Chadwick Champions!

Doobla-Dee La-de-dah

Bay City vs. La-de-dahs

Chadwick Region Championship

World’s Tournament

Walnut Grove 2, Greenfield Village, Dearborn, MI

August 14, 2011

Bay City 12, La-de-dahs 4

            The second day of the World’s Tournament at Greenfield Village held the opportunity for Bay City to take the Chadwick Region Championship, and a place in the final match of the day.  Standing in their way was a most familiar opponent, the La-de-dah Base Ball Club of Greenfield Village.  The La-de-dahs had been Tournament Champions in 2007, 2008, and after defeating Bay City in a breathtaking match in last season’s tournament they went on to be Champion Runner-Up in 2010.  The Independents had their work cut out for them to be sure. 

The spectators that watched the match who remembered well the spectacular play of these two clubs from last year’s fray were excited to see this rivalry renewed, and if they had hopes of another titanic tussle they would not be disappointed.  The match began with Bay City winning the toss, and deferring the honor of striking to the host club.  As is the norm, the mercurial, Matt Valant would make his first thanks to his speed and his adept ability to strike the fair-foul.  Unfortunately for the La-de-dahs the next three strikers would lose their hand without Mr. Valant progressing past second sack. 

It appeared in the Bay Citys portion of the first that they too would be skunked when their first two strikers went down in order, but Butterfly Becerril would put an end to the streak of hands lost by placing the onion well into the garden and making his first.  The Butterfly then took his second thanks to stinger from the bat of Justin “Doc” Garcia that found a patch of green in right field.  Another safety from the bat of Tom “Cat” LeRoux helped score the Butterfly from second sack, and moved Doc up to third.  Mr. Garcia would then tally himself after another stinger past the reach of the short stop by Branden “The Rope” Revette.  After one innings of play the match was in Bay City’s favor at 2 to 0.

            In the second innings of play the La-de-dahs would tie the match thanks to some fine striking by the law firm of Moroz, Ossy, and Lawson.  The defense of both clubs shined throughout the morning contest, and no doubt the fine pitching of Butterfly Becerril, of Bay City and Buck McVier of the La-de-dahs had something to do with it as well, as Bay City was skunked for three straight innings with nary a scoring opportunity and the La-de-dahs would give up five hands lost to the Bay City catcher.  Without doubt the most exciting of defensive plays in this stretch came in the fourth innings with the La-de-dahs in the field and Bay City with men on first and second sack, and two hands lost.  The next striker for Bay City was Buttons McInerney, who was swinging a hot stick from yesterday’s contests, and Buttons launched a cannonade into the right field that seemed certain to tally the two Bay City runners, but the Greenfield defender, Alex Moroz, reached up his hand at the last second to nab the drive on the run.  The feat brought the crowd, to their feet and the innings to an end.

In the fifth innings the La-de-dahs lead striker, Rippey, made his first, but seemed destined to be stranded on base after two consecutive hands lost.  However a safety by Mr. Lynch, and another fair foul by Mad Dog Valant brought Rippey home to tally and gave the lead to the Greenfield Village gang.  Not to be outdone the Bay Citys went back to work with the willow, and Jeff “Silverback” Rahl would lead the way.  The Silverback made his way to first thanks to a stinger sent to the garden, and then moved over to second sack after a ground out from the next Bay City striker.  Silverback would then take his third after a safety by Dean “Sawmill” Koch.  Koch would then take his third by theft, and both he and the Silverback would move up one sack after a fly out by Dan “The Rainmaker” Decuf.  The match was then tied, but thanks to the striking of “Tanner” LeRoux, the Bay City short stop, it wouldn’t stay tied long.  Mr. LeRoux drove a daisy cutter just past he grasp of Mr. Valant, his short stop counter-part, and Mr. Koch would tally the lead run.  After five innings the tally was now Bay City 4 and Greenfield Village 3.

            In the sixth innings the La-de-dahs would kick up their heels in their classic fashion as Matt Valant again made his first thanks to his fair-fowl striking.  Mr. Valant would take his second by theft, and then tally after a strike into the center garden by Mr. Linton.  Mr. Linton, following Valant’s lead would take his second by theft, and likewise put himself into position to tie the match.  That was until Nicholas Moroz hit line drive straight to the Bay City short stop, Mr. LeRoux, who then turned and nabbed Mr. Linton at second after he strayed to far from the sack.  With two hands down the La-de-dahs put their next two stikers on board and they progressed all the way to second and third.  Now with the go ahead runs poised in position the La-de-dah Captain, Mike “Oxbow” Ossy strode to the plate and smashed an opposite field hit that was plucked on the run by the Bay City third sacker, Justin “Doc” Garcia.  The match was now 4 to 4.

The Bay Citys went right back to work in their portion of the sixth when Brian “Butterfly” Becerril made his second after smashing the ball onto the rails in center field, and then his run would tally after another stinger by Doc Garcia.  Doc would make his second thanks to a safety by Revette, and then with two hands lost “Silverback” Rahl would launch another shot over the tracks in left field to make his second and drive in both Garcia and Revette.  The Bay Citys now held the lead in this see-saw contest at 7 to 4. 

In the seventh innings, the La-de-dahs would put their lead striker, Olaf Lawson, on first sack, but he would progress no further as the next hand was lost to the catcher and Mr. McVier began a nifty twin-killing on the bases that effectively ended the contest and gave the Regional Championship to the Bay Citys.  The Independents would go on to add five more runs to their portion of the ledger in the seventh, and brought a close to ledger at Bay City 12 and the La-de-dahs 4. 

It was a match to be remembered, and with luck these gents will see each other again soon at the State Championship Tournament in Bay City, September 24^th.