If someone had suggested that any team in this division could clinch it with a game to spare, I would have called him crazy. When the spring schedule was announced in March and we saw that all the marginal teams had been dropped to DD and we had two extra games to play the toughest teams in Saturday Cityball, I expected nothing less that a 3-way tie for first at the end of the season. Well in a way, both happened. Since the season halfway point was marked by a 4-way tie for first, the Beat has steamrolled through a 4-game homestand to clinch this close division with a 7-2 and a game to spare. Vying for the wildcard with a game to go are Monte Carlo, Old Clamhouse, and Ronin all tied up at 5-4.

Coming into the game, Monte Carlo was right on our tail just one game out. We knew that a win would seal the deal, and a loss would likely mean division and wildcard playoff games to make it to the dance. Already missing last year's shortstop D-Rey and third baseman, MVP and the team's first 40-RBI man Mondo Lopez, the team took yet another shot to it's 2008 identity crisis when injury reports started rolling in just days before the big game. Big Daddy (9-11 in his last 3 games) separated his shoulder. Infielder Brett Goldstein (.526, 2 homers, 7 RBI) strained his hammy. Brian Greenblatt, the world's fastest white man, was out of town and Jim Colletto, the team's most consistent hitter over the last 10 years, was pulled to attend a ballet recital (oh man, that just conjures up all sorts of nasty images). That's a big chunk of the middle of the order to be missing for a game with the pennant on the line. But if Manager Pete Wenner has learned anything from this crazy season, it's how to be resilient. Pete dug into the bag of tricks calling in Rob Riggs to play third, and asked Brett to once again pull out his magic Horseshoe bringing in Bryan Williams to play short and Beat newbie Jamie Mendola for left center. Five of the 12 players today had not played for the Beat prior to this year prompting Jacq Wilson to remark facetiously before the game "I don't recognize half the guys in the starting lineup." But Pete has done an excellent job compiling a competent on-call bench this year and everyone has stepped up to push the 2008 Beat into the playoffs.

It took Kev a little time to get into the groove on the mound for this typically blustery 3pm game. After leadoff hitter Dollar popped out to Jacq in right-center, Monte Carlo rolled off seven hits and a sac fly to put the Beat in a 5-run hole early. The Beat was not about to take that lying down. Jacq (3-4, 2 runs, RBI, BB) and Kev (2-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI) set the table for Jacque (2-4, HR, 3 RBI, run) who roped a 3-run dinger to left-center and as fast as you can say "That's a nice tutu Jethro" the Beat was back in the game. Tim (2-4, 2B, 2 runs), Brett (1-1), Bryan (2-4, 3B, RBI, run), and MSG (1-2, SF, RBI) all singled and when the dust settled the Beat had filled the hole heading into the second tied 5 to 5. Monte Carlo was set down in order in the second and the Beat unleashed the hammer early.

Gunnar (2-3, RBI, 2 runs) and Pete (2-2, BB) both singled and Pete scampered into second on a lazy error by the left-center fielder (see below...Pete scampering). With first base open, Jacq was walked by Slick Vic to load the bases and Kev "Charlie Browned" Vic to plate G and Jamie running for Pete. Q singled to load the bases again then Big Tim stepped up, this time with ducks on the pond. Tim launched a bomb to right that looked like a goner but MC was playing him at the fence and the fielder made a slick play pulling it down. Q got caught in a rundown between first and second on the throw back in and K scored from second admidst the commotion. With two down and the bases empty, Dylan (1-2, HR, 2 RBI, run) came in to bat for the hobbled Goldstein and hit the moonshot of the day well over center for a solo knock. Dylan said he knew he had it when it hit the dirt on the other diamond. With that, the Beat hammered out 5 more and lead 10-5 heading into the third.

With one dead and two on in the third, MC's EP grounded to the right side and the two resulting errors would let two runs across. That was the only blemish on an otherwise excellent game by the Beat defense and it wouldn't be enough to help Monte Carlo today. Derrin looked to make it more with a liner to center but Jacq turned in a great play chasing it down to rob Derrin of extra bases. Monte Carlo had closed the score to 10-7 with the bottom of the Beat order coming up.

Vic set down the first two in order before Jamie (1-3, 2B) lined a shot to center turning it into a hustle double. The throw from the outfield skipped past second and rolled all the way to the backstop and Jamie waltzed into third. Gunnar blooped an RBI single scoring Mendola. Pete and Jacq singled again scoring G and Kev reached on an error at short that plated Jamie (running for Pete again) to put the Beat up 13-7.

Slick Vic led off the 4th with his second single then Fabin belted a 2-run shot to erase some of the Beat's insurance. Bryan gunned down the next two batters on a couple of his classic nonchalant plays from short. Per Pete, "it was as if he bobbled the grounder, checked messages on his blackberry and still got the runner at 1st!" A walk to shortstop Mitch brought up the meat of the MC order, Big Carl and third baseman Vic, and both singled driving in Mitch. Bryan snagged the next grounder up the middle and turned his third 6-3 of the inning to close it out. Monte Carlo had closed the gap again but the Beat was still up 13-10.

The Beat manufactured a couple more in the bottom of the 4th. Tim led off the inning following Jamie's cue and hustled some lazy defense into a double. Again left-center threw it away and Tim strolled into third and scored on Dylan's sac fly. Next up, Bryan tripled in the gap and MSG sacrificed him in to make it 15-10 Beat. The Beat would manage only one more hit over the next two and a third innings, but Kev was hitting his pace and the Beat defense was lights out today.

With one down in the fifth, MC had runners at second and third and Slick Vic coming up. Vic, 2 for 2 on the day, popped up to Rob in foul territory for out number two. Fabin coming off a 2-run dinger in his last at bat, was given the 4-finger salute to load the bases. Colberg blooped a ball to shallow left that looked like it might drop in but Bryan somehow chased it down making a phenomenal overhand catch running away to retire the side with the bases jacked; play of the Day to Mr. Williams. Kev got the good backspin working late and MC would manage only one more hit in the 6th and went down in order on three can's of corn in the 7th the end it.    

This game was a very businesslike affair for the Beat. They fell behind in the first but came back to tie it; they took the lead in the second; and they led heading into the last inning, just as they have in each of the last three games. They scored 15 runs for the third consecutive game against Monte Carlo. But most important to this 2008 Beat, this defense has played lights out late in the game not allowing more than 3 runs in the last 3 innings of any game since April 5th. Today the defense was paced by Bryan and Jacq who combined for two-thirds of MC's outs. Bryan recorded 6 assists and 2 putouts at short and ended 5 innings. Jacq turned in 6 putouts in left center and ended the other two innings. On offense this was such an all-around team effort that no game ball was awarded. Ten Beat batters hit .500 or better on the day.

Slick Vic showed some class coming over after the game to congratulate the team on the pennant and share a post-game beverage. Oh I almost forgot...Q scorched a liner to the shortstop with two out in the fifth and all he has to show for it is a hole in his wallet where his beer money used to be. Yep, Q you're the tapmaster for the season finale.

This has been quite the season so far. No one was expected to dominate this division with the possible exception of the reigning city champs Flor de Cana, but the Beat has done just that. They are now 7-2, those two losses by only one run each, and they are once again Division Champions. But before they can compete for that ever-elusive City Champs trophy, the Beat still has to deal with Ronin next week in a grudge rematch for Ronin's 6-5 victory on April 26; the only team to hold the Beat to single digits all year. Ronin has a wildcard berth on the line and you can bet they'll pull out all the stops. To the Beat, it's all about momentum heading into the playoffs. It's a chance to show the 6-5 loss for the fluke it was and roll into the playoffs by running the table in the second half. Bring your coffee, this is an early one: 10am at Jackson #1.

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