ICBL

One thing I've realized in the short time with ICBL managers; we are all knowledgeable, passionate fans of the game of baseball.  Brian, encouraging all of us to play in a way that we get to know each other, has been a great captain, guiding the ship. TeamViewer is a great way to spread unity in a competitive arena during the playoffs and even during the season.

 

The World Series was set between David and Goliath.  Vince, and his steam rolling 109-53 Batavia Bombers were positioned very well against Shane and Red Barchetta (91-71).  Barchetta. Red had lost their last 5 straight home games against Happy Valley (103-59) and sneaked into the playoffs by winning their last away series. They won out Virginia Gentlemen (90-72) for the last remaining Wild-Card Spot by a single game. Happy to have made the playoffs, Red Barchetta looked at the lineup cards and the teams they would face and cringed at the power in the National League Standings. All teams had triple digits wins after their names!

 

Vince and the Bombers came in the the World Series with confidence, knowing they had much  better record than Barchetta by a large margin.  If Aaron Judge could be contained, Red Barchetta could be handled. The Bombers had won a seven game Division series against a very good Cleveland Tide (99-63) team and then another seven game League Championship series against Gulf Shore Bandits (108-59).  They were suppose to be in the Big Show, flexing in front the mirror. They certainly deserved it!  Shane and Barchetta were just happy to have made the playoffs, especially after the way they finished at home VS Happy Valley. Red Barchetta played Lloyd and his strong Seville Way Pirates.  After we both needed Brian's help with TeamViewer, the series was played quickly. Red Barchetta came out of the gate quickly and stole the series away from the Pirates 4-1.  Next, Barchetta played "The Commissioner" and his Seaview Clubbers (101-61).  Brian had an amazing season but ran into a fast moving vehicle head on.  The series was over before Brian could say Red Barchetta and the lack of a single win was a shock to what was indeed a fine season. The regular season was not easy, but for some reason, Red Barchetta was seeing the the gas engine competing well against the "gleaming alloy air cars" with the 100 win seasons.

 

The World Series - Red Barchetta issued a press release saying "The Mighty Have Fallen", to which Vince and his team laughed and responded "You haven't played us yet! True indeed, the best record in the league (Batavia) was still in the game. What threat did a 91 win  team have against 109? Red Barchetta was even looking ahead a discouraged at what they had to face, even challenges they were not expecting. Vince and I had a great conversation days before the big event and we talked baseball like two old friends.  We even exchanged words of "it will fun regardless of the outcome."

 

Game 1: The first three innings went by quickly without much to talk about.  Finally, Red Barchetta broke goose eggs open with 3 runs off Shane McClanahan.  Gelof, Berti, and Contreras are good players but not household names.  They each had an rbi in the 4th inning and Barchetta goes on to win 4-1.  The real heroes of the game for Red were the relievers Bryan Abreu, Hector Neris, Trent Thornton, and Bryse Wilson.  Again, some of these guys you may not have heard about, but they played their hearts out.

 

Game 2: Vince shifted in his office chair thinking, "ok a lucky win, no worries in the world". Ohtani is on the mound.  However, after 5 innings, Shohei was pulled; giving up 4 earned runs after William Contreras was jogging around the diamond with his gloves raised in the air.  Not sure I really understand the players having silly dance parties after doing their jobs but we will let them slide.  In the end, Red Barchetta has stolen another game 6-4.

 

Game 3: Vince knew what lay ahead for his team; Shawn Armstrong (19z) and John Means (19z) and was still as confident as always.  Surely, these mid-range missiles of Red Barchetta were no match for the Batavia Bombers. Red raced out of the track with a 2-0 lead and then 3-0 going into the 8th inning.  And then Batavia's leadoff hitter, Ha-Seong Kim launched a bomb that looked like it was shot out of cannon. A three run homer to tie the game!  Wow!  Vince finally had something that made him pleased and said, "Remember this Inning!"  The tires of Barchetta had been deflated but the game was still tied.  The captain and hero of Barchetta had one last say and his club managed to get two runs back off Jhoan (19z).  Aaron Judge wins the game for Red Barchetta by going 4-4 with a homer and 2 rbi. For the first time in the series, Batavia had a little respect for Red Barchetta.  "Damn, the series is 0-3."

 

Game 4: John Means (my good friends very close friend) took the hill, finally for Batavia.  He was ready and on a mission!  John threw darts that hit black all day and he made Judge (0-4) and the rest of Barchetta look overmatched.  Luis Robert went 2-3 with two walks, a homer, and 2 rbi.  Bombers win the game 6-3!  Series is now 3-1.

 

Game 5: Red Barchetta knew this was the game to win and had to go "all out." They were to face Armstrong and Ohtani in games 6-7 and they knew what that meant, "the odds were not good."  From the opening pitch Batavia looked like a champion in every aspect, except for one little inning, the 3rd.  An inning that Batavia will remember.  Ian Happ, Brian Reynolds, Aaron Judge, Zach Gelof, and Jorge Polanco each crossed the plate in the 3rd.  Five runs in one inning was a sinking blow to the Nimitz.  Batavia did not enough fire-power against the Barchetta's relievers this time.  Red Barchetta wins the game 5-2 and the World series in five games!

 

The Mighty had indeed fallen.

 

Shane

Red Barchetta