MID-WEST WINTER LEAGUE 1983 WORLD SERIES

    

Game 1 - The Panthers stuck first when Parrish doubled home Lansford with two outs in the top of the first, but the Vampires quickly retaliated in the bottom of the first when they scored twice with two outs thanks to a single by Law and a throwing error by Soto.
Ft. Worth had a chance in the 4th when Smalley got to third base on a ground out after doubling to lead off the inning, but Hollywood intentionally walked Bonilla to face Soto who promptly hit into an inning ended double play.
The Panthers took the lead in the 6th thanks to back to back doubles by Parrish and Mumphrey after Bonnell reached on a fielder’s choice.
Hollywood had a chance thanks to another Panther error in the 7th to take the lead with runners on 2nd and 3rd but Henderson lined out to right to end the last Vampire threat
Ft. Worth gets a couple of insurance runs on a wild pitch and home run by McGee while their bullpen finishes off the Vampire attack as Ft. Worth takes game 1.   FINAL SCORE: PANTHERS 5, VAMPIRES 2

Game 2 - The first matchup between the MWWL’s best throwing catcher and the MWWL’s best running team occurred in the bottom of the first as Henderson was gunned down by Parrish after leading off with walk. It proved to be an important play as the next batter also walked so any potential threat was quelled before it had a chance to develop.
After that both starting pitchers put on a pitching clinic showing why they were both in the World Series. Both teams barely put up a challenge – Hollywood didn’t get their first hit till one out in the 3rd while Ft. Worth didn’t get a hit till an inning later.
The Vampires had a chance in the 7th as they knocked out Panther starter Hudson after putting runners on the corners with no outs. Camp came on to face Law, “Infield deep ... GUERRERO into a little shuffle at third ... the pitch ... banged to left center MUMPHREY's running to the gap ... and he takes it in ... GUERRERO's tagging … GUERRERO's headed home ... here comes the throw and he's ... OUT!...great throw ... oh, those, PANTHERS ... they slay the go-ahead run and the aggressive base running does not pay off “
Then Hollywood had runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the 8th failing to score as Gibson worked out of a jam. Through 8 innings the two teams had combined for only 7 hits.
In the top of the 9th with Vampire starter Haas out the Panthers decided to attack one of the Vampire’s two headed closers, Lee. Pinch hitter Durham walked and scored on Hernandez’s triple though he was thrown out trying to score after Murphy had trouble getting to the ball. It didn’t change the momentum however as the next 3 Panther hitters smashed doubles knocking Lee from the game as Ft. Worth roared ahead 3-0. After a walk McGee got the 4th and last double of the inning for Ft. Worth. With runners on 2nd and 3rd and still only 1 out Vampire reliever, Frazier had a surprise one hopper back to him freezing Parrish at third base then watched Law go over the wall to steal a homer from Bonilla.
Other than a one out walk Zachry had no problems with the Vampire bats. Ft. Worth leaves Hollywood up 2 games to none.
FINAL SCORE: PANTHERS 4, VAMPIRES 0

Game 3 - After being shutout for the last 17 innings at home the Vampires drew first blood in the top of the first in Ft. Worth when Wiggins scored on a Murphy single after he had doubled with one out. Panther starting pitcher, Stuper then walks the next two hitters loading the bases. He gets out of the jam by only allowing a sac fly to Fisk as Hollywood goes out in front 2-0.
Like a persistent drip the Vampires scored single runs in the 3rd thru the 5th on a Murray double, home run by Gantner, who also singled in a run in the 5th. Then the dam burst through in the 6th.
With 2 outs Panther reliever, Gibson loaded the bases then Fisk promptly greeted new reliever Camp by clearing the bases with a double. Both teams added some garbage runs, but it was basically over after the Vampires led 9 zip through 6 innings. Hollywood now down 2 games to one.
FINAL SCORE: VAMPIRES 11, PANTHERS 4

Game 4 - The Vampires started the game off with a well executed hit and run, but could only manage 1 run as Henderson scored on a double play by Hollywood’s third hitter, Murphy. Ft. Worth ties the game on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the 2nd.
Hollywood takes the lead on the Panthers 3rd error of the game in the third then add two more runs in the 4th on Gantner’s 2nd home run of the series and a ribbie single by Wiggins although the Panther’s avoid any more damage when Parrish guns down Wiggins trying to steal to end the inning.
Ft. Worth started their comeback in the 5th when McGee reached on an error by Templeton and scoring on a close play at the plate on a single by Peters. Later after a hit by Lansford Bonnell ties the game with a triple and puts the Panthers into the lead scoring on a Parrish single.
In the 7th Lansford doubles home Hernandez who had led off with a single. Lee Smith comes on for the Vampires, but his struggles continue as he gives up a RBI double to Gamble then two more runs score on a passed ball and a fielder’s choice. Ft. Worth was suddenly in control of game four up 9 to 4.
Lansford doubles home another run in the 8th this time Hernandez was thrown out when he also tried to score from first. Hollywood added some meaningless runs in the 9th and the Panthers were one game closer to repeating.
FINAL SCORE: PANTHERS 10, VAMPIRES 6

Game 5 - Down 3 games to 1 Hollywood had their work cut out for them having to face Soto in game 5. To make matters worse Ft. Worth loaded the base with only one out in the bottom of the first and then Mumphrey cleared them with a double.
The next half inning Soto works out of a first and third jam situation by getting Fisk to pop out and Templeton to ground out.
The Panthers struck again with same dynamic duo scoring a run when Lansford doubled home Hernandez making it Ft. Worth 4, Hollywood 0. They had two more hits in the third, but failed to score because Parrish was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double.
Meanwhile Soto was cruising until two outs in the 6th when Guerrero stepped up, “SOTO winds and fires ... uh-oh! ... way back ... BONNELL looks up ... put it on the board” The Vampires chased the Panther starter from the game in the 7th when he gave up a 2 out hit to Henderson to draw the Hollywood to within one run at 4 to 3.
With their backs against the wall the Vampires get out a bases loaded one situation in the bottom of the 8th when Frazier gets McGee to hit into an inning ending double play.
With the danger averted the Vampires found some magic tying the game with 2 outs in the 9th against the AL save leader when Henderson singled home Wiggins.
In extra innings Hollywood surged ahead when Fisk came up with the bases loaded, “PANTHERS playing for the double play ... the runners take their lead ... he comes home lined hard to right ... base hit ... MILLER is after it ... he cuts it off deep in the gap SMITH scores ... HAAS is around third ... GANTNER is around second they're waving HAAS in they're sending GANTNER to third also the throw goes home here's the play at the plate ... and he's ... safe...ahead of the throw and GANTNER moves to third ... FISK holds at first VAMPIRES 6, PANTHERS 4”
Bonnell leads off the bottom of the 10th by doubling in the right center gap, but Holland comes on to keep the title hopes alive for Hollywood when he gets pinch hitter Heath to ground out to end the game with runners on the corners.
FINAL SCORE: VAMPIRES 6, PANTHERS 4

Game 6 - After getting the victory in game 3 Vampire ace, McWilliams came back on short rest to pitch game 6. Both starting pitchers were brilliant with Hudson not allowing a hit until the bottom of the 4th. It was quickly erased when the next hitter lined into an inning ending double play third to first.
The two pitchers held each other’s opponents offense in check until the 8th when Ft. Worth managed to score a run on a fielder’s choice and Smalley gave the Panthers an insurance run with a blast in the top of the 9th.
Hudson comes out of the game with one out in the 9th after giving up his third walk of the game. He had only allowed that 4th inning single. Zachry comes on and strikes out Henderson for the 2nd out. Murray delivers a hit and run single, but that just delayed the Panthers nailing the steak into the heart of the Vampire fans as Zachry closes out the game with runners on the corners when Guerrero grounds out to short.
FINAL SCORE: PANTHERS 2, VAMPIRES 0

It was a well pitched series as both teams had ERA’s under 4.00 and it was even more impressive when you consider that each team’s bullpen struggled. Ft. Worth relievers had a 6.23 ERA while Hollywood had a 6.63 ERA led by Lee Smith at 32.40. The starter’s ERA was close between the two teams. Vampires at 2.31 and Panthers at 2.39.

The Vampires running game was effectively snuffed out by Parrish, who threw out 2 of 3 attempts against him. Hollywood had more base runners due to 12 more walks, but the Panthers had more timely hitting outhitting them .265 to .211.
Hudson was outstanding pitching 14.1 scoreless innings while striking out 11.

MVP:   Carney Lansford -  Panther third basemen, Carney Lansford, who always seemed to be driving home runs with doubles as he led both teams with 5 of them. He also scored 6 times, drove in 3, and hit .455.