For this tournament, due to the high team count in the bracket, I’ll be posting as follows:
- The Wild Card Round gets one post: today’s.
- The Division Series gets two posts: after each half of the bracket has played Game 2 and after it ends.
- The LCS gets a post every schedule day. Due to the way OOTP sets the schedule, one half of the bracket will be a day ahead of the other.
- The Word Series gets a post every game.
And as always, I’ll play one game every possible schedule day, and I’ll note which games I play.
Here’s how the Wild Card Round went.
Series 1
Warwick Weeping Willows (96-66) vs. Mohammedia Mammoths (67-95)
Game 1: Warwick 7, Mohammedia 5 (played)
Game 2: Warwick 5, Mohammedia 4
Game 3: Warwick 4, Mohammedia 0
Weeping Willows advance 3-0
MVP: Gee Walker, LF, Warwick
Despite the sweep, this was an eventful series,
Mohammedia keeping all three games close despite dropping them all.
Game 1, which I played, saw the Willows score six runs in the first four innings, including two homers by Rondell White, only for the Mammoths to cut the deficit to one in the top of the fifth on Logan Morrison’s two run double. But Warwick got a run back on Tillie Walker’s RBI single in the bottom of that inning, and the bullpens kept the score as is.
The next game was even tighter and looked to be Mohammedia’s after half a frame: the Mammoths scored four in the top of the first on homers by Austin Martin and Morrison. This time, Warwick rallied back, getting two-run homers from Todd Walker (in the first) and LaMonte Wade Jr. (in the fourth) to tie it before Alva Williams walked it off with a double.
And while the Willows’ offense spread out their four runs in Game 3, their pitching staff shut down the Mammoths, Jack Wilson and Jake Wade combining for a four-hit shutout.
Series 2
Guigang Gaggles (73-89) vs. Jeonju Jumbo Jets (88-74)
Game 1: Guigang 7, Jeonju 6
Game 2: Jeonju 9, Guigang 5 (played)
Game 3: Jeonju 5, Guigang 2 (10 inn.)
Game 4: Jeonju 14, Guigang 4
Jumbo Jets advance 3-1
MVP: Jacque Jones, LF, Jeonju
Guigang had homefield advantage due to finishing second in their division while Jeonju finished third, but the team with the better record advanced.
In the opener, Guigang pulled ahead in the early and middle innings, and despite letting Jeonju twice narrow the gap to a run, including a ninth-inning two-out, two-run home run by Jacque Jones, the Gaggles pulled out the win.
The rest of the series belonged to the Jets, starting with another wild offensive showing. Guigang again pulled ahead early, taking a 5-2 lead after four, but Jeonju tied the score in the sixth and added four runs on three home runs (they hit five on the day, including two from Garrett Jones and another one from Jacque) to win smoothly.
Game 3 was nowhere near as smooth, a pitcher’s duel that saw nine combined hits. This time, the Jets took the first lead early before the Gaggles tied it in the middle innings, and the game entered the tenth tied. It was once again Jacque who provided the decisive blow, walking off the game with a three-run blast, his second dinger of the game.
And the finale eased the tension for Jeonju, who had a 10-0 lead before Guigang got on the board. Jacque added to his power total with his fifth home run of the series; he hit at least one in every game.
Series 3
Rudrapur Red Herrings (94-68) vs. Trollhättan Test Pilots (71-91)
Game 1: Rudrapur 2, Trollhättan 1
Game 2: Trollhättan 3, Rudrapur 0
Game 3: Rudrapur 9, Trollhättan 7 (10 inn., played)
Game 4: Rudrapur 4, Trollhättan 1
Red Herrings advance 3-1
MVP: Jimmy Ryan, CF, Rudrapur
Once again, the team with the better record moves on, not needing five games to do so.
Rudrapur took the first game in a thriller, scoring a run in the second off Brad Thomas on a Jeff Reed sacrifice fly and taking that 1-0 lead into the ninth, Dick Robertson throwing seven shutout innings. But with two outs and closer Addison Reed on the hill, Michael A. Taylor singled in Danny Taylor to tie the score. Come the bottom of the inning, the Red Herrings didn’t waste time against Lefty Thomas: Jimmy Ryan doubled, Jack Ryan bunted him to third, and Jeff Reed drove him in with his second sacrifice fly of the game.
Game 2 was smooth sailing for Trollhättan, who saw three pitchers (led by starter Tommy Thomas) throw a four-hit shutout. Rick Reed threw a complete game for Rudrapur on 124 pitches, but the Test Pilots got two runs off him in the second and one more in the third, and their pitching did the rest.
In contrast to the low-scoring first two games, Game 3 was a slugfest. Rudrapur put up a 4-2 lead going into the third, Trollhättan got two back, Rudrapur extended their lead with three in the fifth (the big blow Victor Rodríguez’s two-run double), and Trollhättan tied it with four in the seventh (Fred Thomas three-run homer, Danny Taylor triple, Kite Thomas RBI single). The Red Herrings claimed the final lead in the top of the tenth on Rabbit Robinson’s two-run triple, and Fernando Romero retired the Test Pilots in order in the bottom of the inning for the save.
For eight innings, it looked like Trollhättan would extend the series to five games, scoring a run in the third when Kite Thomas sac-fly’d in Ronald Torreyes and seeing Kevin Tapani throw eight innings of three-hit, shutout baseball. But Rudrapur hammered Lefty Thomas in the ninth, scoring four runs on five singles and a walk before J.C. Romero closed down the series.
Series 4
Sikasso Samosas (92-70) vs. Hachinohe Hitchhikers (67-95)
Game 1: Hachinohe 6, Sikasso 3
Game 2: Sikasso 8, Hachinohe 1
Game 3: Sikasso 9, Hachinohe 8
Game 4: Sikasso 13, Hachinohe 7 (played)
Samosas advance 3-1
MVP: Elmer Smith, RF, Sikasso
Although the Hitchhikers looked to set up an early upset, Sikasso stormed back to take the series easily.
Herman Hill’s grand slam set Hachinohe up with an early series lead as the Hitchhikers’ pitching staff of Rich Hill, Rudy Hernández, and Harry Harper limited the Samosas to six hits and three runs. Elmer Smith’s two-run homer off Hernández in the eighth marked Sikasso’s only chance for a comeback, especially as Shannon Stewart was thrown out trying to advance to third on a single to end that inning with the potential tying run in Tony Smith coming up.
But the rest of the series belonged to Sikasso, and Game 2 started that with an 8-1 drubbing. The Samosas got three in the first on doubles by Bud Stewart and Gary Sánchez and a homer by Elmer Smith, and their offense spread five more runs across the rest of the game to keep Hachinohe from ever getting close.
The next game, a high-scoring affair, saw the Samosas hold off three Hitchhiker rallies to pull ahead in the series. After Sikasso scored twice in the first, Hachinohe immediately put up three on Joe Harris’ double and Brendan Harris’ triple. Sikasso pulled ahead in the third (RBI doubles by Gary Sánchez and Bud Stewart) only for Hachinohe to tie it again in the fourth (Dave Harris RBI single — Bud Stewart preserved the tie by throwing out Jackie Hernández trying to score). The Samosas scored five across the sixth and seventh innings, Tony Smith’s three-run homer the biggest hit, but even that was nearly not enough as the Hitchhikers plated three in the ninth and had the tying run on third when Luke Hughes popped out to end the game.
The final game of the series was another blowout, Sikasso setting the tone early with nine runs in three innings, including Elmer Smith’s third homer of the series. Hachinohe put up seven across the game, but Sikasso added four more runs (including a homer by Carr Smith) to cruise to a series win.
Series 5
Dezful Defenders (103-59) vs. Maceió MacGuffins (62-100)
Game 1: Maceió 3, Dezful 1
Game 2: Dezful 5, Maceió 4 (played)
Game 3: Dezful 7, Maceió 1
Game 4: Dezful 4, Maceió 1
Defenders advance 3-1
MVP: Chili Davis, CF, Dezful
Despite an early upset, Dezful pulled off three straight wins to advance to the Divisional Series.
Game 1 saw Wes Ferrell and Mickey McDermott match each other with five shutout frames before the MacGuffins got the first key blow, Dave McCarty clobbering a three-run homer that provided all the scoring Maceió needed. After a 15-minute rain delay, McDermott induced a Dezful NOBLETIGER in the bottom of the sixth (1-2-3 double play, backwards K), and though Ike Davis got the Defenders on the board an inning later, Alex McCall and Phil McCullough slammed the door on them.
Another rainy day saw late-game swings, but Dezful got their first win of the series with a walk-off. Scoring again started in the sixth following a rain delay (this one 53 minutes), Darnell McDonald getting the MacGuffins on the board (RBI single) before the Defenders pulled ahead in the seventh with two RBI singles. After Joe Engel put the first two Maceió batters on in the eighth, Scott Erickson came in to quell the rally, but the MacGuffins kept hitting, getting RBI singles from McDonald, Tom McBride, and Barry McCormick to pull ahead 4-2. Despite a 1-2-3 eighth from Alex McColl, the ninth saw Maceió’s bullpen suffer the same fate as Dezful’s: the first two Defenders got on base, and the replacement pitcher was unable to hold the lead. Slim McGrew got an out but walked the bases loaded before allowing singles to Chili Davis and Rick Ferrell, the latter bringing two men in and tying the series.
The following game was nowhere near as stressful, the Defenders pulling ahead with a four-run fifth and getting a pair of Chili Davis homers late to extend their lead. Eric Erickson threw seven shutout innings, and while Maceió got a run back in the ninth on Barry McCormick’s homer, the result was never in doubt.
Game 4, however, was in doubt until the ninth. Dezful (Dave Edwards homer) and Maceió (Dave McKay triple, Earl McNeely single) each put up a run early, and Roger Erickson and Phil McCullough otherwise kept opponents off the scoreboard. But once again, the Defenders struck against the MacGuffins’ bullpen, getting three runs off Mickey McDermott thanks to four singles, a walk, and an error. Ron Davis subsequently set Maceió down in order.
Series 6
Aachen Aardwolves (79-83) vs. Aberdeen Absconders (82-80)
Game 1: Aberdeen 4, Aachen 2
Game 2: Aberdeen 10, Aachen 3
Game 3: Aberdeen 10, Aachen 5
Absconders advance 3-0
MVP: John Anderson, 1B, Aberdeen
As with the Guigang-Jeonju series, the team with the worse record had homefield advantage due to a better divisional finish, but the team with the better record moved on.
The Aardwolves pulled ahead early in Game 1 on Bob Allison’s home run, but while José Acosta kept Aberdeen off the board for six innings, the Absconders got to him in the seventh on George Browne’s two-run homer. Eddie Ainsmith’s solo shot tied the score in the bottom of the innings, but Aberdeen added a run in each of the next two innings while Aachen failed to score again.
All of the Aardwolves’ runs in the second game came on two Allison homers, but they weren’t nearly enough against the Absconders’ offensive outburst. Aberdeen scored five runs early (including a John Anderson homer) and five late (including a Bruce Campbell homer), and the team tallied more runs than hits (eight).
After putting up a 10-spot in Game 2, Aberdeen did so again to clinch the series, once again getting homers from Anderson and Browne. Their homers were key to the Absconders’ early lead, their seven runs across the first two innings enough to hold the lead without three insurance runs in the eighth.
Series 7
Kuala Lumpur Knaves (90-72) vs. Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Ais (77-85)
Game 1: Llanfair PG 8, Kuala Lumpur 4
Game 2: Kuala Lumpur 5, Llanfair PG 3
Game 3: Kuala Lumpur 6, Llanfair PG 4
Game 4: Llanfair PG 6, Kuala Lumpur 5 (11 inn., played)
Game 5: Kuala Lumpur 5, Llanfair PG 1 (played)
Knaves advance 3-2
MVP: Roberto Kelly, CF, Kuala Lumpur
In the only series to go five games, Kuala Lumpur edged out (for readers’ sake, this is the last time I’ll type the whole thing) Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch in a back-and-forth matchup.
The series opener saw Llanfair PG pull ahead in the fourth on Doug Mientkiewicz’s three-run homer and never let go of the lead, getting four more in the seventh (A.J. Pierzynski two-run single, Roger Peckinpaugh two-run homer) to make sure the lead would stay. Kuala Lumpur hit a pair of homers, one each by Jake Powell and Brooks Lee, but they never got close after the seventh.
While the Knaves pulled ahead in the middle innings of Game 2, they needed to hold off Ai rallies to tie the series. After Kuala Lumpur made it 5-1, Pierzynski immediately cut the deficit with a solo homer, and Bill Kay singled in Mientkiewicz in the eighth, but Joe Nathan stranded two in scoring position before retiring the side in order in the ninth.
The third game again saw the Knaves take a middle-inning lead, but this time, Llanfair PG rallied quickly and not late. Pat Kelly’s first-inning homer set the tone for Kuala Lumpur, who proceeded to put up four in the fifth, getting homers from Lee and Royce Lewis to key the scoring. The Ais followed up with two in the fifth (including a Peckinpaugh blast) and one in the sixth, making the score 5-4, but Wyatt Lee and Nathan allowed just two runners over the final 3.1 innings.
The series’ evenly-matched nature continued in a wild Game 4, a game which saw lead swings and outstanding relief work from Griffin Jax (for the Ais) and Pat Neshek (for the Knaves). After ping-ponging single runs early, Kuala Lumpur pulled ahead in the sixth on Jake Powell’s homer and Roberto Kelly’s RBI single. An inning later, Llanfair PG reclaimed the lead, tying the score on Peckinpaugh’s two-run shot and pulling ahead on Mientkiewicz’s single dinger, but the Knaves answered back in the eighth, Kelly singling, stealing second, and scoring on Duffy Lewis’ single. Neshek entered in the bottom of the eighth and threw three shutout innings, but Jax, taking the hill in the top of the ninth, matched his feat; Jax also provided a threat in the bottom of the ninth with a two-out single (he had to bat due to the DH taking the field). But no one would score until Neshek ceded the mount to Andrew Vasquez in the eleventh, and the Ais made quick work of it: Kay singled, Bones Ely singled him to third, and Tzu-Wei Lin drove him in with a sacrifice fly.
The final game of this series was close early, each team scoring a run with an RBI single, but the Knaves pulled away with a pair of two-run homers, Royce Lewis’ in the sixth and Christian Vázquez’s in the seventh. Ron Kline picked up the win in relief, and Esmerling Vásquez finished off Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (had to do it one more time) in the ninth.
Series 8
Żywiec Zephyr Lilies (90-72) vs. Ouaddai Obliques (65-97)
Game 1: Żywiec 3, Ouaddai 2
Game 2: Żywiec 5, Ouaddai 4
Game 3: Ouaddai 4, Żywiec 3
Game 4: Żywiec 8, Ouaddai 1
Zephyr Lilies advance 3-1
MVP: Taffy Wright, LF, Żywiec
Despite the 25-win difference between these teams, the first three games of this series were close before Żywiec pulled away in the fourth.
For the first seven innings of Game 1, the story was dominant pitching, Cole Irvin and Early Wynn each allowing four hits across seven frames. While Żywiec had opened the scoring in the sixth on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly, Ouaddai looked to take the game with two quick runs after Al Worthington relieved Wynn in the eighth: the Obliques loaded the bases with one out before Tom Umphlett tied the game with a single and Bob Usher gave his team the lead on a sac fly. But while Gregg Olson pitched a clean eighth, the Zephyr Lilies came alive in the ninth: with one out, Butch Wynegar doubled and Eddie Yost singled him in to tie the score. Olson proceeded to load the bases with two outs, and Al Woods decided the game with a walk-off single.
More late-game offensive heroics decided Game 2 for Żywiec. Ouaddai came out swinging, scoring three off Bill Zuber in the first, and they held that three-run lead (one run for Żywiec in the first, one for Ouaddai in the fourth) until the seventh. But once again, after the Obliques’ bullpen relieved their effective starter (this time José Ureña), the Zephyr Lilies started hitting. The seventh saw Żywiec load the bases with no outs, and although Joe Ohl got Norm Zauchin to ground into a fielder’s choice at home for the first out, Delmon Young rapped a pinch-hit two-run single, and Larry Wolfe doubled in pinch-runner Bill Yohe to tie the score. With Lester Oliveros on the hill for Ouaddai in the eighth, Żywiec didn’t hit him — but they didn’t need to, Oliveros issuing four walks to bring home the game-deciding run. Tom Zachary, who entered in the eighth and earned the win, pitched to the minimum six batters to seal the win.
Game 3 was the third straight one-run game of the series, and this one went to the Obliques. Ouaddai got two early runs and responded to Żywiec tying the score in the fourth (Zauchin two-run dinger) with a pair of runs of their own, Luis Quiñones giving the Obliques the lead with an RBI double and Joe Quinn extending it by singling in Quiñones. The Zephyr Lilies got one run back on Wynegar’s solo shot in the seventh, but Ohl and Olson kept Żywiec from tying the score.
After so many close games, the fourth game in the series was an anticlimax, Żywiec scoring two runs in the first and never letting up, tallying 14 hits and capping their offensive showing with a four-spot in the eighth. Vance Worley pitched 8.1 innings for the Zephyr Lilies, ceding the mound in the ninth to Bill Zinser, who let in one Obliques inherited runner but getting the final outs when Hal Quick lined into an unassisted double play to Zauchin.
And so, with every team with a better record moving on, the bracket is set for the Divisional Series. (Note that unlike in previous tournaments, the bracket re-seeds after each round.)
