It wasn’t too hard to figure out the turning point in the mixed slo-pitch league final between the Sluggers and the Little Rascals at St. Francis Sportsfields last night.
Chances are it was the Sluggers’ nine-run splurge in the bottom of the third inning which left the Rascals playing catch up for the entire game. The Sluggers went on to capture their first league title with a 20-26 win.
With the score 8-6 for the Sluggers, Paul Astle, Len Wiersema, and Glen Ward registered doubles to put up three quick runs. Rascals pitcher Mike Belluz forced Jason Wiersema and pitcher Bobbi Smith to fly out.
From there, Sheldon Bourassa started another offensive run with a triple. The next eight batters proceeded to reach base safely and grab an 18-6 lead.
Rascals veteran Vic Davis did his part to begin a rally. He belted a three-run and a two-run dinger off Smith in the top of the fourth and eighth innings to help cut the lead to seven at 24-17. Davis had previously hit another two-run shot in the top of the third.
But in the bottom of eight, Les Wiersema hit a clutch two-out double with runners on the corners to put the game out of reach, 26-17.
“[The Rascals] just had a down inning,” said Sluggers’ first baseman Audra Wiersema on their third inning onslaught. “We played more as a team last night than we had in general.”
The title marked the first for this Sluggers team, who have been playing together for six years. In 1999, they were close to the title but lost to the eventual champions–the Rascals–in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile the Rascals have had a tough time in these league finals. Despite the 1999 crown, they have been denied six of seven times in the finals. Their only other finals win was in 1985.
“We’re the Atlanta Braves of this league,” joked Rascals outfielder Kendall Matthews.
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