in the the low minors back in season 6, he typically runs out of gas at 75 or 80 pitches. In the World Series Chase started games 1, 4, and 7 and went 3-0, allowing an incredible zero runs in 17 innings and just 8 hits, while striking out 21 and walking just 3, making him a unanimous World Series MVP. Iowa won just 1 game without Chase, a crucial 5-4 win in game 2, behind a strong pitching effort by Hipolito Padilla and a HR from Ricardo Valdes. Valdes was key all post-season, with 4 HRs and a .780 OPS. For Tacoma, the key pitching performance came from Roger Washington who made his only World Series appearance in game 6, when his 8 innings of 1-run ball forced game 7. Props also go to big 1B Earl Bradley, who put up a 1.102 playoff OPS and filled the DH spot nicely in the World Series.
Congrats carlspenard and Iowa City! Everyone else--better luck next year!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
The New Champs: Helena Vigilantes
The Helena Vigilantes won the Jersey League Season 10 title by defeating two-time defending champion Las Vegas Dealers in 6 games. With that, the Jersey League's most successful regular season team for the last four years finally won a championship. As it became clear that the Vigilantes long history of playoff futility had ended, the streets of downtown Helena became packed with drunken revelers, a scene that grew progressively wilder until the Montana National Guard restored order at about 5 AM. Early reports out of Helena include several overturned police cars, dozens of fist fights resulting in hospital visits, reports of celebratory shots fired into the air, damage at numerous downtown taverns, and a death caused by an ill-advised moose-tipping attempt.
Helena clearly put the best team on the field this year, winning 108 games, then cruising through the playoffs, first with a sweep of perennial power Houston We Have a Problem in the first round and then a 4-1 victory over the mighty Tucson Hohokams in the NLCS. The World Series was a rematch of the classic 7 game World Series in Season 8 vs. Las Vegas. Vegas also cruised through the playoffs, with a 3-1 victory over the Iowa City Independence and a 4 game sweep of the Vancouver Asteroids.
Helena struck first in the series, winning game 1 by a 6-4 score behind two HRs from Felix Jones. Game 2 also went to Helena, by a score of 7-2, as Pablo Campos pitched 8 innings to pick up the win. The series looked nearly over as Helena won again in game 3, by a 12-7 score, as Fernando Fernandez hit two bombs.
In game 4, some of Helena's old demons returned, as the bullpen couldn't hold a lead, and the Dealers errupted for 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th to win 8-5. Frank Woo had the big hit, a 3-run home run that put the Dealers in the lead and delayed the party in Helena. Game 5 also went to the Dealers, 7-3, behind a strong pitching performance by Lance Ward, and many in Helena began to worry of a collapse as the Vigilantes couldn't put the Dealers away. They finally did it in game 6 however, winning a tight 7-6 game. Helena took a big lead in the clincher with a Moises Colome grand slam. The Dealers then fought back with 4 runs in the 8th, but Gerald Mantei restored order to collect the save and end the series.
Fernando Fernandez was named the World Series MVP after going 9 for 22 with 5 HRs and 10 RBIs, along with flawless defensive play in centerfield.
Congrats joemac on a big win!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Dealers Take Second Straight
Las Vegas will be wilder than usual tonight as the The Las Vegas Dealers took their 2nd straight Jersey League title, defeating the NL champion Tacoma Sasquatches in 6 games. The Dealers' win was sealed by a fantastic start in game 6 from Kennie Butler, who threw 6 shutout innings on the way to a 4-0 victory. Bronson Irabu had the big hit, a two run bomb in the first inning.
The Dealers trailed the series 1-0 and 2-1 after its heralded starting rotation, including AL Cy Young winner Max White, faltered early. Christopher Lockhart was Sasquatches hero in game 1 with a 2 run bomb in the 10th inning. Jackson MacRae had the big hits for Tacoma in Game 3. Game 4 was a turning point though, as the Dealers tied the series with a 4-3 win in 10 innings. After that, it was all Vegas, as the AL champs won 10-4 in game 5 behind Curtis Graham's 2 HRs and 4-0 in the finale.
Curtis Graham was named the MVP, he went 9-22 with 7 R, 10 RBI, and hit 4 HRs, a double, and a triple, and stole a base.
Some commentators attributed the Dealers victory to taking advantage of Tacoma catcher Jackson MacRae's weak arm. The Dealers stole 12 of 13 bases in the Series, including several key swipes.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Houston takes Title; Dealers & Vigilantes Fold
The Houston We Have a Problem continued the National League's dominance with its second Jersey League World Series win. The win marks the 7th straight World Series win for the National League.
Houston was led by the amazing Zach Burks who pitched a remarkable 52 playoff innings, earning a 3-2 playoff record and a 2.42 ERA. Other key contributors were Jamie Hujimoto who was 6 for 6 in playoff saves, 5 time MVP winner Bernie Gongora, who hit 8 playoff HRs, and Warren Matheny who added 22 RBI.
Meanwhile, the two #1 seeds, the Las Vegas Dealers and the Helena Vigilantes failed to get past the first round. The Dealers, after putting up a remarkable 106 win season, were pounded in 3 straight by the Austin Texans. The mighty Texan offense put up a combined 47 runs in 6 playoff games against Seattle and Las Vegas, the two best pitching staffs (by ERA) in the AL. It all went for naught though, as the Texans were whooped in 4 straight by the Syracuse Comics in the ALCS.
Meanwhile, in the NL, the #1 seeded Vigilantes, who had put together a masterful 109 win regular season, disappointed their fans by falling in a tight 5 game series to the Minnesota PeaceFrog. Houston eliminated Tacoma in 5 games, then went on to best defending champ Tacoma Sasquatches in 5 games, before sending Minnesota home in a 6 game NLCS.
Congrats to the champion Houston squad and mgrieshop!
Houston was led by the amazing Zach Burks who pitched a remarkable 52 playoff innings, earning a 3-2 playoff record and a 2.42 ERA. Other key contributors were Jamie Hujimoto who was 6 for 6 in playoff saves, 5 time MVP winner Bernie Gongora, who hit 8 playoff HRs, and Warren Matheny who added 22 RBI.
Meanwhile, the two #1 seeds, the Las Vegas Dealers and the Helena Vigilantes failed to get past the first round. The Dealers, after putting up a remarkable 106 win season, were pounded in 3 straight by the Austin Texans. The mighty Texan offense put up a combined 47 runs in 6 playoff games against Seattle and Las Vegas, the two best pitching staffs (by ERA) in the AL. It all went for naught though, as the Texans were whooped in 4 straight by the Syracuse Comics in the ALCS.
Meanwhile, in the NL, the #1 seeded Vigilantes, who had put together a masterful 109 win regular season, disappointed their fans by falling in a tight 5 game series to the Minnesota PeaceFrog. Houston eliminated Tacoma in 5 games, then went on to best defending champ Tacoma Sasquatches in 5 games, before sending Minnesota home in a 6 game NLCS.
Congrats to the champion Houston squad and mgrieshop!
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