Death Valley Devil Dogs vs. Kalamazoo Golden Spikes


Press releases by Al Gwizdala.


Game 1: Golden Spikes 7, Devil Dogs 4

Ankiel looked wild with 8 walks over 6 innings. Spikes capitalized on the early walks and jumped out to a three-run first on three two-out hits including a Shane Halter two-run triple. Brady Anderson started off the Devil Dog post-season with a solo-homer. Devil Dogs cut the lead to 3-2 before the Spikes could take a commanding 6-2 lead on Davis HR and three Ankiel walks. The Devil Dogs team had no balks in the regular season but that didn't stop the nervous Miceli from balking in a run with the bases loaded. Devil Dogs threatened in the bottom of the seventh closing the contest to 6-4, but an eighth inning pinch-hit solo homer by Matt Stairs let Gabe White come in to close the door.

10/3/2001, Kal01-DV01, The Inferno
 
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
2001 Golden Spikes     3  0  0  0  0  0  3  1  0     7  5  0     9  0
2001 Devil Dogs        1  0  0  1  0  0  2  0  0     4  8  1     5  0
 
Golden Spikes        AB  R  H BI  D  T HR BB  K SB CS IW HP SH SF   AVG   PO  A  E PB
Davis             rf  4  1  1  1  0  0  1  0  2  0  0  0  0  0  0  .250    1  0  0  0
 Martinez,F       ss  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    1  1  0  0
Murray            cf  2  1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  .000    3  0  0  0
 Stairs           ph  1  1  1  1  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 1.000    0  0  0  0
Nevin             3b  2  2  0  0  0  0  0  3  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  2  0  0
Delgado           1b  4  1  1  1  1  0  0  1  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .250    9  0  0  0
Halter            ss  3  1  1  1  0  1  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .333    0  1  0  0
 Lankford         ph  2  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  2  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    1  0  0  0
Johnson,C         c   3  0  0  0  0  0  0  2  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    8  0  0  0
Easley            2b  4  0  1  1  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .250    2  2  0  0
Wilson            lf  3  0  0  1  0  0  0  1  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    2  0  0  0
Sirotka           p   3  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  2  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Walker           p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 White            p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
                     32  7  5  6  1  1  2 10 11  0  0  0  1  0  0         27  6  0  0
 
Devil Dogs           AB  R  H BI  D  T HR BB  K SB CS IW HP SH SF   AVG   PO  A  E PB
Anderson          cf  4  1  3  3  1  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .750    4  0  0  0
Fryman            3b  4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  2  0  0
Zeile             1b  4  1  1  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .250    5  0  0  0
Fordyce           c   4  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .250   11  0  0  0
Bonds             lf  4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  2  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    4  0  0  0
Polanco           ss  4  0  1  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .250    1  2  0  0
Green             rf  4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    1  0  0  0
Bush              2b  2  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    1  3  1  0
 Hayes            ph  1  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 1.000    0  0  0  0
 Knoblauch        pr  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Vizquel          ph  1  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 1.000    0  0  0  0
Ankiel            p   2  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  2  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Miceli           p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Bagwell          ph  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Crabtree         p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Borbon           p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Finley           ph  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
                     35  4  8  4  2  0  1  1  7  0  0  0  0  0  0         27  7  1  0
 
Golden Spikes                    INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   BF HR IW HP WP DP   ERA
Sirotka          W 1-0           6.2  7  4  4  1  6 110  71   28  1  0  0  0  0  5.40
Walker           H 1             1.1  0  0  0  0  1  12  10    4  0  0  0  0  0  0.00
White            S 1             1.0  1  0  0  0  0  11   9    4  0  0  0  0  0  0.00
                                 9.0  8  4  4  1  7 133  90   36  1  0  0  0  0 
 
Devil Dogs                       INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   BF HR IW HP WP DP   ERA
Ankiel           L 0-1           6.0  4  6  6  8  6 115  55   31  1  0  1  0  0  9.00
Miceli                           1.0  0  0  0  2  1  25  13    5  0  0  0  0  0  0.00
Crabtree                         0.2  1  1  1  0  1   9   7    3  1  0  0  0  0 13.50
Borbon                           1.1  0  0  0  0  3  23  14    4  0  0  0  0  0  0.00
                                 9.0  5  7  7 10 11 172  89   43  2  0  1  0  0 
 
Kal: Lankford batted for Halter in the 7th
     Martinez,F inserted at ss in the 7th
     Lankford moved to lf in the 7th
     Wilson moved to rf in the 7th
     Stairs batted for Murray in the 8th
     Stairs moved to rf in the 8th
     Wilson moved to cf in the 8th
DV : Hayes batted for Bush in the 7th
     Bagwell batted for Miceli in the 7th
     Knoblauch ran for Hayes in the 7th
     Knoblauch moved to 2b in the 8th
     Vizquel batted for Knoblauch in the 9th
     Finley batted for Borbon in the 9th
 
GWRBI: Delgado
Temperature: 69, Sky: clear, Wind: left to right at 16 MPH.



Game 2: Devil Dogs 7, Golden Spikes 6

Game 2 was an incredible emotional roller-coaster-ride for Devil Dog fans. Spikes again plated one in the first to jump out to an early lead. Devil Dogs scored three in the bottom of the third with a bases clearing Green double. Joe Oliver added two more off starter Ponson with a HR in the fifth. The Golden Spikes wouldn't fade as they chipped away at the lead with Easley and Nevin homers to cut the score to 5-4. Rivera entered the game in the eighth to try to seal the win for the home crowd but the Spikes would have none of it. After two strikeouts, Lankford and Easley hit back-to-back singles that set the stage for Carlos Delgado's two-run double down the line. This gave the lead to the Spikes 6-5. Gabe White was again called on to save the game and give a commanding two-to-nothing series lead to the Spikes. White got himself out of trouble in the eighth by stranding Brady Anderson on second. Some will probably say the hot Death Valley heat got to defensive replacement Shane Halter as his routine ground ball pulled Delgado off first base which let Todd Zeile beat-out the throw to start off the ninth with an error. Omar Vizquel battled five pitches and finally laid down a 2-2 pitch to advance Zeile with a SAC bunt. After Gabe White struck-out Fryman, that left manager Enrique Temes to decide his fate, pitch to Barry Bonds with the tying run at second or walk the potential winning run and face late inning substitute, Homer Bush. This is the stuff of legends as the White pitch sailed over the left field fence on the two-run Bonds, walk-off home-run. The Golden Spikes held their composure as Halter took responsibility for the error, "They pay me to make plays like that. It won't happen again."

10/4/2001, Kal01-DV01, The Inferno
 
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
2001 Golden Spikes     1  0  0  0  0  0  1  4  0     6 12  1    11  0
2001 Devil Dogs        0  0  3  0  2  0  0  0  2     7 10  0     5  0
 
Golden Spikes        AB  R  H BI  D  T HR BB  K SB CS IW HP SH SF   AVG   PO  A  E PB
Lankford          lf  4  2  2  0  1  0  0  1  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .333    3  0  0  0
Easley            2b  4  2  3  1  0  0  1  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .500    0  3  0  0
Delgado           1b  5  0  2  3  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .333    7  0  0  0
Johnson,C         c   4  0  1  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .143    8  1  0  0
Stairs            rf  5  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .167    3  0  0  0
 White            p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
Wilson            cf  5  1  1  0  1  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .125    2  1  0  0
 Murray           cf  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
Nevin             3b  4  1  2  2  1  0  1  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .333    2  0  0  0
 Halter           3b  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .250    0  1  1  0
Martinez,F        ss  4  0  1  0  0  0  0  1  2  0  0  0  0  0  0  .200    1  0  0  0
Ponson            p   1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  1  0  .000    0  1  0  0
 Perez            ph  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Tavarez          p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Guillen          ph  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Davis            rf  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .250    0  0  0  0
                     38  6 12  6  4  0  2  4  7  0  0  0  1  1  0         26  7  1  0
 
Devil Dogs           AB  R  H BI  D  T HR BB  K SB CS IW HP SH SF   AVG   PO  A  E PB
Vizquel           ss  3  0  1  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  .500    1  0  0  0
Fryman            3b  5  1  1  0  1  0  0  0  2  0  0  0  0  0  0  .111    0  1  0  0
Bonds             lf  3  2  1  2  0  0  1  2  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  .143    2  0  0  0
Bagwell           1b  3  2  1  0  1  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .333    4  1  0  0
 Rivera           p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Bush             2b  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
Green             rf  4  0  1  3  1  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .125    5  0  0  0
Oliver            c   3  1  1  2  0  0  1  0  2  0  0  0  0  0  0  .333    6  1  0  0
 Hayes            ph  1  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 1.000    0  0  0  0
 Anderson         pr  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  .750    0  0  0  0
Finley            cf  3  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  .250    4  0  0  0
 Fordyce          ph  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .200    2  0  0  0
Polanco           2b  4  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .250    2  0  0  0
 Miceli           p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
Meche             p   2  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    1  1  0  0
 Borbon           p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Shuey            p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Knoblauch        ph  1  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0 1.000    0  0  0  0
 Reynolds         p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Crabtree         p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Zeile            1b  1  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .200    0  0  0  0
                     34  7 10  7  3  0  2  4  8  2  1  1  0  1  0         27  4  0  0
 
Golden Spikes                    INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   BF HR IW HP WP DP   ERA
Ponson                           5.0  7  5  5  4  4  92  56   25  1  1  0  0  0  9.00
Tavarez                          2.0  1  0  0  0  1  24  12    6  0  0  0  0  0  0.00
White            BS 1, L 0-1     1.2  2  2  0  0  3  30  20    8  1  0  0  0  0  0.00
                                 8.2 10  7  5  4  8 146  88   39  2  1  0  0  0 
 
Devil Dogs                       INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   BF HR IW HP WP DP   ERA
Meche                            4.1  5  1  1  2  3  83  50   20  0  0  0  1  0  2.08
Borbon                           0.1  0  0  0  0  0   4   3    1  0  0  0  0  0  0.00
Shuey            H 1             1.1  1  0  0  1  1  20   9    7  0  0  1  0  0  0.00
Reynolds         H 1             1.0  2  2  2  0  0  15   8    5  1  0  0  0  0 18.00
Crabtree                         0.0  1  1  1  0  0   2   2    1  1  0  0  0  0 27.00
Rivera           BS 1            1.0  3  2  2  1  2  30  17    7  0  0  0  0  0 18.00
Miceli           W 1-0           1.0  0  0  0  0  1  15   8    3  0  0  0  0  0  0.00
                                 9.0 12  6  6  4  7 169  97   44  2  0  1  1  0 
 
Kal: Perez batted for Ponson in the 6th
     Guillen batted for Tavarez in the 8th
     Halter inserted at 3b in the 8th
     Davis inserted at rf in the 8th
     Murray inserted at cf in the 9th
DV : Knoblauch batted for Shuey in the 6th
     Zeile inserted at 1b in the 8th
     Hayes batted for Oliver in the 8th
     Anderson ran for Hayes in the 8th
     Fordyce batted for Finley in the 8th
     Anderson moved to cf in the 9th
     Fordyce moved to c in the 9th
     Bush inserted at 2b in the 9th
 
GWRBI: Bonds
Temperature: 67, Sky: clear, Wind: left to right at 16 MPH.



Game 3: Golden Spikes 8, Devil Dogs 2

Both teams traveled to Kalamazoo but in much different ways. The Golden Spikes had to be thinking about what slipped away in game 2 and the Devil Dogs were thinking they are back in this thing. Hats off to the Golden Spikes for quickly showing they weren’t going to let one miscue bring the whole team down as they jumped out to a one-run lead in the bottom of the second in typical Spike ‘claw it out’ fashion. Charles Johnson hit a lead-off double off Dog starter Scott Elarton. Matt Stairs moved him over to third on a grounder to the pitcher and Preston Wilson sent a sac-fly into center field. “We felt we had to get out early in this one and put everything else behind us. That would take the pressure off us and put it squarely on Death Valley,” were the post-game comments of Kalamazoo GM Enrique Temes. Charles Johnson again did the damage in the fourth with another double. After a walk to Stairs, Phil Nevin cleared the bases on a two-out double. Ray Lankford made the score 4-0 Spikes with a lead-off HR in the fifth. That is all Osvaldo Fernandez would need as he confused Devil Dog hitters going five before giving way to Julian Tavarez. The only real threat of the day came in the top of the seventh when the visiting team loaded the bases off Tavarez with a single and two walks. That brought Ricky Bottalico into the game. He was able to get pinch-hitter Brady Anderson to ground to third causing a force at the plate. With the Spikes at double-play depth, Chuck Knoblauch was able to plate a run on a slow grounder to second. With the tying run at the plate and Travis Fryman due up, Mark Guthrie entered the game. He struck-out pinch-hitter Todd Zeile on a wicked breaking ball. Spikes added one in the eighth to increase the lead to 5-1. Devil Dogs wasted a solo-HR by Barry Bonds as the Spikes salted this one away with a three-run Carlos Delgado HR off of Shane Reynolds. The crowd erupted when Shane Halter was introduced as a pinch-hitter. “They really made me proud to put on the uniform today. As I said, that mistake won’t happen again,” said a determined Shane Halter. When the dust settled, the Golden Spikes had a 8-2 victory and a 2-1 lead in the series.

10/6/2001, DV01-Kal01, The Black Diamond
 
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
2001 Devil Dogs        0  0  0  0  0  0  1  1  0     2  6  0     8  2
2001 Golden Spikes     0  1  0  2  1  0  1  3  x     8 12  1     8  2
 
Devil Dogs           AB  R  H BI  D  T HR BB  K SB CS IW HP SH SF   AVG   PO  A  E PB
Knoblauch         2b  5  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .167    3  3  0  0
Fryman            3b  3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .083    0  1  0  0
 Zeile            ph  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .167    0  0  0  0
 Wunsch           p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  1  0  0
 Reynolds         p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
Bonds             lf  2  1  1  1  0  0  1  2  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  .222    1  0  0  0
Bagwell           1b  3  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .167    5  0  0  0
Green             rf  4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  2  0  0  0  0  0  0  .083    5  0  0  0
Oliver            c   2  0  2  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .600    4  0  0  0
 Fordyce          ph  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .200    2  0  0  0
Finley            cf  4  1  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .250    3  0  0  0
Polanco           ss  2  0  2  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .400    1  2  0  0
 Vizquel          ph  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .400    0  0  0  0
Elarton           p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  2  0  .000    0  1  0  0
 Borbon           p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Crabtree         p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Anderson         ph  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .600    0  0  0  0
 Hayes            3b  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .667    0  1  0  0
                     29  2  6  2  0  0  1  6  4  1  0  0  0  2  0         24  9  0  0
 
Golden Spikes        AB  R  H BI  D  T HR BB  K SB CS IW HP SH SF   AVG   PO  A  E PB
Lankford          lf  3  1  2  1  0  0  1  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .444    1  0  0  0
 Halter           ph  1  1  1  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .400    0  0  0  0
Easley            2b  5  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  2  0  0  0  0  0  0  .308    4  7  0  0
Delgado           1b  4  2  2  3  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  .385   15  1  0  0
Johnson,C         c   4  2  2  0  2  0  0  1  2  0  0  0  0  0  0  .273    5  0  0  0
Stairs            rf  2  1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .125    0  0  0  0
 Tavarez          p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Murray           rf  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  .000    0  0  0  0
Wilson            cf  3  0  1  2  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  .182    1  0  1  0
Nevin             3b  4  0  2  2  2  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .400    0  5  0  0
Martinez,F        ss  2  1  2  0  0  0  0  2  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  .429    0  3  0  0
Fernandez         p   1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  .000    0  1  0  0
 Davis            rf  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .200    0  0  0  0
 Bottalico        p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Guthrie          p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    1  0  0  0
 Guillen          ph  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Rekar            p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
                     31  8 12  8  4  0  2  5  6  0  0  1  1  2  1         27 17  1  0
 
Devil Dogs                       INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   BF HR IW HP WP DP   ERA
Elarton          L 0-1           5.2  8  4  4  3  4 103  56   27  1  1  0  0  1  6.35
Borbon                           0.0  0  0  0  1  0   6   2    1  0  0  0  0  0  0.00
Crabtree                         0.1  0  0  0  0  0   3   2    1  0  0  0  0  0 18.00
Wunsch                           0.1  1  1  1  1  0  13   7    4  0  0  1  0  0 27.00
Reynolds                         1.2  3  3  3  0  2  31  19    7  1  0  0  0  1 16.88
                                 8.0 12  8  8  5  6 156  86   40  2  1  1  0  2 
 
Golden Spikes                    INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   BF HR IW HP WP DP   ERA
Fernandez        W 1-0           5.0  4  0  0  2  1  67  42   20  0  0  0  0  1  0.00
Tavarez          H 1             1.0  1  1  1  3  0  26  10    6  0  0  0  0  1  3.00
Bottalico        H 1             0.2  0  0  0  0  0   7   5    2  0  0  0  0  0  0.00
Guthrie          H 1             1.1  1  1  1  1  2  26  15    6  1  0  0  0  0  6.75
Rekar                            1.0  0  0  0  0  1  12   8    3  0  0  0  0  0  0.00
                                 9.0  6  2  2  6  4 138  80   37  1  0  0  0  2 
 
DV : Vizquel batted for Polanco in the 7th
     Anderson batted for Crabtree in the 7th
     Zeile batted for Fryman in the 7th
     Vizquel moved to ss in the 7th
     Hayes inserted at 3b in the 7th
     Fordyce batted for Oliver in the 8th
     Fordyce moved to c in the 8th
Kal: Davis inserted at rf in the 6th
     Halter batted for Lankford in the 6th
     Halter moved to lf in the 7th
     Murray inserted at rf in the 7th
     Guillen batted for Guthrie in the 8th
 
GWRBI: Wilson
Temperature: 82, Sky: partly cloudy, Wind: right to left at 7 MPH.



Game 4: Devil Dogs 3, Golden Spikes 0

Facing elimination, the Dogs sent Cal Eldred to the hill. “With all the injury problems and surgeries I have had in my career, I just wanted a chance to throw in October.” The Golden Spikes countered with veteran Denny Neagle. The Devil Dogs jumped out to their first lead of the series with a two-run HR by Todd Zeile in the first. Neagle then gave up two more singles but regained his composure to strike-out Shawn Green to end the rocky first inning. As it turned out, one-run would have been enough as Cal Eldred used his ‘chance’ to the fullest. Eldred pitched a complete game, 1-hitter, 3-walk, 10-strike-out, game. The lone hit was a ground rule double by Delgado in the fourth. Neagle also settled down after the first and the Dogs added only one more run in the fourth off two-singles and a wild pitch. Bottalico came in to pitch a near perfect eighth and ninth but it didn’t matter as Cal Eldred’s performance sent the series to a decisive game 5 back in Death Valley.

10/7/2001, DV01-Kal01, The Black Diamond
 
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
2001 Devil Dogs        2  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0     3  8  0     8  1
2001 Golden Spikes     0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0     0  1  1     3  0
 
Devil Dogs           AB  R  H BI  D  T HR BB  K SB CS IW HP SH SF   AVG   PO  A  E PB
Anderson          cf  2  1  2  0  1  0  0  3  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  .714    2  0  0  0
Fryman            3b  4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .063    0  1  0  0
 Vizquel          ss  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .333    0  1  0  0
Zeile             1b  4  1  1  2  0  0  1  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .200    8  0  0  0
Fordyce           c   4  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .222   10  0  0  0
Bonds             lf  4  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  2  0  0  0  0  0  0  .231    1  0  0  0
Polanco           ss  4  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .357    1  2  0  0
Green             rf  4  1  1  0  0  0  0  0  2  0  0  0  0  0  0  .125    2  0  0  0
Bush              2b  4  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .167    3  6  0  0
Eldred            p   4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  2  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
                     35  3  8  2  1  0  1  3 10  0  1  0  0  0  0         27 10  0  0
 
Golden Spikes        AB  R  H BI  D  T HR BB  K SB CS IW HP SH SF   AVG   PO  A  E PB
Lankford          lf  3  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  3  0  0  0  0  0  0  .333    4  0  0  0
Easley            2b  4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .235    2  1  0  0
Delgado           1b  4  0  1  0  1  0  0  0  2  0  0  0  0  0  0  .353    3  0  1  0
Johnson,C         c   1  0  0  0  0  0  0  2  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .250   10  1  0  0
Stairs            rf  3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .091    2  0  0  0
Wilson            cf  3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  .143    4  0  0  0
 Bottalico        p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
Nevin             3b  3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .308    0  0  0  0
Martinez,F        ss  3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .300    2  1  0  0
Neagle            p   2  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Murray           cf  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Guillen          ph  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Halter           cf  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .400    0  0  0  0
                     27  0  1  0  1  0  0  3 10  1  0  0  0  0  0         27  3  1  0
 
Devil Dogs                       INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   BF HR IW HP WP DP   ERA
Eldred           W 1-0           9.0  1  0  0  3 10 124  76   30  0  0  0  0  1  0.00
                                 9.0  1  0  0  3 10 124  76   30  0  0  0  0  1 
 
Golden Spikes                    INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   BF HR IW HP WP DP   ERA
Neagle           L 0-1           7.0  8  3  3  2  7 116  76   32  1  0  0  1  0  3.86
Bottalico                        2.0  0  0  0  1  3  21  11    6  0  0  0  0  0  0.00
                                 9.0  8  3  3  3 10 137  87   38  1  0  0  1  0 
 
DV : Vizquel inserted at ss in the 7th
     Polanco moved to 3b in the 7th
Kal: Murray inserted at cf in the 8th
     Guillen batted for Murray in the 8th
     Halter inserted at cf in the 9th
 
GWRBI: Zeile
Temperature: 83, Sky: partly cloudy, Wind: left to right at 17 MPH.



Game 5: Golden Spikes 7, Devil Dogs 4

In what fans outside of Kalamazoo say is a mild upset, the Golden Spikes down the Devil Dogs three games to two.

Tommy Lasorda thought it ironic that recently named MVP Barry Bonds ended the game on the on-deck circle with Gabe White celebrating on the mound. "I was just hoping to get one chance out there," were the comments of a dejected Bond.

The Golden Spikes did their damage with a decisive six-run six-inning. The young Devil Dog pitchers seemed to lose their composure as Rick Ankiel was staked to a three-run lead. In the sixth, Ankiel started off the inning with a walk to Eric Davis. That got Dog pitching coach Don Drysdale scurrying to get Gil Meche warmed up. Before Meche would enter the game, Ankiel regained some composure to strikeout Murray on a very close pitch. Phil Nevin sent a smash single into right field that brought Carlos Delgado up. Ankiel was obviously nervous and a bit wild as he hit Delgado square in the back. That loaded the bases and chased Mr. Ankiel. Gil Meche inherited a three-run lead with the bases loaded and one down. "I am not saying the Shrikes can't scout but their farm system just didn't have it today," was the comments of an obviously disappointed manager Tommy Lasorda who later vowed to be back next year. Meche proceeded to walk the next two batters forcing two run in. Enough was enough and Paul Shuey was summoned from the pen. Damion Easley did what he had to do and sent the second Shuey pitch deep into left field for a game tying sac fly. With two-on and two-down, Preston Wilson hit his first homer of the series on a high Shuey fastball. When the dust settled, a stunned Devil Dog crowd had seen their lead disappear and be replaced by a three-run Golden Spike lead. The crafty Spike pen would have to work out of a few jams leaving runners on in each inning. The moment of truth came in the bottom of the seventh when the Dogs had Fordyce on third and Bonds on first with two down. Jeff Bagwell was announced as a pinch-hitter that caused Enrique Temes to summon Ricky Bottalico to the mound. On a 2-2 count, Bottalico struck-out Bagwell on a pitch that hit the plate. Devil Dogs would again threaten in the eighth and ninth but Gabe White was equal to the task. "It felt right to have Gabe end this thing after what happened in game two. I am proud of him and the rest of our guys," said victorious GM Enrique Temes.

"Rookie of the year, MVP, and GM of the year don't mean much when you are watching the playoffs from home," said Devil Dog GM Al Gwizdala. When asked if he thought all the trades paid off for the Dogs this year, Gwizdala snapped, "Yeah, Travis Fryman's 1-21 in the series sure did help. Next question idiot!"

10/9/2001, Kal01-DV01, The Inferno
 
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
2001 Golden Spikes     0  0  1  0  0  6  0  0  0     7  5  0     8  1
2001 Devil Dogs        0  1  1  2  0  0  0  0  0     4  9  0     9  0
 
Golden Spikes        AB  R  H BI  D  T HR BB  K SB CS IW HP SH SF   AVG   PO  A  E PB
Davis             rf  2  1  0  0  0  0  0  1  2  0  0  0  0  0  0  .143    0  0  0  0
 Martinez,F       ss  2  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .250    0  1  0  0
Murray            cf  3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    3  0  0  0
 Stairs           ph  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .083    2  0  0  0
Nevin             3b  2  1  1  0  0  0  0  3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .333    0  2  0  0
Delgado           1b  4  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  1  0  0  .286    8  0  0  0
Halter            ss  2  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .286    1  1  0  0
 Lankford         ph  2  1  0  1  0  0  0  1  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .286    0  0  0  0
Johnson,C         c   4  1  1  1  0  0  0  1  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .250    6  1  0  0
Easley            2b  2  1  1  1  1  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  .263    3  3  0  0
Wilson            lf  3  1  2  4  1  0  1  1  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .235    4  0  0  0
Sirotka           p   2  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Perez            ph  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Walker           p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  1  0  0
 Bottalico        p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Guillen          ph  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 White            p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
                     31  7  5  7  2  0  1  9 10  0  0  0  1  0  1         27  9  0  0
 
Devil Dogs           AB  R  H BI  D  T HR BB  K SB CS IW HP SH SF   AVG   PO  A  E PB
Anderson          cf  2  1  0  0  0  0  0  3  0  1  0  1  0  0  0  .556    1  0  0  0
Fryman            3b  5  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  3  0  0  0  0  0  0  .048    2  2  0  0
Fordyce           c   5  0  2  0  1  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .286   11  0  0  0
Zeile             1b  5  0  1  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .200    5  2  0  0
Bonds             lf  3  1  2  1  0  0  1  1  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  .313    3  0  0  0
Polanco           2b  3  1  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .353    0  3  0  0
 Meche            p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Shuey            p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Wunsch           p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    1  0  0  0
 Bagwell          ph  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .143    0  0  0  0
 Borbon           p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Crabtree         p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  0  0  0
 Rivera           p   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  .000    0  1  0  0
Green             rf  3  1  2  1  1  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  1  0  0  .211    2  0  0  0
Vizquel           ss  2  0  1  1  1  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  .375    0  0  0  0
Ankiel            p   1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  .000    1  1  0  0
 Bush             2b  2  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  .125    1  0  0  0
                     32  4  9  4  3  0  1  5  6  2  1  1  1  2  0         27  9  0  0
 
Golden Spikes                    INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   BF HR IW HP WP DP   ERA
Sirotka          W 2-0           5.0  7  4  4  3  3  96  56   24  1  1  0  0  0  6.17
Walker           H 2             1.2  1  0  0  1  1  32  19    8  0  0  1  0  0  0.00
Bottalico        H 2             0.1  0  0  0  0  1   8   6    1  0  0  0  0  0  0.00
White            S 2             2.0  1  0  0  1  1  28  16    7  0  0  0  0  1  0.00
                                 9.0  9  4  4  5  6 164  97   40  1  1  1  0  1 
 
Devil Dogs                       INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   BF HR IW HP WP DP   ERA
Ankiel                           5.1  3  4  4  2  6  91  55   22  0  0  1  1  0  7.94
Meche            L 0-1           0.0  0  2  2  2  0  11   3    2  0  0  0  0  0  6.23
Shuey            BS 1            1.0  1  1  1  0  1  10   6    4  1  0  0  0  0  3.86
Wunsch                           0.2  0  0  0  1  0  16   8    3  0  0  0  0  0  9.00
Borbon                           0.1  0  0  0  0  1   6   3    1  0  0  0  0  0  0.00
Crabtree                         0.0  1  0  0  2  0  13   4    3  0  0  0  0  0 18.00
Rivera                           1.2  0  0  0  2  2  28  12    7  0  0  0  0  0  6.75
                                 9.0  5  7  7  9 10 175  91   42  1  0  1  1  0 
 
Kal: Lankford batted for Halter in the 6th
     Perez batted for Sirotka in the 6th
     Martinez,F inserted at ss in the 6th
     Lankford moved to lf in the 6th
     Wilson moved to rf in the 6th
     Stairs batted for Murray in the 7th
     Stairs moved to rf in the 7th
     Wilson moved to cf in the 7th
     Guillen batted for Bottalico in the 8th
DV : Bush inserted at 2b in the 6th
     Bagwell batted for Wunsch in the 7th
 
GWRBI: Wilson
Temperature: 73, Sky: partly cloudy, Wind: left to right at 10 MPH.