SEPTEMBER 8, 1975
SERIES WIN BRINGS FORESTERS WITHIN HALF A GAME OF IMPERIALS All eyes were on the Cleveland Foresters and New York Imperials over the weekend, as the top two teams in the Continental Association East squared off in a battle for first. New York entered the series a game and a half up, and after a pitching performance from Jim White (17-8, 3.53, 194) that had Cleveland batters making a lot of weak contact, it looked like they were about to take the series opener, as Ed Cooper (2-11, 29, 3.42, 52) was headed back out for a two inning save. His 1-run lead was small, and like he's done too many times this season, he could not keep runs off the board.
An easy first out got the home fans nervous, but their fears were quickly alleviated by 23-year-old pinch hitter Steve Keen (.286, 3, 21), who's third career home run tied things up, turning the lineup order with one out. One pitch later first basemen Athan Metrofanis (.264, 5, 42, 13) is on first with a single, and then another pitch got him to second with a steal. Now in scoring position, Herb Reed (.264, 7, 60, 13) was intentionally walked, setting up a double play opportunity to force extras. A grounder was gotten, but John Piper (.285, 10, 75, 9) beat the return throw from second, keeping the inning alive. This was exactly what the home team needed, one more chance with their top hitter Vern Schneider (.295, 12, 60) up, but again, a ball on the ground was served up. The only thing was it went 106 mph to short, to the backhand of converted second basemen Owen Drake (.265, 12, 52), who could not get enough on the throw to get an out.
Game two was another nailbiter, again decided by a single run, and again via the walk off with Cooper on the mound. This time it was tied at 5, with New York actually coming back from down 5-3. Why Cooper was brought in for another two inning save, I don't know, but again the second inning caused him issues. It was a little different, starting with Gus Randall's (.320, 3, 38) leadoff double before an intentional walk got the force. Cooper retired the next two pinch hitters, including yesterday's hero Keen, and he had a chance to tight rope out of danger. Instead, he walked Metrofanis on four pitches to load the bases, and he feel behind Herb Reed quickly. This time, the walk was not intentional, forcing the winning run, and putting the Foresters in first place.
First was short lived, however, as the Imperials did not go down without a fight. Don Bradner (8-7, 3.01, 97) was dominant, 8 innings with 7 hits, a run, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts, and with a different arm in the ninth, no late runs could ruin the party. A homer from Drake and doubles from Bradner, Woody Richardson (.351, 12, 76), Brain Miller (.231, 4, 13, 1), and Al Reece (.337, 7, 52, 18) proved key, reclaiming first for the Imps and avoiding embarrassment. I'm sure it hurt losing the series despite scoring more runs, but they have the extra win, and again enter the week on top.
The issue, however, is they're now 6-9 against the Foresters this season, and with just three games left against them, they can't do better then tie. Losing just one game would give Cleveland the head-to-head edge, but this weekend will see the games take place at Dyckman Stadium. An impressive 43-25, their home stadium is a fortress, and considering how they could have swept the series with better pen play, the edge has to go to the hosts.
Before the highly awaited series, both teams will be at home, hosting a pair of two game sets. Cleveland welcomes Milwaukee and Montreal while New York sees Cincy then Milwaukee. The edge here goes to the Imps, as while both teams play the 71-72 Arrows, the Saints are tied with them while Cincinnati sits at 64-80 and in dead last. But this week also provides a rare opportunity for Milwaukee, as it's not often you're under .500 and have a really good chance to take over first place. If they beat both the Imperials and Foresters, and then that series isn't a sweep, the Arrows could be the one to enter the final two laps on top. With their staff anything is possible, but they'll need a lot more then just Rich Moyer (.317, 9, 52, 14) to get runs on two very strong staffs. A red hot Wolves team in Toronto won't be easy either, but on paper this team is really good, and as long as there is no "e-" by your name you always have a chance to make something happen.
*** COMETS, SUNS, MATCH HOT STREAKS AS FED WEST RACE TURNS INTO TWO MAN TANGO ***
Houston picked the right time to play their best baseball, but unfortunately for them, the Federal Association leading Los Angeles Suns have done the same. While the Comets have won 6 of their last 7 and 8 of their last 10, the Suns have also managed 8 wins in 10 games, keeping them 4.5 games up.
What this has changed, however, is the proximity of the rest of the division, as now only the Comets are within 10 of LA. With just four games left between them, two in LA next week and two in Houston the week after, meaning the Comets will have to rely a lot on their Western division rivals. With only one off day left, they can't take much advantage of the front four in their rotation. What has gotten them to this point, they have three starters with sub-3 ERAs, and even Spencer Reese's (15-4, 3.55, 87) 3.55 ERA is 10 percent above average, and he's won each of his last four starts. A healthy Joe McCarthy (9-4, 2.85, 83) continues to dominate at the top, while Johnny Blackburn (18-6, 2.81, 135) and Jay Hunt (10-9, 2.56, 130) have emerged as ace-level starters. And when they have leads, Bob Young (9-8, 26, 2.17, 64) is there to finish things off, doing an outstanding job in the late innings.
A simple question remains: does the offense has enough in it? The easy thing for them would be John Edwards (.255, 10, 72, 24) playing like John Edwards, as he followed up his 8 WAR season split between the Millers and Comets by dropping his WRC+ over 40 points. Expected to anchor the lineup and help them get back to the postseason, he's been more good then great, putting a lot of pressure on a middling supporting cast. They have the fewest homers in the Fed and they aren't scoring enough, and if there were more sellers you'd have to wonder if they'd wish they took a big swing at the deadline. Without a Tom Lally (.320, 28, 92, 8) or Sam Forrester (.291, 24, 108, 41) they may be left in the dust, as the combo of those two and the Suns pitching staff will not be easy to supplant.
Players of the Week: Jones, McPherson
- A big reason the Comets have gotten hot is infielder Don Jones, who wasn't even a regular this season until after the break. A bench player most of his career, he did start most of the time in '72 and '73 for the Comets, but he saw his starting role disappear last season and it looked complete gone when Houston picked up long-time Sailor Ernie Carter (.240, 5, 45, 15) to take over third. But since the bounce back candidate never bounced back, Jones was given a chance, and he's taken full advantage of it. Now batting cleanup, the Fed Player of the Week went 12-for-24 with 2 doubles, 3 homers, and a whopping 17 RBIs. He has an eight game RBI streak and recorded multiple in four of his last five games. The 32-year-old is now hitting .305/.384/.442 (126 OPS+) in 323 PAs this season, and if he can work some more magic the Comets have an outside chance of crashing first place.
- Toronto has been playing great ball lately too, and this week their catcher Jess McPherson was rewarded with the weekly award. It didn't matter that he twisted his ankle at the end of it, as McPherson went 8-for-11 with a homer, 2 doubles, 4 RBIs, and 6 walks. The former Seattle 4th Rounder now has 8 homes and 59 walks on the season, hitting a strong .269/.378/.384 (108 OPS+) out of the eight hole. His power/eye combo has led to a career high 125 WRC+, and he's on track for his first above average season as a big leaguer.
Injury Notes: Imperials, Keystones, Armstrong, Perry, Belise
- As if the pennant race wasn't tight enough already, New York will be without two pieces for the rest of the season. Hurting most is the loss of co-ace John Alfano, who has not pitched like it this season. Not expected to be back until midseason next year, he had a herniated disc earlier in the season, and he has to undergo major elbow surgery for the second straight season. Next time he pitches he'll be 30, as injuries continue to pile up for the 1st pick of the 1967 draft. His season ends with 21 starts, he was 8-11 with a 4.15 ERA (93 ERA+) and 3.78 FIP (97 FIP-). His elevated 1.51 WHIP led to troubles, walking 61 with just 69 strikeouts. Generally a major strikeout arm, his 11.6 K% is a career low, and discounting his 3 start season last year, he's never struck out less then 125 hitters in a season.
- Less of a blow is losing Mike Counts, who has seen his playing time go away due to a pair of his own injuries. Recently back in the lineup, he fractured his finger, and would likely miss the postseason if New York makes it. A regular from '71 to '73, he still started 119 of his 149 games last year, but that dropped to 58 of 101 this season. When healthy, he didn't hit like he normally does, as his .250/.376/.357 (103 OPS+) line is much lower then his .270/.391/.406 (132 OPS+) career mark.
- Last, but not least, rookie second basemen John Gill sprained his elbow, and like Counts would be questionable, but technically possible, for only a postseason return. A 2nd Rounder from Western Iowa in 1972, he made his FABL debut on August 19th. Appearing in 15 games, he hit .348/.418/.413 (129 OPS+) with a double, triple, 3 runs, 4 RBIs, and 7 walks. He was starting at second, but should now see Drake return there with Rusty Robertson (.224, 9, 41, 4) returning to shortstop.
- Philly got hit with a pair of injuries, losing both of their second basemen. First was starter Lew Davison (.277, 20, 64, 7), who tore his thumb ligament, and then replacement Ed Walter strained his hamstring. Davison luckily won't miss too much time, as the Keystones star should be back in a week or so, but the 31-year-old Walter can play through with his strained hamstring. It's actually going to take longer to heal then Davison, who has hit just .245/.351/.294 (80 OPS+) in a reserve role.
- Alfano wasn't the only first overall pick hurt this week, as Boston will again be without Gil Armstrong. Picked up with Bill Kelly (7-14, 3.72, 129) from the Eagles in the spring, Armstrong's season will end with shoulder tendinitis. 23 in October, he'll finish with a 120 game rookie season, batting a poor .263/.319/.345 (83 OPS+) in a tough debut season. Add in poor defense and he was actually sub replacement level by almost a full win (-0.8). Still an exciting talent, the injuries and poor performance would give some pause to evaluators, but there's nothing to suggest that he won't be able to handle a full-time starting job.
- Not only is Dallas eliminated from postseason contention, but righty Larry Perry is eliminated from pitching contention. Suffering a bone spur in the first inning of an eventually 10-6 win over the Stars, his season ends with 30 starts and his second consecutive 200+ inning season. Tossing 221.2, it was a nice first full season in Dallas for Perry, who's 3.87 ERA (100 ERA+) does not look as nice as the 3.35 FIP (86 FIP-). A former 6th Rounder of Boston, he was 10-12 with a 1.28 WHIP, 68 walks, and 119 strikeouts, and should be back and healthy in plenty of time before spring training.
- There were too many injuries to keep track of, but the last one of note is one that we do not know much about. Aside from that he's hurt, no one knows why Virgil Belisle won't be returning this season. The former 7th Rounder had a pretty successful rookie season, hitting .277/.335/.416 (107 OPS+) with 31 doubles, 5 triples, 9 homers, 67 runs, 74 RBIs, and 41 walks in 134 games. Recently 27, the former 7th Rounder isn't really considered a building block, but he looks at least average, and was one of the more valuable Eagles this season, filling in admirably for traded superstar Tom Lorang (.279, 6, 42, 9).
RIVERMEN SINK MARINERS TO COMPLETE PERFECT PRESEASONThe Cincinnati Rivermen have been overshadowed in the National Conference East by the Miami Mariners and Buffalo Red Jackets. While both Miami and Buffalo have gone on to win World Classics in recent years the Rivermen have not made the playoffs since 1968. However, Clark Hardy, who guided the Rivermen to an 8-6 finish a year ago in his debut season as the club's head coach, feels that might just change this year.
Hardy says his goal is to not only make the playoffs but win a division title despite the fact it contains the defending champion Buffalo Red Jackets and the always tough Miami Mariners. It's only preseason, but Hardy has to be happy with his club's performance as the Rivermen ended up as just one of just five teams to go a perfect 3-0 in tune-up games. What makes it even more impressive is the fact that Cincinnati's final win came over division kingpin Miami as backup quarterback Charles Clark threw a pair of touchdown passes and the Rivermen held off the Mariners 24-20.
Clark may have added fuel to the fire that is his case he, and not Chuck Rayford, should be the starting quarterback for the Rivermen. After Rayford had a workmanlike first half, completing 11 of 15 tosses for 81 yards but was picked off once, Clark went to work after the break and threw a pair of touchdown strikes including the game winner, a short 3-yard toss to wide receiver Michael Grimes, with a little under two minutes remaining in the game. On the day Charles Clark was 9-for-12 for 113 yards and that gave him a preseason line of 42 completions in 56 attempts for 567 yards and 9 touchdowns while being intercepted just once in those three games. Coach Hardy has repeated that Rayford, who has been the Rivermen starter since being selected in the first round of the 1972 draft, remains number one but it is nice to have the option of a strong backup to turn to if needed.
The only other National Conference squad to win all three of its preseason games was the Kansas City Cowboys, who admittedly had a relatively light schedule with games against New Orleans, Atlanta and San Diego. The win on the weekend over the Admirals was tight contest for the first half before the Cowboys erupted for 20 points after the break to down the Admirals 36-17. Cowboys quarterback Joshua Sellers, who was the 1973 offensive rookie of the year, was impressive in his first real playing time of the preseason, completing 16 of 22 passes for 125 yards. San Diego's offense, which struggled a year ago, had a terrible time mounting any sort of sustained attack against the Cowboys.
Three teams in the American Conference ended their preseason with a 3-0 record including a pair of East Division members in Washington and Pittsburgh. The Wasps, who won a conference best 10 games a year ago, handed Houston its third straight loss, dumping the Drillers 23-13. The Houston defense, long the strength of the franchise that has played in 6 of the first eleven World Classics, had its troubles with the Washington passing game as Terry Bergeron threw for 206 yards. One bright spot for Houston in a preseason that had few moments of note was that rookie running back Scott Starling had another solid game, rushing for 72 yards on 16 carries. The Drillers had long-time running star Vern Rebovich and his top backup both retire over the summer leaving Houston without an experienced ballcarrier.
The Pittsburgh Paladins nipped Denver 32-28 handing the Mountaineers their third straight defeat. Pittsburgh put the game away with three fourth quarter touchdowns including pair of scoring passes from Charlie Stillwell in the final four and a half minutes. Denver got a strong game from running back Johnny Torres, who gained 127 yards on the ground and scored a pair of touchdowns.
The final team to go a perfect 3-0 in preseason play was the Cleveland Finches. The Finches who will open their season in two weeks time in Kansas City against the Cowboys, handed the Minnesota Lakers their first loss of the preseason on Sunday, winning by a 17-6 count. Cleveland has a quarterback battle going between incumbent Danny Boudreaux and free agent pickup Saul Washington. Neither was exceptional on Sunday but it appears that Washington, the former New York Titan who was selected first overall in 1971, may have won the starting job.
In other action Sunday the Boston Americans held off the winless Atlanta Firebirds 38-24. The Firebirds, who finished with the worst record in the AFA a year ago, look like they might be in for another very long season as veteran quarterback Pete Fairfield struggled while rookie Allen McAllister, selected first overall, has had a dreadful preseason.
A defensive struggle in Buffalo saw the visiting New York Stars pull out an 11-6 victory. The game saw New York kick three field goals and add a safety when Stars defensive end Steve Decker tackled Red Jackets back David Allen in the Buffalo endzone. The lone Buffalo score can courtesy of a 37-yard A.J. Fahy interception return for a touchdown.
Second year starting quarterback Butch White completed 9 of 12 passes for 124 yards to help the Philadelphia Frigates past the Seattle Roughnecks 16-3. Philadelphia finished 2-1 while the Roughnecks dropped to 0-2-1 for the preseason.
In a battle of two teams that entered the game winless the St Louis Ramblers downed the Chicago Wildcats 14-6. Neither club had much success moving the ball as the pair combined for just 436 yards of total offense and 3 turnovers.
Quarterbacks Charlie Singletary and Marty Riggs combined to throw for 284 yards and lead the San Francisco Wings to a one-sided 32-13 thumping of the Detroit Maroons. Rookie Wings running back Ben Wagner ran for a pair of touchdowns while kicker Heriberto Wilson was successful on all four of his attempts for the winners.
Rob Stone threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Ronnie Colby early in the fourth quarter and that stood up as the difference in giving the Milwaukee Stags a 14-13 victory on the road over the Los Angeles Tigers. Meanwhile on the other side of Los Angeles the Olympians doubled the New York Titans 28-14 in a game that saw Olympians rookie wideout Jimmie Lowe catch a pair of touchdown passes. Lowe was a fourth round pick out of Alexandria. The final game of the weekend saw New Orleans nip Dallas 12-9 in a contest that saw each club record a safety.
The 26 AFA teams will now have a week off before the season openers on September 21. Each club will need to make cuts to get down to the regular season roster limit of 40 with up to 8 additional players allowed on the practice squad.
COLLEGE GRID CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF SATURDAYThe long wait ends this weekend as the 1975 college football season opens with a smattering of games across the country. While preseason No. 1 Georgia Baptist will sit out the opening weekend — the Gators don’t debut until September 20 when they host Portland Tech — several other national title contenders waste no time getting started.
Three members of the preseason top ten are in action Saturday, including a pair of heavyweights from the Great Lakes Alliance.
Second-ranked Central Ohio begins its campaign with a short trip north to face Midwestern Association member Cleveland. On paper, it’s a favorable opener for the Aviators. The Tigers were 3–8 a year ago and have yet to defeat Central Ohio in four all-time meetings. With a veteran defense and junior quarterback George Stephens leading the way, the Aviators are expected to tune up efficiently before conference play begins.
Sixth-ranked Detroit City College faces a sterner test. The Knights travel to Texas to meet the College of Waco Cowboys in an intersectional matchup that could carry early-season poll implications. Waco finished 8–3 last year and defeated Detroit City College in the only previous meeting between the two programs — though that contest came nearly a decade ago. The Knights, champions of the GLA the past two seasons and East–West Classic participants both years, are looking to start fast after coming up short on New Year’s Day each of the last two campaigns.
The other top-ten team in action Saturday is fifth-ranked Mississippi A&M. The Generals open at home in Jackson against Central Carolina, beginning what they hope will be a return to prominence in the Deep South Conference. Mississippi A&M has not claimed a league title since 1962, but expectations are high behind preseason All-American quarterback Jimmy Ray Johnson, a leading Christian Trophy candidate. The Generals went 9–3 and reached the Cajun Classic two seasons ago before slipping to 6–5 last fall. With experience returning on both sides of the ball, Saturday’s game marks the first step in what many around the program believe could be a special season.
Elsewhere among the ranked teams, No. 14 Minnesota Tech travels to face Wisconsin Catholic, while 20th-ranked Oklahoma City State opens at home against Wisconsin State.
The nation’s top team may be idle for now, but with several contenders already stepping into the spotlight, the 1975 campaign begins in earnest this weekend — and by Saturday night, the first storylines of the season will already be taking shape.
Here is the complete schedule for week one of the college football season
UPCOMING COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAMES
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 13
#2 Central Ohio at Cleveland
Central Carolina at #5 Mississippi A&M
#6 Detroit City College at College of Waco
#14 Minnesota Tech at Wisconsin Catholic
Wisconsin State at #20 Oklahoma City State
#23 North Carolina Tech at St Magnus
Coastal State at #24 St Ignatius
Whitney College at Cowpens State
Tempe College at College of San Diego
Carolina Poly at Topeka State
Northern Minnesota at El Paso Methodist
Payne State at Potomac College
Queen City at Valley State
McKinney State at Abilene Baptist
Ferguson at Texas Panhandle
EIGHT MUST-SEE COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAMES THIS SEASON
The 114 division one AIAA college football teams will combine to play more than 1,200 games this season but, as they always do, a few select contests will stand out from the pack. Here are eight games to watch for over the course of the year.
September 20, St Blane at Detroit City College: The Fighting Saints have their eye on another national title, which would be their third since 1970 and sixth overall. Detroit City College has won back-to-back Great Lakes Alliance crowns and the Knights join the Fighting Saints in the preseason top ten. This early test is St Blane's opener and the second game for DCC, and it could go a long way towards determining which one is a legitimate national title candidate. They don't meet often, St Blane is 2-1 against DCC over the last eighteen years, so this one will be the most anticipated of the early season games.
OCTOBER 18, Ellery at Dickson: The Dickson Maroons have dominated the Academia Alliance this decade, with five straight conference titles and a three consecutive top twenty finishes on their resume. Their stiffest test to winning another conference title, and perhaps even earning their second trip to a New Years Day game in three years, will come when they face the Ellery Bruins, a school that has given the Maroons fits. Ellery is 8-10 against Dickson over the past eighteen years and handed the Maroons their lone conference loss a year ago.
OCTOBER 25, Daniel Boone College at Lawrence State: Lawrence State finished the season ranked 6th in the nation a year ago: the Chippewa's highest showing since finishing third in 1962. This year they are fourth in the preseason polls but the Plains Athletic Association has three schools ranked in the top ten including Daniel Boone College. The Frontiersmen will be a stiff test for the Chippewa and come a week after another tough matchup for Lawrence State in Boulder State. Daniel Boone College has won 11 of the last 18 meetings between the two but Lawrence State prevailed 14-6 last year.
NOVEMBER 15, CC Los Angeles at Redwood: The Mammoths will be looking to become the first WCAA school to play in the East-West Classic three consecutive seasons since Northern California's run of four in a row came to an end in 1960. Redwood is also coming off their first national title and have a schedule that might just be friendly enough to allow Mammoths to go undefeated through the regular season. A big test will be the week ten meeting with the Coyotes. CCLA won a National Title four years ago and finished tied for second in the WCAA last season. Both schools are ranked in the preseason top twenty-five with the Coyotes at #18 and the Mammoths 21st on the list. The all-time series between the two is close with Redwood holding a slim 9-8 lead over the past 18 years but the Mammoths won in a rout a year ago, taking a 38-3 decision.
NOVEMBER 22, Noble Jones College at Mississippi A&M:The Generals have a Christian Trophy candidate in Jimmy Ray Johnson at quarterback and a feeling this might be the year they snap a 13-year drought and win the Deep South Conference. They are fortunate in their scheduling this season to avoid both Georgia Baptist and Central Kentucky -two other schools with title hopes in the toughest conference in the nation- so a win at home over Noble Jones College might be just the ticket to send the Generals to Dallas for the Oilman Classic as Deep South Conference champions. The worry is that A&M has had little success of late against the Colonels, winning just once in their last seven meetings.
NOVEMBER 28, Noble Jones College at Georgia Baptist:An annual meeting slated the day after Thanksgiving for as long as anyone can remember, the two Georgia rivals are the most successful schools in college football history with six national titles each. This year the Gators are the preseason number one and will have the benefit of home field as the meeting this time around will take place in Athens rather than Augusta. Georgia Baptist has won 10 of the last 16 meetings between the two including last year's 27-24 thriller.
NOVEMBER 29, Detroit City College at Central Ohio: The annual matchup between the two Great Lakes Alliance rivals often has a trip to Santa Ana for New Years and a berth in the East-West Classic at stake for the winner - each of them has made the trek twice in the past five years. There is no love lost between these two bitter rivals and even if one is having a down season this game can usually be counted on to be one of the best. They have also played it very even, with each school winning the annual post-Thanksgiving Day matchup 9 times in the past 18 years. DCC has something to prove this time around as while they had already clinched the conference title by the time they met an underachieving Central Ohio team last year, the Aviators hammered the Knights 52-6 in a game played in Columbus.
DECEMBER 13, Rome State at Annapolis Maritime: The traditional season ending contest between the two service academy schools has always been a big game but it had added importance a year ago when the Navigators won by a 16-9 score to finish the regular season a perfect 11-0 and ranked number one in the nation. Unfortunately for Annapolis Maritime, they stumbled on New Years Day, losing the Sunshine Classic to Boulder State which cost the school a chance for its first national title since 1913. Rome State won a pair of national titles in the 1940s but has not been a factor in the past two decades but the Centurions always play the Navigators tough, although Annapolis Maritime has won 11 of the last 18 meetings. If the Navigators can find a way to beat St Blane in early November they may just enter this game undefeated for the second year in a row.
WOLVES CONTINUE WINNING WAYS Toronto fans continue to see improvement in their baseball team as the Wolves began the final month of the FABL season. After a winning record in August the team took 2 of 3 from Cincinnati at home followed by 2 of 3 from Milwaukee on the at Lakefront Park.
The only loss to the Cannons followed an all too familiar script this season. After closing the gap to one at 4-3 in the seventh inning, the Toronto bullpen gave up 2 in both the eight and ninth to disappoint the 13,403 on hand at Dominion Stadium. Again free passes being the problem. The pen avenged that loss the next night when they combined to shut the Cannons down for the final 4 innings allowing the Wolves to erase a 5-0 lead to win 6-5 when Gus Hayes delivered a pinch-hit double to plate two in the seventh. In the last game of the Cincinnati series Red Bullock worked around 5 BB in 5.2 innings of work, keeping his mates in the game long enough for the Bill Cox to come in to pick up his eighth win of the season while only pitching a third of inning when Joe Henke singled in the winning run in the sixth allowing the Wolves to come away with a 4-2 win. The bullpen ran their scoreless streak 7.1 innings, a welcome sight for Toronto skipper Carl Evans.
The streak added 3.1 scoreless innings on Thursday in the opener against the Arrows when Bob Reynolds drove in 2 in the ninth giving the Wolves a 5-3 win. Reynolds still has the second most RBI on the team even in limited action. All good things come to an end, as the bullpen streak was snapped after 14 innings when the pen gave two runs in an 11 inning 6-5 loss. Jim Hunter gave the relievers a night off when he pitched a complete game Friday winning 5-1. It was the third time Hunter finished what he started in '75, the rest of the staff has only added 4 more.
At 65-76 the Wolves have already surpassed many preseason predictions of triple digit losses. The Wolves are only 7.5 out in a Up for grabs CA East. While some fans are dreaming of October baseball at Dominion Stadium, Dunbar thinks the odds are extremely thin having to jump five teams in 21 games. Spoiler will be the Wolves role Dunbar thinks in September.
Jess McPherson was POTW in the CA going 8 for 11 with 4 RBI, unfortunately he will be out for a week with a sprained ankle. Davenport clinched the Heartland West title, Tuscaloosa is tied with Beaumont in the GSL West with one game to play, Chattanooga has a slim chance in the Dixie, while Buffalo, Vancouver have been eliminated in their leagues.
The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 09/07/1975
- President Ford was unharmed after an assassination attempt in Sacramento. Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, a member of the Manson Family cult, was at arms length from the President and pointed a pistol at him in from of the California State Capital building but unsuccessfully attempted to fire the gun.
- White House tightens security after attempt on Ford’s life, with the Secret Service reviewing procedures and canceling several open public events.
- Kentucky's governor has called for the national guard to restore order in riot-torn sections of Louisville after anti-busing violence.
- The FBI is investigating whether a Virginia heavy equipment operator named Jerry Cooper is really D.B. Cooper, the airline hijacker who parachuted with $200,000 in ransom money from a Northwest Orient jet in 1971 and disappeared. The FBI said it is acting on an anonymous tip. Jerry Cooper met voluntarily with the FBI to deny he had anything to do with the crime.
- Political crisis deepens in Lisbon, as moderate and leftist factions within Portugal’s armed forces struggle for control during the ongoing post-revolution turmoil following the 1974 Carnation Revolution.
- Western governments watch closely, concerned that instability in NATO member Portugal could shift the country further toward Soviet influence during the Cold War.