Lasorda Wins Round 1

The first match-up of what may believe to be the two best divisions was contested this past week.

In the first series, the two fourth place teams met with Ann Arbor setting a tone by sweeping Eureka 8-5, 5-4 (11) and 10-3.  Match 2 saw Eureka take a 4-3 lead in the top of the 11th but were unable to hold.

In the series of 3rd place teams Las Vegas dominated Dallas in a 5-1, 5-4 (12), 7-3.  Again it was match 2 that was pivotal (by the way a game bug misscores this play).  Eric Bennett is credited with a 2-out 2-on triple, which accounted for the winning run in the bottom of the 12th.  It should have been scored a double since the game ends on the first run.


Second place New York took on co-leader Mile High and it was host Mile High edging out a 4-2, 3-6, 5-4 series victory.

Finally first place Nottinghamshire took on the other co-leader Kansas City. And again home ground was the advantage as Nottinghamshire won the series, 3-1, 4-9, 2-1.

So after the first series of games, the two divisions were tied with 6 wins apiece.

The second series saw the top two teams and the bottom two teams swap opponents.

Ann Arbor again set the tone for Lasorda with a sweep of then co-lead Las Vegas in Las Vegas, 15-4, 12-1 and 4-3. Ann Arbor rallied from 3 down to complete not only the sweep of Las Vegas but also the sweep of Anderson division opponents.

Dallas hosted Eureka, with both squads looking for their first wins. The home side again prevailed as Dallas swept Eureka, 2-1 (10), 5-0, 10-3.  Eureka could only muster nine hits the entire series.

New York hosted Kansas City. Each side had dropped games in the division with losing series and one would rebound. Host New York was blanked in game 1 7-0 as Kansas City pounded out 15 hits, but the Mafia rebound to win game two and three 4-2 and 8-5. to win the series 2 games to 1.

That left co-lead and host Mile High to tackle first place Nottinghamshire looking to salvage one series for the Anderson division. In 3 very well-played games, the Mustangs fell short as Nottinghamshire won the series, 3-2, 2-3 (10), 3-0. Each of the first two games were decided in the last inning.

So Lasorda won all series in the second set of matches and for the week were 16-8 against the Anderson Division.

Team performances were as follows:

Ann Arbor 6-0
Nottinghamshire 4-2
New York 3-3
Mile High 3-3
Dallas 3-3
Las Vegas 3-3
Kansas City 2-4
Eureka 0-6.

Can the Anderson Division recover in week two of the matchups?