And the champagne flowed... The Beat officially clinched their first playoff birth in two years with a resounding 27-12 come from behind victory over Sledgehammer. The win put the team in a tie for the division lead with Flor de Cana. Both teams finished with a 7-1 record and will face off to determine division winner vs. wildcard at 7:00 pm Thursday October 11 on Moscone #2 in the Marina.

At 10:00am in October, the sun was low and right behind home plate when Special K took the mound: "I knew taking warm-ups it was going to be a problem; I was praying for the sun to rise quickly."  Not quickly enough as Kev went deep in the count on the first four batters giving up a leadoff single down the third base line past Mondo followed by two walks to load the bases for cleanup man Kelly. Kelly belted a liner to put Sledge up 2-0 but as #3 batter Matt rounded second he was caught off the bag by a whip throw to D-Rey. The runner was tagged but called safe until the play was appealed to the home blue and the correct call made. One on and one out. The five batter, Chris, hit a can of corn to left center that looked like out number two, but the boys lost it in the nasty morning sun and it dropped in for another single. Six hitter Ryan then drove a 3-hop comebacker to Kev (the three hops being ground, chest, and teeth). "I made it into October without taking one off the body," Kev said later. "I was due."  Next up, this big guy name Frank took a floating knuckle ball deep into the gap in left center for a 3-run blast and suddenly the Beat was down 6-0 with only one out in the top of the first.

At this point the Beat was shell-shocked. The eight hitter popped to D-Rey at short for the second out, but Sledge then ran off a rally of four hits and three infield errors upping the damage to 9-0. This was the Beat's worst fear, repeating the collapse against Finnegan's in the spring. In that game, a surging Beat team coming off a 70-run in 3 game streak fell flat and lost 9-5 to a 1-5 Finnegan's team. This time however, a division title was on the line and it was not without some soul searching that the Beat came off the field determined to stop the bleeding and turn this game around. Little did they know just how willing Sledgehammer was to assist.

Sledge pitcher Kelly took the mound in the bottom of the first and struggled as well throwing many pitches illegally flat. Jacq Wilson (2-2, 4 runs, 2 BB), Kev (2-2, 3 runs, 2 RBI, 2 BB), and Jacque Wilson (1-1, 3 runs, 3 RBI, 2 BB, SF) all walked to load the bases. Tim Smith (3-2, 4 runs, 5 RBI, double) singled up the middle driving in two runs and moving Q to third. Brian Greenblatt (1-3, 3 runs, 3 RBI, SF) and Mondo Lopez (3-3, triple, homer, 3 runs, 7 RBI, SF) sacrificed in two more runs and the Beat had cut the lead to 9-4.

By the top of the second Kev was settling in and I can't remember seeing so many swing-through strikes in one softball game. Two of the first three were retired on outfield flies but an error at short let a runner on. Sledge left fielder Pete hit a fly to deep left and it looked like out number three as Tim camped under it. But without the typical Jackson 1 wind at his back the ball started to sail and Tim couldn't catch up. Aa 2-run knock and Sledge was up 11-4.

Time to show the character that it takes to be a playoff contender. Down seven runs, the team has already committed five errors but we know it's still early. This is the 20th Anniversary Beat...the Beat that is rewriting the record books...the Beat of Destiny. Never say die...make them our bitches. With one out, G-man (2-3, 4 runs) singled. Pete (1-1, run, 2 BB), Jacq, and Kev all walked pushing G across. Q singled in two, Tim another and Brian reached on an error scoring Q. Suddenly it's an 11-9 game and up steps Mondo, now just one shy of the Beat single season RBI record. Mondo shattered it with a deep liner down the third baseline for a 3-run knock to put the Beat up 12-11. Two innings...handicap erased.

Special K and the Beat shut the door in the third setting down the top four on two grounders to Mondo and a take-it-yourself by D at first to end the inning. The worm had turned. Sledge shot their wad early and the Beat battled back and took the lead. Now it was hammer time.

Gunnar led off the bottom of the third with a rocket-liner up the middle that Kelly just managed to get enough glove on to catch. Pete walked again then Jacq and Kev drove back to back singles scoring Pete. Q walked and Tim doubled driving in two more. Brian reached on an error and then Mondo broke the game wide open with an opposite field 2-run triple to right (keep padding those stats bud!) MSG (3-3, 2 RBI, SF) singled in another to put the Beat up 19-11 after three.

Sledged managed one more run on a couple infield errors to lead off the 4th but you could tell they were struggling. G-man led off the bottom of the 4th with a single then ran a couple errors into a 4-bagger putting the Beat up 20-12. Pete, Jacq, and Kev all singled and Q sacrificed Pete in. Tim reached on an error, Brian drove a beautiful liner down the first baseline for two more runs. Mondo singled in yet another run, and MSG sacrificed in Brian. D-Rey (1-4, run, RBI), who got good and drunk the night before so he looked at felt his very best when he got to the park, singled in another run advancing to second on a bobble. With two out, Big Daddy (1-4, run, RBI) singled in D-Rey to make it 27-12 but slipped rounding first. Sledge threw behind him catching the big man in a rundown that ended the inning and the game; call it a 15-run mercy rule after one hour (never heard that rule before but I'll take it!)

The Beat had fronted Seldge 9 runs then went on a 27-3 tear to put this one away decisively. This was a game of character. It showed this record-setting team can deal with diversity, not lose their heads, and battle back to a victory. That's a good thing heading into the playoffs as diversity always rears it's ugly little head.

About the Numbers
Just a little summary of how the boys faired in this game...the Beat top 3 of Jacq, Kev, and Q, and Pete in the 11 spot set the table with a perfect 6 for 6 with 8 walks, 11 runs, and 5 RBI. The power duo of Tim and Mondo went 6 for 7 with an incredible 12 RBI!!! The whole team was lights out hitting 20 for 30 as ten players scored runs and eight drove in runs. Of the Beat's 12 outs, four were sacrifice flies and two were sharp liners. The Beat left only 3 runners on base in 4 innings. Records that fell or were extended today...there were many:

Game ball for the day went to Mondo for his amazing 7-RBI performance with a triple and homer shattering the team RBI marks for a season and year. There was no beer beatch this week.

The Beat hopes to take its new motto well into the post-season. However, first the boys in gray have to deal with an old nemesis that is becoming the rival to beat all rivals….Flor de Cana de la Libertad y Monte Carlo y S.F. Ballers y viejo Clamhouse y quienquiera. “You never see the Beat trolling for ringers,” smacked Wenner. “We are who we are!” Now after years of Flor dominance, these two teams are playing neck and neck this year posting a 1-1 record with only 2 and 3 run margins to separate. The loser of Thursday's divisional playoff will come back the next night to play C4's wildcard Toronado in the wildcard round. The winner comes back on October 18 to play the winner of the C2 Tuesday night division. And if these two teams make a strong showing in the playoffs, they will meet one more time in the league semi-final on October 24^th with the winner going to the City Championship.

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