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reds1 · 03-16-2018, 09:01 PM

Fort Richmond Generals (103-51) vs. Wolseley Unions (89-65)
Season Matchup: 8-7 in favour of Fort Richmond

Fort Richmond: Runs scored – 797 (1st in West); runs allowed – 576 (1st)
Wolseley: Runs scored – 782 (2nd); runs allowed – 653 (2nd)

The Generals and Unions square off for the Western League Pennant for the second consecutive season. Fort Richmond reached the playoffs for the first-time last season and went 8-2 in the playoffs, defeating the Unions and Braeland City Monarchs to capture the United Cup. The Generals return to defend their title against a Wolseley team that is making its third straight appearance in the playoffs – all as the wild card. In 1946-47, Wolseley overpowered the first place Kingston Pelicans for the Pennant before falling to the Queensland Eagles in 6 games in the United Cup Series. After last year’s drubbing by Fort Richmond, Wolseley is hoping the third time will be the charm.

But the Unions will be facing a powerhouse Generals club that won 103 games this year and went 76-39 facing right-handed pitching. Wolseley’s four starters are all right-handed. On the other hand, Wolseley enters the Western League Pennant series riding a 13-game winning streak.

Both clubs are missing key players. Fort Richmond is without the services of 24-year old RHP Shinzo Okamoto (2-1, 2.65 ERA, 1.18 WHIP), who suffered a season ending injury back in November. But the Generals barely missed him and still boast four front-line starters in RHP Nicky Sherlock (18-7, 2.48 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 165 ERA+, 6.9 WAR), RHP Ch’ang-chieh Li (19-8, 3.25 ERA, 1.24 WHIP), LHP Mo Goldstraw (19-8, 3.16 ERA, 1.33 WHIP) and LHP Joy-shan Liu (17-6, 3.61 ERA, 1.40 WHIP).

Wolseley has been without their starting rightfielder, 31-year old Ramón Tavira (.331/.387/.483, 2 HR, 23 RBI, 15 BB, 1.7 WAR) since late November, due to a fractured hip. But in early January, the Unions acquired 26-year old Howard Ockey (.282/.404/.413, 7 HR, 43 RBI, 50 BB, 5 SB, 2.0 WAR) from the Balmoral Giants for a backup catcher. Ockey saw limited playing time in Balmoral, but the former 10th overall pick from 1944-45 has blossomed as a full-time player, both at the plate and in the field.

With Fort Richmond determined to defend their title and Wolseley just as determined to finally break through and win their first championship while their window of opportunity is still open, the battle for the Western League Pennant should be a dandy. Play ball!

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Game 1 – March 29

24,476 fans cram into Generals Stadium for the first game – in the smallest ballpark in the United Leagues. There is not a cloud in the sky and its hot (80F). But a fresh breeze is blowing in from right (19mph), providing some relief.

Fort Richmond’s No. 1 starter gets the ball – 26-year old RHP Nicky Sherlock. Wolseley sends out their No. 1 starter: 31-year old RHP Hun Park (15-11, 3.04 ERA, 1.18 WHIP).

Top of the 1st:
SP Sherlock gets two quick outs on just two pitches to start the game, but then runs into trouble. LF Carlton Hawking battles to a full-count before eking out an infield single. C Éric Denis promptly doubles, bringing home Hawking for the game’s first run.
SS George Kimpton doubles into left field to score Denis while RF Howard Ockey singles home Kimpton, putting the Unions up by three.
Wolseley 3 – Fort Richmond 0

Bottom of the 3rd:
The Generals load the bases when Nicky Sherlock bangs out a first-pitch single with one out, LF Jake Stunt singles and 3B Belarmino Barbedo battles SP Park for a walk on 9 pitches. CF Dylan Moyne hits into a 3-1 ground out, scoring Sherlock and getting Fort Richmond on the board.
Wolseley 3 – Fort Richmond 1

Top of the 4th:
Howard Ockey leads off with a single, then reaches 3B on back-to-back ground outs. Hun Park connects on a first-pitch single, scoring Ockey for the Unions’ fourth run.
Wolseley 4 – Fort Richmond 1

Bottom of the 4th:
C Louis Wearne leads off with a double. With one out and SS Nobuyoshi Yoshida at bat, a balk is called on SP Park, advancing Wearne to 3B. Park is clearly unsettled as a result, as Yoshida immediately singles home Wearne.
The next batter is 2B Oscar Agnolutto, who takes Park’s 1-0 pitch and parks it 356 ft. into the leftfield bleachers for two-run home run, tying up the game.
Wolseley 4 – Fort Richmond 4

Bottom of the 6th:
Louis Wearne leads off with a 4-pitch walk. With one out, Wearne reaches 2B on a Nobuyoshi Yoshida ground out. An intentional walk to Oscar Agnolutto and a first-pitch single by Nicky Sherlock load the bases. Jake Stunt reaches 1B on an error (E6), scoring Wearne for the go-ahead run.
Belarmino Barbedo then slaps a single past 2B into shallow centerfield, scoring both Agnolutto and Sherlock. That ends Park’s day after 109 pitches. RP Brent Nix takes over and gets out of the inning two batters later.

After taking over from Nicky Sherlock to start the 8th inning, RP José Rodríguez gives up a single to CF Owen Claridge to start the top of the 9th. But Rodríguez gets 2B Make-Make Kamaka, Carlton Hawking and Éric Denis to all fly out to end the game. Fort Richmond comes back to take Game 1.
FINAL: Wolseley 4 – Fort Richmond 7

Player of the Game: 2B Oscar Agnolutto goes 1 for 3, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB.

Nicky Sherlock goes 7.0 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K on 114 PI (1-0, 5.14 ERA).

For Wolseley:

Hun Park came unnerved in the 4th inning and couldn’t recover. He went 5.2 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 4 BB, 4 K on 109 PI (0-1, 11.12 ERA).

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Game 2 – March 30

The two teams reconvene at Generals Stadium for Game 2. Despite the fast start, Wolseley was unable hold onto the lead and now looks to try and get the split before heading home. It has cooled off a bit since the day before (67F) and the wind has died down, blowing in from centerfield (11mph). Fort Richmond is now undefeated in six straight home playoff games since last season, when they first qualified for playoff action. 24,314 fans take in the action to see if the Generals can make it 7 straight home wins.

No. 2 starter 26-year old RHP Ch’ang-chieh Li takes the hill for Fort Richmond, while Wolseley’s No. 2 pitcher, 29-year old RHP Kai Tosh (16-9, 3.15 ERA, 1.24 WHIP) makes his fifth career playoff start.

Bottom of the 2nd:
Nobuyoshi Yoshida connects on a two-out solo home run, sending it just over the leftfield wall, 340 ft. into the bleachers for the first run of the game.
Wolseley 0 – Fort Richmond 1

Bottom of the 8th:
Through the top of the 8th inning, SP Li has surrendered only 3 hits while P Tosh has a 1-hitter going (Yoshida’s home run). But that ends when Tosh gives up a one-out double to Nobuyoshi Yoshida. After Yoshida advances to 3B on a ground out, Li singles him home for the Generals’ second run. Jake Stunt then steps up to the plate and crushes Tosh’s second offering 430 ft. into the left-centerfield bleachers for a two-run home run.

In the bottom of the 9th, Li gets the Unions to go down in order on two ground outs and an infield pop fly. Fort Richmond shuts down the Unions to take a 2 games-to-none lead and remain undefeated at home in the playoffs.
FINAL: Wolseley 0 – Fort Richmond 4

Player of the Game: SP Ch’ang-chieh Li pitched an outstanding game and gets the shutout, going 9.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K on 103 PI (1-0, 0.00 ERA).

For Wolseley:

Kai Tosh was effective as well, but couldn’t get the offense to back him up. His line was 8.0 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 2 HR on 99 PI (0-1, 4.50 ERA).

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Game 3 – April 1

Playoff action returns to Satchel Paige Park on the west coast for the third consecutive year. 30,262 fans jam the stadium hoping to give their Unions a boost and get back into the Series. Partly clouds skies, 72F weather with just a light breeze (11 mph) blowing in from right set the stage.

25-year old RHP Jeremy Albury (13-5, 3.47 ERA, 1.26 WHIP), who missed nearly two months of the regular season to a hamstring strain gets the start, while No. 2 starter, 27-year old LHP Mo Goldstraw, takes the mound for Fort Richmond.

Bottom of the 1st:
In Game 4 of last year’s Western League Pennant, Mo Goldstraw got roughed up in his lone start against the Wolseley Unions. This year, the Unions got to him again. And they didn’t waste any time.

1B Evan Houk leads the game off with a single. 2B Make-Make Kamaka follows him with a single, putting runners on the corners. LF Carlton Hawking singles, scoring Houk for the game’s first run. Two pitches later, C Éric Denis singles in Kamaka.
SS George Kimpton draws a full-count walk to load the bases. 3B Wen-huan Liu also draws a full-count walk, forcing in Hawking for the Unions’ third run.
Next up is RF Howard Ockey who doubles home Denis and Kimpton. CF Owen Claridge then drives a single into shallow leftfield, scoring Liu.
After Jeremy Albury lays down a sac bunt to put runners on 2B and 3B, Evan Houk, who started the inning, singles home Ockey and Claridge for the innings’ 7th and 8th runs.
A beleaguered Mo Goldstraw finally gets Make-Make Kamaka and Carlton Hawking to both fly out to centerfield, mercifully bringing the inning to an end. In all, the Unions scored 8 runs on 7 hits.
Fort Richmond 0 – Wolseley 8

Bottom of the 3rd:
The Unions continue to pound away at Goldstraw with singles. Evan Houk smacks a first-pitch single with one out. Make-Make Kamaka follows him with a single once again, putting runners on the corners. Carlton Hawking steps up and hits a single into left-centerfield, scoring Houk. Éric Denis smacks the fourth consecutive single of the inning, sending it into shallow centerfield, allowing Kamaka to come home for Wolseley’s 10th run.
Fort Richmond 0 – Wolseley 10

Bottom of the 4th:
Owen Claridge leads off with a double, then reaches 3B on a Jeremy Albury sac bunt. On an 0-1 pitch to Evan Houk, Claridge attempts to steal home but is thrown out at the plate. Evan Houk eventually grounds out to 3B to end the inning.
Fort Richmond 0 – Wolseley 10

Bottom of the 5th:
RP Jamie Wigley comes on in relief of Mo Goldstraw to start the inning. Make-Make Kamaka leads off and reaches 1B on an error (E2). Carlton Hawking then hits his third single of the game, putting runners on the corners. After Éric Denis flies out to rightfield, Hawking is picked off at 1B. But George Kimpton comes through with the Unions 13th single of the game, scoring Kamaka.

In the top of the 9th inning, Jeremy Albury finishes things off by inducing a 6-3 ground out from Louis Wearne and two pop flies by Clint Jones and Nobuyoshi Yoshida. Wolseley wins their first game of the series in convincing fashion. After being blanked by Fort Richmond in Game 3, the Unions return the favor.
FINAL: Fort Richmond 0 – Wolseley 11

Player of the Game: SP Jeremy Albury did pretty good in pitching the shutout. He went 9.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 K on 110 PI. (1-0, 0.00 ERA).

Lead-off hitter Evan Houk went 4 for 5, 2 RBI, 2 R.

Carlton Hawking went 3 for 4, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB.

For Fort Richmond:

Mo Goldstraw puts in one of the worst pitching lines in recent memory. He went just 4.0 IP, 13 H, 10 ER, 4 BB, 1 K on 105 PI (0-1, 22.50 ERA). His game score was -7. In Game 4 of last year’s Western Pennant Series, his game score was +1 (4.1 IP, 8 H, 9 ER, 10 BB, 0 K, 1 HR on 112 PI (0-1, 18.69 ERA).

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Game 4 – April 2

Wolseley made a big statement in Game 3 to say the least, putting Fort Richmond on notice that they will not be pushed around. The two teams reconvene at Satchel Paige Park in a crucial Game 4 as the Generals look to regain the momentum and take a commanding 3 games-to-one lead, while the Unions aim to even up the series.

30,262 are on hand to witness the battle, under perfect conditions: partly cloudy, 72F, and the wind blowing in from right (11 mph).

No. 4 starter, 30-year RHP Bill Blair (16-9, 3.46 ERA, 1.21 WHIP), who won a United Cup Championship with the Stratford Barons back in 1946-47, makes his first playoff start for Wolseley. Fort Richmond sends their No. 4 starter to the mound – 29-year old LHP Joy-shan Liu.

Bottom of the 2nd:
George Kimpton leads off with a walk, then advances to 3B when Wen-huan Liu singles. Howard Ockey steps up the plate and smacks Liu’s first offering deep into right-centerfield, scoring Kimpton.
Owen Claridge follows him with a single of his own, scoring Liu.
With one out, Evan Houk grounds out to 3B, but Ockey dashes home safely for the Unions’ third run.
Fort Richmond 0 – Wolseley 3

Top of the 4th:
Dylan Moyne leads off and flies out to leftfield. However, LF Carlton Hawking injures himself on the play and is forced out of the game. Lance Dulihanty replaces him in the field. Next up is RF Brandon Robinson, who crushes Blair’s second offering 359 ft. into the rightfield bleachers for a solo home run, putting Fort Richmond on the board.
Fort Richmond 1 – Wolseley 3

Bottom of the 5th:
Make-Make Kamaka and Lance Dulihanty lead off with back-to-back triples, adding to the Unions lead.
Fort Richmond 1 – Wolseley 4

Bottom of the 6th:
Owen Claridge singles with one out. With two out, Claridge steals 2B. That prompts the Generals to intentionally walk lead-off hitter Evan Houk. But Make-Make- Kamaka hits his second triple of the game into right-centerfield, scoring both Claridge and Houk. That ends Liu’s afternoon. He is replaced by RP Jorge Martínez. But CF Lance Dulihanty immediately singles home Kamaka for the Unions 7th run before Martínez gets Éric Denis to fly out to end the inning.
Fort Richmond 1 – Wolseley 7

Bottom of the 7th:
RP John Bullivant takes over from Martínez, but the Unions quickly load the bases with one out. SP Bill Blair helps his cause, smacking a first-pitch double deep into right-centerfield, scoring two more base runners.
Fort Richmond 1 – Wolseley 9

Top of the 8th:
PH Brian Earle leads off with a double and reaches 3B on a Dylan Moyne ground out. Brandon Robinson then reaches on an error (E5), allowing Earle to score Fort Richmond’s second run.
Fort Richmond 2 – Wolseley 9

Top of the 9th:
Fort Richmond starts a rally when Nobuyoshi Yoshida leads off with single, but reaches 2B on a throwing error (E7). Oscar Agnolutto steps up and crushes Bill Blair’s second pitch 376 ft. into the leftfield stands for a two-run homer.
After PH Yoshino Ito flies out, Jake Stunt goes yard on Blair’s first pitch; a solo home run 361 ft. into the leftfield bleachers.
But Blair gets Loïc Billon to strike out looking and induces a 5-3 ground out from Dylan Moyne to shut down the rally and preserve the win. Wolseley knots the series up a 2-games apiece.
FINAL: Fort Richmond 5 – Wolseley 9

Player of the Game: SP Bill Blair goes 9.0 IP with 8 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 3 HR on 130 PI (1-0, 4.00 ERA).

Howard Ockey went 2 for 3, with 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB.

Make-Make- Kamaka went 2 for 5 with 2-3B, 2 RBI, 2 R. His two triples tie a Western League playoff game record.

Carlton Hawking suffered back tightness in the 4th inning. He is considered DtD for the next 6 days.

For Fort Richmond:

Joy-shan Liu was somewhat better than Mo Goldstraw the day before, but that was little comfort for the Generals. He went 5.2 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 5 W, 1 K on 116 PI (0-1, 11.12 ERA).

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Game 5 – April 3

After being held to 4 runs over the course of the first two games, the Wolseley Unions have pounded the vaunted Fort Richmond pitching staff for 20 runs in Games 3 and 4. With the series now tied, the two teams meet in the rubber match, with Wolseley looking to keep its newfound momentum going and Fort Richmond merely looking to get back on track.

But rainy skies are in the forecast. It’s humid (78F) and a breeze is blowing left to right (14 mph). Nevertheless, 30,413 fans defy the elements, looking for their Unions to take an upper hand in the series before it heads back to Fort Richmond.

The Game 1 starters square off again: Wolseley’s RHP Hun Park will face the Generals’ RHP Nicky Sherlock. Sherlock got the win in the first match-up.

Bottom of the 1st:
Owen Claridge leads off with a single, but Make-Make- Kamaka grounds into a 4-6-3 double play. Carlton Hawking follows and draws a walk. Next up is Éric Denis who absolutely crushes Sherlock’s 2-0 offering 421 ft. into the left-centerfield stands for a 2-run home run. It’s the first home run for Wolseley in the series.
Fort Richmond 0 – Wolseley 2

Bottom of the 5th:
Wen-huan Liu leads off with a single but is thrown out when 3B Burt Willey hits into a 6-4 fielder’s choice. A sac bunt by Hun Park and a wild pitch moves Willey over to 3B. Owen Claridge then battles Sherlock for a full-count double, driving in Wolseley’s third run.
Fort Richmond 0 – Wolseley 3

Bottom of the 6th:
Carlton Hawking leads off with a walk, then reaches 3B when Éric Denis bangs out a first pitch single. George Kimpton follows with a double, scoring Hawking and moving Denis up to 3B.
Howard Ockey joins in the fun with a first-pitch single, scoring Denis and moving Kimpton up the 3B. That ends Nicky Sherlock’s day after just 86 pitches. RP Jorge Martínez comes on in relief.
But Wen-huan Liu connects on Martínez’s very first offering, cranking out a 3-run home run, 353 ft. into the delirious leftfield bleachers.
Fort Richmond 0 – Wolseley 8

Top of the 8th:
Hun Park keeps the Generals off the scoreboard until the 8th, when RP Jorge Martínez leads off with a solo home run, 404 ft. into the rightfield stands. It’s his second career home run and first since 1945.
Jake Stunt follows Martínez with a single. With two out, Brandon Robinson singles as well. Stunt takes 2B on the play and tries for 3B, but a throwing error (E7) allows Stunt to score.
Fort Richmond 2 – Wolseley 8

In the bottom of the 8th, the game is delayed for 20 minutes due to rain.

Top of the 9th:
Hun Park starts the inning, but gives up a lead-off solo home run to Clint Jones that sails 347 ft. into the rightfield bleachers.
Nobuyoshi Yoshida follows with a single and advances to 3B on back-to-back ground outs. With one out to go, RP John Palm relieves Park. However, Jake Stunt reaches base safely on an error (E6), allowing Yoshida to score.
But Loïc Billon grounds out to 2B on the very next pitch, ending the game. Wolseley takes the upper hand in the series as it heads back to Fort Richmond.
FINAL: Fort Richmond 4 – Wolseley 8

Player of the Game: 1B Wen-huan Liu went 2-3, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB.

Éric Denis went 2 for 4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R,

Hun Park’s line was 8.2 IP, 11 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 2 HR on 107 PI (1-1, 6.28 ERA).

For Fort Richmond:

Clint Jones went 2-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R.

Nicky Sherlock suffers his first career post-season loss (4-1), going just 5.0 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 4 BB, 0 K, 1 HR on 86 PI (1-1, 8.25 ERA).

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Game 6 – April 5

As the Series returns Generals Stadium nestled in the foothills of the Amethyst Mountains, the Wolseley Unions appear to have figured out the Generals: score early and often enough to withstand any late-inning Fort Richmond comeback. That strategy has helped them take the series lead, but thus far, its been the home team winning every game. Now the Generals are back in familiar territory, where they have yet to lose a playoff game. Fort Richmond looks to keep that streak alive and that their home field advantage gives them the boost they need to win the next two games.

But the heat is on more than just the Generals: the skies are clear and the mid-day sun is searing (84F). Just a slight breeze is blowing in from right (11 mph). 24,107 are on hand to cheer on their club and hope they won’t wilt under the pressure (and heat).

The game sees the same matchup from Game 2: 26-year old RHP Ch’ang-chieh Li for Generals and Wolseley’s 29-year old RHP Kai Tosh.

Top of the 2nd:
Howard Ockey leads off and on the first pitch, reaches 1B safely on an error (E4). Wen-huan Liu then takes Li deep on an 2-0 pitch, 377 ft. into leftfield for a 2-run home run, his second home run of the series.
Wolseley 2 – Fort Richmond 0

Top of the 6th:
Éric Denis leads off with a single. Three pitches later, George Kimpton cranks out the second 2-run home run of the game, 356 ft. into the rightfield bleachers.
Wolseley 4 – Fort Richmond 0

Bottom of the 6th:
Dylan Moyne, who has been strangely quiet in the series, leads off with a single. Its just his 4th hit of the series in 23 AB. With one out, Louis Wearne beats outs the throw to 1B for an infield hit as Moyne moves up to 2B. After reaching 3B on a Clint Jones fly out, Moyne scores on a Nobuyoshi Yoshida first-pitch single.
Wolseley 4 – Fort Richmond 1

Top of the 7th:
Owen Claridge draws a four-pitch walk with one out. With two out, Carlton Hawking singles, putting runners on the corners. Éric Denis follows with a single of his own, scoring Claridge.
SP Ch’ang-chieh Li loads the bases when he walks George Kimpton on four pitches. Next up is Howard Ockey, who singles in both Hawking and Denis, who beats out the throw to home. That ends Li’s afternoon after 119 pitches.

In the bottom of the 9th, PH Brian Earle draws a full-count walk to lead off. Wolseley manager Tony Fay calls to the bullpen for stopper John Palm. Palm gets to work first by getting Jake Stunt to fly out to rightfield on a full count. Belarmino Barbedo also battles Palm to full count, but grounds out to 1B, moving Earle to 2B. But just two pitches later, Dylan Moyne grounds out to 1B, ending the game, the series and Fort Richmond’s hope of repeating. The Generals lose their first home playoff game after going 7-0. The Wolseley Unions outscore the Generals 39-21 in the series and are Western League Pennant champions!
FINAL: Wolseley 7 – Fort Richmond 1

Player of the Game: SP Kai Tosh comes through in the crunch, going 8.0 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K on 137 PI (1-1, 2.81 ERA).

George Kimpton, who earned MVP honours for the series, went 2 for 3, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB.

Éric Denis goes 2 for 4, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB.

Wen-huan Liu went 1 for 3, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB.

For Fort Richmond:

Fort Richmond pitching suddenly went south after Game 2. Ch’ang-chieh Li could only muster 6.2 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 0 K, 2 HR on 119 PI (1-1, 3.45 ERA).

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03-16-2018, 09:01 PM	#425
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,919	Fort Richmond Generals (103-51) vs. Wolseley Unions (89-65) Season Matchup: 8-7 in favour of Fort Richmond Fort Richmond: Runs scored – 797 (1st in West); runs allowed – 576 (1st) Wolseley: Runs scored – 782 (2nd); runs allowed – 653 (2nd) The Generals and Unions square off for the Western League Pennant for the second consecutive season. Fort Richmond reached the playoffs for the first-time last season and went 8-2 in the playoffs, defeating the Unions and Braeland City Monarchs to capture the United Cup. The Generals return to defend their title against a Wolseley team that is making its third straight appearance in the playoffs – all as the wild card. In 1946-47, Wolseley overpowered the first place Kingston Pelicans for the Pennant before falling to the Queensland Eagles in 6 games in the United Cup Series. After last year’s drubbing by Fort Richmond, Wolseley is hoping the third time will be the charm. But the Unions will be facing a powerhouse Generals club that won 103 games this year and went 76-39 facing right-handed pitching. Wolseley’s four starters are all right-handed. On the other hand, Wolseley enters the Western League Pennant series riding a 13-game winning streak. Both clubs are missing key players. Fort Richmond is without the services of 24-year old RHP Shinzo Okamoto (2-1, 2.65 ERA, 1.18 WHIP), who suffered a season ending injury back in November. But the Generals barely missed him and still boast four front-line starters in RHP Nicky Sherlock (18-7, 2.48 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 165 ERA+, 6.9 WAR), RHP Ch’ang-chieh Li (19-8, 3.25 ERA, 1.24 WHIP), LHP Mo Goldstraw (19-8, 3.16 ERA, 1.33 WHIP) and LHP Joy-shan Liu (17-6, 3.61 ERA, 1.40 WHIP). Wolseley has been without their starting rightfielder, 31-year old Ramón Tavira (.331/.387/.483, 2 HR, 23 RBI, 15 BB, 1.7 WAR) since late November, due to a fractured hip. But in early January, the Unions acquired 26-year old Howard Ockey (.282/.404/.413, 7 HR, 43 RBI, 50 BB, 5 SB, 2.0 WAR) from the Balmoral Giants for a backup catcher. Ockey saw limited playing time in Balmoral, but the former 10th overall pick from 1944-45 has blossomed as a full-time player, both at the plate and in the field. With Fort Richmond determined to defend their title and Wolseley just as determined to finally break through and win their first championship while their window of opportunity is still open, the battle for the Western League Pennant should be a dandy. Play ball! -------- Game 1 – March 29 24,476 fans cram into Generals Stadium for the first game – in the smallest ballpark in the United Leagues. There is not a cloud in the sky and its hot (80F). But a fresh breeze is blowing in from right (19mph), providing some relief. Fort Richmond’s No. 1 starter gets the ball – 26-year old RHP Nicky Sherlock. Wolseley sends out their No. 1 starter: 31-year old RHP Hun Park (15-11, 3.04 ERA, 1.18 WHIP). Top of the 1st: SP Sherlock gets two quick outs on just two pitches to start the game, but then runs into trouble. LF Carlton Hawking battles to a full-count before eking out an infield single. C Éric Denis promptly doubles, bringing home Hawking for the game’s first run. SS George Kimpton doubles into left field to score Denis while RF Howard Ockey singles home Kimpton, putting the Unions up by three. Wolseley 3 – Fort Richmond 0 Bottom of the 3rd: The Generals load the bases when Nicky Sherlock bangs out a first-pitch single with one out, LF Jake Stunt singles and 3B Belarmino Barbedo battles SP Park for a walk on 9 pitches. CF Dylan Moyne hits into a 3-1 ground out, scoring Sherlock and getting Fort Richmond on the board. Wolseley 3 – Fort Richmond 1 Top of the 4th: Howard Ockey leads off with a single, then reaches 3B on back-to-back ground outs. Hun Park connects on a first-pitch single, scoring Ockey for the Unions’ fourth run. Wolseley 4 – Fort Richmond 1 Bottom of the 4th: C Louis Wearne leads off with a double. With one out and SS Nobuyoshi Yoshida at bat, a balk is called on SP Park, advancing Wearne to 3B. Park is clearly unsettled as a result, as Yoshida immediately singles home Wearne. The next batter is 2B Oscar Agnolutto, who takes Park’s 1-0 pitch and parks it 356 ft. into the leftfield bleachers for two-run home run, tying up the game. Wolseley 4 – Fort Richmond 4 Bottom of the 6th: Louis Wearne leads off with a 4-pitch walk. With one out, Wearne reaches 2B on a Nobuyoshi Yoshida ground out. An intentional walk to Oscar Agnolutto and a first-pitch single by Nicky Sherlock load the bases. Jake Stunt reaches 1B on an error (E6), scoring Wearne for the go-ahead run. Belarmino Barbedo then slaps a single past 2B into shallow centerfield, scoring both Agnolutto and Sherlock. That ends Park’s day after 109 pitches. RP Brent Nix takes over and gets out of the inning two batters later. After taking over from Nicky Sherlock to start the 8th inning, RP José Rodríguez gives up a single to CF Owen Claridge to start the top of the 9th. But Rodríguez gets 2B Make-Make Kamaka, Carlton Hawking and Éric Denis to all fly out to end the game. Fort Richmond comes back to take Game 1. FINAL: Wolseley 4 – Fort Richmond 7 *Player of the Game:* 2B Oscar Agnolutto goes 1 for 3, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB. Nicky Sherlock goes 7.0 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K on 114 PI (1-0, 5.14 ERA). For Wolseley: Hun Park came unnerved in the 4th inning and couldn’t recover. He went 5.2 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 4 BB, 4 K on 109 PI (0-1, 11.12 ERA). -------- Game 2 – March 30 The two teams reconvene at Generals Stadium for Game 2. Despite the fast start, Wolseley was unable hold onto the lead and now looks to try and get the split before heading home. It has cooled off a bit since the day before (67F) and the wind has died down, blowing in from centerfield (11mph). Fort Richmond is now undefeated in six straight home playoff games since last season, when they first qualified for playoff action. 24,314 fans take in the action to see if the Generals can make it 7 straight home wins. No. 2 starter 26-year old RHP Ch’ang-chieh Li takes the hill for Fort Richmond, while Wolseley’s No. 2 pitcher, 29-year old RHP Kai Tosh (16-9, 3.15 ERA, 1.24 WHIP) makes his fifth career playoff start. Bottom of the 2nd: Nobuyoshi Yoshida connects on a two-out solo home run, sending it just over the leftfield wall, 340 ft. into the bleachers for the first run of the game. Wolseley 0 – Fort Richmond 1 Bottom of the 8th: Through the top of the 8th inning, SP Li has surrendered only 3 hits while P Tosh has a 1-hitter going (Yoshida’s home run). But that ends when Tosh gives up a one-out double to Nobuyoshi Yoshida. After Yoshida advances to 3B on a ground out, Li singles him home for the Generals’ second run. Jake Stunt then steps up to the plate and crushes Tosh’s second offering 430 ft. into the left-centerfield bleachers for a two-run home run. In the bottom of the 9th, Li gets the Unions to go down in order on two ground outs and an infield pop fly. Fort Richmond shuts down the Unions to take a 2 games-to-none lead and remain undefeated at home in the playoffs. FINAL: Wolseley 0 – Fort Richmond 4 *Player of the Game:* SP Ch’ang-chieh Li pitched an outstanding game and gets the shutout, going 9.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K on 103 PI (1-0, 0.00 ERA). For Wolseley: Kai Tosh was effective as well, but couldn’t get the offense to back him up. His line was 8.0 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 2 HR on 99 PI (0-1, 4.50 ERA). -------- Game 3 – April 1 Playoff action returns to Satchel Paige Park on the west coast for the third consecutive year. 30,262 fans jam the stadium hoping to give their Unions a boost and get back into the Series. Partly clouds skies, 72F weather with just a light breeze (11 mph) blowing in from right set the stage. 25-year old RHP Jeremy Albury (13-5, 3.47 ERA, 1.26 WHIP), who missed nearly two months of the regular season to a hamstring strain gets the start, while No. 2 starter, 27-year old LHP Mo Goldstraw, takes the mound for Fort Richmond. Bottom of the 1st: In Game 4 of last year’s Western League Pennant, Mo Goldstraw got roughed up in his lone start against the Wolseley Unions. This year, the Unions got to him again. And they didn’t waste any time. 1B Evan Houk leads the game off with a single. 2B Make-Make Kamaka follows him with a single, putting runners on the corners. LF Carlton Hawking singles, scoring Houk for the game’s first run. Two pitches later, C Éric Denis singles in Kamaka. SS George Kimpton draws a full-count walk to load the bases. 3B Wen-huan Liu also draws a full-count walk, forcing in Hawking for the Unions’ third run. Next up is RF Howard Ockey who doubles home Denis and Kimpton. CF Owen Claridge then drives a single into shallow leftfield, scoring Liu. After Jeremy Albury lays down a sac bunt to put runners on 2B and 3B, Evan Houk, who started the inning, singles home Ockey and Claridge for the innings’ 7th and 8th runs. A beleaguered Mo Goldstraw finally gets Make-Make Kamaka and Carlton Hawking to both fly out to centerfield, mercifully bringing the inning to an end. In all, the Unions scored 8 runs on 7 hits. Fort Richmond 0 – Wolseley 8 Bottom of the 3rd: The Unions continue to pound away at Goldstraw with singles. Evan Houk smacks a first-pitch single with one out. Make-Make Kamaka follows him with a single once again, putting runners on the corners. Carlton Hawking steps up and hits a single into left-centerfield, scoring Houk. Éric Denis smacks the fourth consecutive single of the inning, sending it into shallow centerfield, allowing Kamaka to come home for Wolseley’s 10th run. Fort Richmond 0 – Wolseley 10 Bottom of the 4th: Owen Claridge leads off with a double, then reaches 3B on a Jeremy Albury sac bunt. On an 0-1 pitch to Evan Houk, Claridge attempts to steal home but is thrown out at the plate. Evan Houk eventually grounds out to 3B to end the inning. Fort Richmond 0 – Wolseley 10 Bottom of the 5th: RP Jamie Wigley comes on in relief of Mo Goldstraw to start the inning. Make-Make Kamaka leads off and reaches 1B on an error (E2). Carlton Hawking then hits his third single of the game, putting runners on the corners. After Éric Denis flies out to rightfield, Hawking is picked off at 1B. But George Kimpton comes through with the Unions 13th single of the game, scoring Kamaka. In the top of the 9th inning, Jeremy Albury finishes things off by inducing a 6-3 ground out from Louis Wearne and two pop flies by Clint Jones and Nobuyoshi Yoshida. Wolseley wins their first game of the series in convincing fashion. After being blanked by Fort Richmond in Game 3, the Unions return the favor. FINAL: Fort Richmond 0 – Wolseley 11 *Player of the Game:* SP Jeremy Albury did pretty good in pitching the shutout. He went 9.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 K on 110 PI. (1-0, 0.00 ERA). Lead-off hitter Evan Houk went 4 for 5, 2 RBI, 2 R. Carlton Hawking went 3 for 4, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB. For Fort Richmond: Mo Goldstraw puts in one of the worst pitching lines in recent memory. He went just 4.0 IP, 13 H, 10 ER, 4 BB, 1 K on 105 PI (0-1, 22.50 ERA). His game score was -7. In Game 4 of last year’s Western Pennant Series, his game score was +1 (4.1 IP, 8 H, 9 ER, 10 BB, 0 K, 1 HR on 112 PI (0-1, 18.69 ERA). -------- Game 4 – April 2 Wolseley made a big statement in Game 3 to say the least, putting Fort Richmond on notice that they will not be pushed around. The two teams reconvene at Satchel Paige Park in a crucial Game 4 as the Generals look to regain the momentum and take a commanding 3 games-to-one lead, while the Unions aim to even up the series. 30,262 are on hand to witness the battle, under perfect conditions: partly cloudy, 72F, and the wind blowing in from right (11 mph). No. 4 starter, 30-year RHP Bill Blair (16-9, 3.46 ERA, 1.21 WHIP), who won a United Cup Championship with the Stratford Barons back in 1946-47, makes his first playoff start for Wolseley. Fort Richmond sends their No. 4 starter to the mound – 29-year old LHP Joy-shan Liu. Bottom of the 2nd: George Kimpton leads off with a walk, then advances to 3B when Wen-huan Liu singles. Howard Ockey steps up the plate and smacks Liu’s first offering deep into right-centerfield, scoring Kimpton. Owen Claridge follows him with a single of his own, scoring Liu. With one out, Evan Houk grounds out to 3B, but Ockey dashes home safely for the Unions’ third run. Fort Richmond 0 – Wolseley 3 Top of the 4th: Dylan Moyne leads off and flies out to leftfield. However, LF Carlton Hawking injures himself on the play and is forced out of the game. Lance Dulihanty replaces him in the field. Next up is RF Brandon Robinson, who crushes Blair’s second offering 359 ft. into the rightfield bleachers for a solo home run, putting Fort Richmond on the board. Fort Richmond 1 – Wolseley 3 Bottom of the 5th: Make-Make Kamaka and Lance Dulihanty lead off with back-to-back triples, adding to the Unions lead. Fort Richmond 1 – Wolseley 4 Bottom of the 6th: Owen Claridge singles with one out. With two out, Claridge steals 2B. That prompts the Generals to intentionally walk lead-off hitter Evan Houk. But Make-Make- Kamaka hits his second triple of the game into right-centerfield, scoring both Claridge and Houk. That ends Liu’s afternoon. He is replaced by RP Jorge Martínez. But CF Lance Dulihanty immediately singles home Kamaka for the Unions 7th run before Martínez gets Éric Denis to fly out to end the inning. Fort Richmond 1 – Wolseley 7 Bottom of the 7th: RP John Bullivant takes over from Martínez, but the Unions quickly load the bases with one out. SP Bill Blair helps his cause, smacking a first-pitch double deep into right-centerfield, scoring two more base runners. Fort Richmond 1 – Wolseley 9 Top of the 8th: PH Brian Earle leads off with a double and reaches 3B on a Dylan Moyne ground out. Brandon Robinson then reaches on an error (E5), allowing Earle to score Fort Richmond’s second run. Fort Richmond 2 – Wolseley 9 Top of the 9th: Fort Richmond starts a rally when Nobuyoshi Yoshida leads off with single, but reaches 2B on a throwing error (E7). Oscar Agnolutto steps up and crushes Bill Blair’s second pitch 376 ft. into the leftfield stands for a two-run homer. After PH Yoshino Ito flies out, Jake Stunt goes yard on Blair’s first pitch; a solo home run 361 ft. into the leftfield bleachers. But Blair gets Loïc Billon to strike out looking and induces a 5-3 ground out from Dylan Moyne to shut down the rally and preserve the win. Wolseley knots the series up a 2-games apiece. FINAL: Fort Richmond 5 – Wolseley 9 *Player of the Game:* SP Bill Blair goes 9.0 IP with 8 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 3 HR on 130 PI (1-0, 4.00 ERA). Howard Ockey went 2 for 3, with 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB. Make-Make- Kamaka went 2 for 5 with 2-3B, 2 RBI, 2 R. His two triples tie a Western League playoff game record. Carlton Hawking suffered back tightness in the 4th inning. He is considered DtD for the next 6 days. For Fort Richmond: Joy-shan Liu was somewhat better than Mo Goldstraw the day before, but that was little comfort for the Generals. He went 5.2 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 5 W, 1 K on 116 PI (0-1, 11.12 ERA). -------- Game 5 – April 3 After being held to 4 runs over the course of the first two games, the Wolseley Unions have pounded the vaunted Fort Richmond pitching staff for 20 runs in Games 3 and 4. With the series now tied, the two teams meet in the rubber match, with Wolseley looking to keep its newfound momentum going and Fort Richmond merely looking to get back on track. But rainy skies are in the forecast. It’s humid (78F) and a breeze is blowing left to right (14 mph). Nevertheless, 30,413 fans defy the elements, looking for their Unions to take an upper hand in the series before it heads back to Fort Richmond. The Game 1 starters square off again: Wolseley’s RHP Hun Park will face the Generals’ RHP Nicky Sherlock. Sherlock got the win in the first match-up. Bottom of the 1st: Owen Claridge leads off with a single, but Make-Make- Kamaka grounds into a 4-6-3 double play. Carlton Hawking follows and draws a walk. Next up is Éric Denis who absolutely crushes Sherlock’s 2-0 offering 421 ft. into the left-centerfield stands for a 2-run home run. It’s the first home run for Wolseley in the series. Fort Richmond 0 – Wolseley 2 Bottom of the 5th: Wen-huan Liu leads off with a single but is thrown out when 3B Burt Willey hits into a 6-4 fielder’s choice. A sac bunt by Hun Park and a wild pitch moves Willey over to 3B. Owen Claridge then battles Sherlock for a full-count double, driving in Wolseley’s third run. Fort Richmond 0 – Wolseley 3 Bottom of the 6th: Carlton Hawking leads off with a walk, then reaches 3B when Éric Denis bangs out a first pitch single. George Kimpton follows with a double, scoring Hawking and moving Denis up to 3B. Howard Ockey joins in the fun with a first-pitch single, scoring Denis and moving Kimpton up the 3B. That ends Nicky Sherlock’s day after just 86 pitches. RP Jorge Martínez comes on in relief. But Wen-huan Liu connects on Martínez’s very first offering, cranking out a 3-run home run, 353 ft. into the delirious leftfield bleachers. Fort Richmond 0 – Wolseley 8 Top of the 8th: Hun Park keeps the Generals off the scoreboard until the 8th, when RP Jorge Martínez leads off with a solo home run, 404 ft. into the rightfield stands. It’s his second career home run and first since 1945. Jake Stunt follows Martínez with a single. With two out, Brandon Robinson singles as well. Stunt takes 2B on the play and tries for 3B, but a throwing error (E7) allows Stunt to score. Fort Richmond 2 – Wolseley 8 In the bottom of the 8th, the game is delayed for 20 minutes due to rain. Top of the 9th: Hun Park starts the inning, but gives up a lead-off solo home run to Clint Jones that sails 347 ft. into the rightfield bleachers. Nobuyoshi Yoshida follows with a single and advances to 3B on back-to-back ground outs. With one out to go, RP John Palm relieves Park. However, Jake Stunt reaches base safely on an error (E6), allowing Yoshida to score. But Loïc Billon grounds out to 2B on the very next pitch, ending the game. Wolseley takes the upper hand in the series as it heads back to Fort Richmond. FINAL: Fort Richmond 4 – Wolseley 8 *Player of the Game:* 1B Wen-huan Liu went 2-3, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB. Éric Denis went 2 for 4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, Hun Park’s line was 8.2 IP, 11 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 2 HR on 107 PI (1-1, 6.28 ERA). For Fort Richmond: Clint Jones went 2-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R. Nicky Sherlock suffers his first career post-season loss (4-1), going just 5.0 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 4 BB, 0 K, 1 HR on 86 PI (1-1, 8.25 ERA). -------- Game 6 – April 5 As the Series returns Generals Stadium nestled in the foothills of the Amethyst Mountains, the Wolseley Unions appear to have figured out the Generals: score early and often enough to withstand any late-inning Fort Richmond comeback. That strategy has helped them take the series lead, but thus far, its been the home team winning every game. Now the Generals are back in familiar territory, where they have yet to lose a playoff game. Fort Richmond looks to keep that streak alive and that their home field advantage gives them the boost they need to win the next two games. But the heat is on more than just the Generals: the skies are clear and the mid-day sun is searing (84F). Just a slight breeze is blowing in from right (11 mph). 24,107 are on hand to cheer on their club and hope they won’t wilt under the pressure (and heat). The game sees the same matchup from Game 2: 26-year old RHP Ch’ang-chieh Li for Generals and Wolseley’s 29-year old RHP Kai Tosh. Top of the 2nd: Howard Ockey leads off and on the first pitch, reaches 1B safely on an error (E4). Wen-huan Liu then takes Li deep on an 2-0 pitch, 377 ft. into leftfield for a 2-run home run, his second home run of the series. Wolseley 2 – Fort Richmond 0 Top of the 6th: Éric Denis leads off with a single. Three pitches later, George Kimpton cranks out the second 2-run home run of the game, 356 ft. into the rightfield bleachers. Wolseley 4 – Fort Richmond 0 Bottom of the 6th: Dylan Moyne, who has been strangely quiet in the series, leads off with a single. Its just his 4th hit of the series in 23 AB. With one out, Louis Wearne beats outs the throw to 1B for an infield hit as Moyne moves up to 2B. After reaching 3B on a Clint Jones fly out, Moyne scores on a Nobuyoshi Yoshida first-pitch single. Wolseley 4 – Fort Richmond 1 Top of the 7th: Owen Claridge draws a four-pitch walk with one out. With two out, Carlton Hawking singles, putting runners on the corners. Éric Denis follows with a single of his own, scoring Claridge. SP Ch’ang-chieh Li loads the bases when he walks George Kimpton on four pitches. Next up is Howard Ockey, who singles in both Hawking and Denis, who beats out the throw to home. That ends Li’s afternoon after 119 pitches. In the bottom of the 9th, PH Brian Earle draws a full-count walk to lead off. Wolseley manager Tony Fay calls to the bullpen for stopper John Palm. Palm gets to work first by getting Jake Stunt to fly out to rightfield on a full count. Belarmino Barbedo also battles Palm to full count, but grounds out to 1B, moving Earle to 2B. But just two pitches later, Dylan Moyne grounds out to 1B, ending the game, the series and Fort Richmond’s hope of repeating. The Generals lose their first home playoff game after going 7-0. The Wolseley Unions outscore the Generals 39-21 in the series and are Western League Pennant champions! FINAL: Wolseley 7 – Fort Richmond 1 *Player of the Game:* SP Kai Tosh comes through in the crunch, going 8.0 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K on 137 PI (1-1, 2.81 ERA). George Kimpton, who earned MVP honours for the series, went 2 for 3, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB. Éric Denis goes 2 for 4, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB. Wen-huan Liu went 1 for 3, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB. For Fort Richmond: Fort Richmond pitching suddenly went south after Game 2. Ch’ang-chieh Li could only muster 6.2 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 0 K, 2 HR on 119 PI (1-1, 3.45 ERA). -------- __________________ United Leagues of Braeland Last edited by reds1; 03-19-2018 at 08:24 PM.