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#4
Limeport vs. #5 ICC Pirates
First-round Preview: Can the Bulls
continue dominance of Pirates this season in playoffs?
The tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
unfolds this weekend at Limeport Stadium. Will we be seeing the timid Dr.
Jekyll Bulls of the early going, when they started 2-4, then 5-7 or will we
see the ferocious beast they became afterwards, with a 13-game winning
streak and taking five of six to end the season at 25-11? The same is true
for the Pirates. They stumbled out of the blocks at 1-3, then made the
transformation to Mr. Hyde winning 8-of-9 and later, 7-of-8 as they finished
at 23-13. Both teams are well-balanced, so regardless of who shows up,
expect a hard-fought series.
Once again, the Limeport Bulls
are talented enough to fill an All-Star roster at every position. Kevin
Kershner (.368) and Glenn Kushma (.431) didn't miss a beat this season, and
Rich Fenstermaker (.381, 6 HRs) and Joe Pochron (.426) put up career
numbers. Nick Remaly (.352) and Jon Michael Vito (.366) also posted great
numbers. And let's not forget BML studs P.J. Yoder (.486) and Dan Borden
(.450) in minimal at-bats. On the mound, Pat Toner (5-1, 1.54) led the way
with a microscopic ERA. With three other dominant starters (Jeff Krauss
(3-2, 3.97), Chris Bensing 7-0, 1.75), and Chad Arnold 6-1, 3.00) the Bulls
might be this year's team to beat.
The ICC Pirates have a
healthy blend of seasoned veterans and young talent. Second-year standout
and 2002 batting champ A.J. Peracchia (.483) added over 200 points to his
2001 batting average. Second baseman Josh Mohlmann (.316) put up his usual
All-Star numbers. The brothers Ruff, Eric (.474) and Kyle (.333), form a
solid one-two punch in the middle of the lineup. Chad Waelchli (.337) came
out of nowhere and became one of the league's toughest outs. Spelling his
name is easier for some pitchers.
The Pirates also boast one of the
finest pitching staffs in the league. Scott Stewart (6-1, 3.17) baffled
opposing hitters, allowing less than one hit per inning. Eric Baran's (3-2,
3.90) numbers are down a bit, but he can still get the tough out when called
on. Ryan Lindley (4-2, 3.98) got roughed up a little bit early on, but
turned it up late in the season with two consecutive shutouts and a win over
Lehigh Township. Also, Eric Ruff (1-1, 2.42) did a great job coming out of
the bullpen.
In three match-ups this season,
the Bulls swept the Pirates. Only the last of those meetings, at Limeport,
was a close game. And the Pirates have never won a playoff series against
the Bulls. Both teams played with a lot of intensity to end the season.
Limeport won twice at home against top-seeded Gabelsville during the last
week, and ICC won twice at second-seeded Lehigh Township during that same
span, so the question will be: Which team can continue their momentum?
And throw the history books out
the window, too. The only thing that matters when it comes to the playoffs
is what you do tonight, not what happened earlier in the season. This should
be a close series, so expect the winner to be pumped for the semis.
Prediction: Limeport
has every advantage on paper, but the game is played on the field. ICC
showed their stuff against Lehigh Township, and I like the Pirates in three.
Josh's choice: ICC Pirates in 3
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