1980 DIVISION SERIES
East Side vs. Baton Rouge –
East Side wins game one 4-2 and Baton Rouge wins game two 4-1.
The Rajun Cajuns come to East Side.
Game 3 was Rincon vs McGregor
BRC scored 2 in the 2nd via a 2 run HR from Singleton. A Buddy Bell Sac Fly added a run in the 3rd. The same 2 gents added to the lead in the 6th…a Buddy Bell RBI 2B, followed by an RBI 1B from Singleton. That staked BRC to a 5-0 lead. Dave Collins and Trammell got EFC on the board with RBI 1B’s in the 7th. Late season acquisition Dave Hendersons single cut the lead to 2 in the 9th. EFC had runners on 2nd and 3rd, but the home teams hopes were dashed as the game ended with a line-out double play. BRC holds on to win 5-3.
Game 4 was Sanderson vs Langford
A see-saw affair early. Singleton knocked in a run for BRC with a 1st inning RBI single. Dave Collins followed with the same in the bottom half of the 1st. Game tied at 1. Watson came right back with a solo shot for BRC in the top of the 2nd. Dave Revering tied it once again as his double was kicked around in LF to allow him to score. It was Revering again with a double in the 6th to give EFC a 3-2 lead. Darrell Evans added a 2 run HR to build the lead to 5-2 for the home team. Doug Corbett was not up to the task in the 9th…The BRC rally included Ben Oglive smacking a game tying 3 run HR. EFC completely buckled, and the game was won with a Rick Cerone RBI single that plated the 4th and final run in the 9th. The BRC pen was able to shut down the home team in the bottom half. BRC 6 EFC 5
Fort Worth vs. Quebec City –
Quebec City takes the first 2 games.
Ft. Worth won two games in the 10th inning to even the series at 2 games a piece.
Quebec City takes game 5 10-3. One strong inning did it. A great series going the distance. Tony Armas continued his MVP season collecting his 8th rbi of the series. Mike Norris kept the Panther speed off of the basepaths, which helped the cause.
Lauderdale vs. Hollywood –
Hollywood jumps out quickly and knocks Vida Blue out in the 4th. Down 5-2, the Breakers battle back to regain the lead 6-5 after 6 innings. The Breaker bullpen, the strength of our team all season, then falters allowing 4 runs in the final 3 innings to lose the game 9-7.
This time it was Lauderdale’s turn to jump out early. After 5 innings it was 4-1 with our ace Frank Pastore cruising. Dale Murphy pops a 2-run homer in the 6th to tighten the game but Lauderdale comes bck with one of their own in the bottom half of the inning for a 5-3 lead. On comes our bullpen to hold the game. Drumroll please……..with 2 outs and bases loaded up comes Mr Murphy again, but no homer for him today. Unfortunately he did manage a bases clearing double to give Hollywood a 6-5 lead. The Vampire bullpen does the rest with 3 hitless innings to head back to Hollywood with a commanding 2-0 lead.
Hollywood welcomes Lauderdale to town for game 3 up 2 games to 0 thanks to their later inning heroics.
Game 3: Leonard vs Jenkins. Harrah walks and steals second to lead off the game, but Lauderdale couldn’t bring him around. Is this a sign of things to come? Only time will tell (I recap real time). Walling walks with 1-out in the first and is stranded as well. The game stays scoreless until the bottom of the fifth. Moore leads off with a single and moves to 3B on the Guerrero hit-and-run. Fergie lays down a bad bunt which nails Guerrero at 2B with no run scoring. Henderson comes up and singles to center to drive in the games first run. Then Leonard gets out of it when he induces Walling to ground into the DP. Hollywood leads 1-0 after 5. Hollywood then tacks on 2 more when Templeton triples two more home with no outs in the 6th. Youngblood then extends the lead to 4-0 with an RBI single. Jenkins continues to cruise from there throwing a 2-hitter in the 4-0 shutout. Lauderdale never really mounted a threat, so I guess it was a sign of things to come for them.
Hollywood advances to the LCS sweeping Lauderdale 3 games to 0.
Missouri vs. Germantown –
The Missouri Black Bears (82-80) come to Germantown (103-59) to start the Division series. The teams split their season series, so don’t think this will be a yawner. The Black Bears send LHP Tom Underwood (8-4, 3.56) to the mound and the Grays LHP Britt Burns (19-8, 2.37). It’s 64 degrees and drizzling at game time.
Game 1. The Grays take an early lead in the 1st. Number 2-hitter Werth blooped a single over short and Cooper dribble one by first to make it first and second. PR Auerbach came in for Werth. That was unnecessary as two batters later Yount put it over the left field wall, Grays 3-0. The Black Bears will not be complacent as they responded in their next at bat. Lynn leadoff with a double and Morrison singled him home. Grays leadoff man in the bottom half, Porter, answered with a solo shot over Foster’s head to right. That’s not all as Auerbach bloops a single, as does Cooper, as does Woods to chase Underwood. Final Grays 7 Black Bears 3.
The Black Bears send RHP Pete Vuckovich (11-9, 2.35) to the mound in game 2 and the Grays RHP Jim Bibby (13-7, 2.89).
Game 2. The Black Bears strike first with 2-out in the 3rd as Vuckovich doubles to the gap and Leflore singles him home. The Grays respond in the bottom half. Cruz walked, Hassey singled and Dawson doubled Cruz home with Hassey stopping at third, tie game. With 2-out in the 4th a red hot Lynn put the Black Bears back up with a solo to right, Black Bears 2-1. The Grays respond again in the bottom half. DeCinces and Garner stroked singles and aligned on first and second. PH banged DeCinces home with a double, tie game. Cruz followed with a single to right, Grays 3-2 still 1-out. Hassey then lifted one to left and PR Auerbach trotted down the line. The Grays added one in the 8th. DeCinces singled, Garner advanced him with a bunt and Werth doubled him home. Final Grays 5 Black Bears 2.
Burns starts with 4.0 no-hit innings
T7 Cooper OUT at plate on grounder to Trillo
0-0 through 7 innings
T8 Garner Single
PH Gary Woods for Burns (7.0 2-hit)
Quiz brought in to relieve Seaver (7.0 5-hit)
Garner steals second
Woods singles, Garner tries to score…
OUT at the plate! Woods to second on the throw
Ron Hassey then delivers a 2-out Single for a 1-0 lead
B8 Caudill brought in for Woods (Burns)
Trillo 1-out single
Sunny walks
Stargell PH for Quiz and walks
Bases loaded, 1 out
LeFlore strikes out
Bases loaded, 2 out
Pete Rose flies out weakly to end the inning
T9 Page walks, steals second and with the next pitch takes 3rd on a Passed Ball
DeCinces then delivers a Texas Leaguer for a 2-0 Grays lead
B9 Burgmeier comes in and gets Schmidt, Lynn, Foster to give the Grays the series victory