Tempe  vs. Severn - MWBL World Series
(Played live via logmein on 9/30/07)

Severn makes its first World Series appearance since 2001, when they lost
to Tempe 4 games to 2.   This match up will serve as the "rubber match",
as Severn also defeated Tempe in the 2000 series 4 games to 2. 

Game #1 – Carlos Zambrano vs. Bronson Arroyo

     Severn gets off to a good start by scoring 3 runs in the top of the 1st on an RBI single by Justin Morneau. With the bases loaded, Pat Burrell would fist one to the outfield to score 2 more runs and give Severn a 3-0 advantage after the first. The score would remain the same until the top of the 6th. Matt Holliday would get hit with a pitch (and knocked out of the series for 2 days) to load the bases with 1 out. Brian McCann would then clear the bases with a 3 run double to make the score 6-0. Miguel Cabrera would end the scoring with an RBI single to increase Severn's lead, 7-0. Tempe would get 1 back on a Paul Konerko home run to make the score 7-1 after 6 innings. Bill Hall would waste no time getting that run back with a solo jack in the 7th to make the score 8-1. ARod would add a 2 run single in the top of the 9th to close out the scoring and give Severn a 10-1 win and a 1-0 lead in the series. Zambrano gets the win.


Game 2 - Brandon Webb vs. Pedro Martinez

     Again, Severn gets the early lead 1-0 in the top of the 1st on a lead off homerun by Marlon Anderson. With runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out in the 4th, Mike Lowell would deliver a 2 RBI double and give Tempe its first lead of the series 2-1. The Tempers would get 1 more in the frame to make the score 3-1 after the 4th. Pat Burrell would bring the Express to within 3-2 with a solo homerun in the 7th. Eric Chavez would score in the bottom half of the inning on a Tadahito Iguchi double to increase Tempe's lead 4-2. Aaron Rowand would then deliver a 2 run homerun that would end game 2 and give Tempe a 6-2 win and even the series at 1 game apiece as we head to Severn. Matt Smith picked up the victory in relief.


Game 3 - Roger Clemens vs. Scott Olsen

     Reed Johnson leads off with a single and promptly steals 2b to give Tempe a runner in scoring position with no outs. He would score on an RBI single by Manny Ramirez. Tempe leads 1-0. Moises Alou would lead off the 2nd with a double. He would later score on a double play to give Tempe a 2-0 lead. Severn had a chance to get 1 back in the 2nd as they would test Manny Ramirez's arm in right. Needless to say, he threw Justin Morneau out at the plate and the score remained 2-0. With 1 out in the 3rd, Reed Johnson would give Tempe a 3-0 lead on a solo homerun. That would end the day for Scott Olsen as he got replaced by Chris Sampson. Sampson would go ahead and pitch 4 innings of 1 hit ball, but Severn could only manage to push 1 run across to cut the lead to 3-1. That run came in the 5th on a solo homer by Bill Hall. We would head to the bottom of the 9th with Tempe Closer Brian Bruney on the mound and a 3-1 Temper lead. Chris Coste would get things started with a lead off walk. Miguel Cabrera would then strike out. Morneau would then ground into a fielders choice and leave the Express down to their last out. Bill Hall would step to the plate already homering earlier in the game. "The pitch....this one is hit..... it may carry...... it's way back.... say good-bye Bill ties it up!" 3-3 as we head to the bottom of the 10th. Pat Burrell would waste no time in ending this game in the 10th as he jacks a long ball to give Severn an improbable 4-3 come from behind victory. Mariano Rivera picked up the victory in relief and Severn leads the series 2 games to 1.


Game 4 - Arroyo vs. Zambrano

     Tempe wastes no time, putting 2 on the board in the 1st. Hideki Matsui would walk and Frank Thomas would hit a bomb to make it 2-0. Severn would get 1 back on a Morneau sac fly that would score ARod and make it 2-1 Tempe. With 2 outs in the bottom of the 3rd, Miguel Cabrera would single. Morneau would then hit a 2 run homer to give Severn a 3-2 lead. Billy Hall would walk and then Ty Wiggington would hit another 2 run dinger and extend the Express lead to 5-2. Severn would score 2 more in the 5th and 6th to close out the scoring 9-2. The big blow for the Tempers would be a Manny Ramirez/Tad Iguchi collision that would end the series for both. Zambrano picked up his 2nd victory of the series. Severn leads 3 games to 1.


Game 5 - Martinez vs. Webb

     After a scoreless inning and a 1/2, Severn would get things started in the bottom of the 2nd. Again, with 2 outs and no one on base, Bill Hall would hit a triple. The next batter, Wiggington would hit a 2 run homer and give the Express a 5-0 lead. Wes Littleton would replace Pedro and walk Burrell and Emil Brown. ARod ould then do something that he has rarely done in th epost season, hit a 3 run homer and give the Express a 5-0 lead. The Tempers would score 1 in the 7th on a solo homer by Konerko, but that would end the scoring. Severn wins the game 5-1 and win the MWBL Championship over Tempe 4 games to 1. Brandon Webb got the victory.

Interesting note - Severn did not attempt a steal throughout the playoffs and WS.

Severn hit .221 with 11HR, 30 runs, .304 obp, .485 slg
Tempe hit .168 with 5 HR, 13 runs, .218 obp, .316 slg
Severn's era was 2.40 compared to 5.86 for Tempe


MVP
Billy Hall  .294-Avg, .348-Obp .553-Slg, 3-HR, 1-2B, 1-3B, 4 RBI
Watch one of Bill Hall World Series Home Runs Right Here

Runners-up
Carlos Zambrano 2-0, 2.25-Era, 2-GS, 12-Inn, 13 SO