"Destiny" - Game Recaps
Semi-Finals - Wednesday, 5/31 - 7:30pm - Aviation Park - Field 2

(4) Game's Cancelled (9-1) at (1) In Every Orphus (10-0)
Result: Game's Cancelled 13, In Every Orphus 11

Runners Left on Base - Game's Cancelled 8, In Every Orphus 6

Line-ups

A late rally by a gutsy Game's Cancelled squad propelled them to the championship game and ended the undefeated run of In Every Orphus in the semi-finals.

For the second straight season, In Every Orphus entered the final four with an undefeated record, and for the second time, they were unable to advance to the finals.

Both teams started the game with only nine players. Game's Cancelled was missing their pitcher, Wade Pearson. Without their All-Star and League MVP, GC turned to Sandi Johnson to pitch against the highest scoring team in CSA. In Every Orphus wouldn't have any sympathy, they were missing two of their starting outfielders.

Early on it looked like Orphus didn't need a full complement of fielders. Larry Smith, their pitcher, was excellent from the start, retiring the top of the Game's Cancelled line-up in order in the top of the first, on only four pitches. Game's Cancelled was already shaken, and with only nine in the field and a new pitcher, it showed. Orphus stormed out quick. A leadoff double by Billy Mangan was followed by a triple by Matt Candler for the games first run. A sac fly by Jon Ripley scored Candler and after that, Orphus managed to load the bases with two outs. With Mike Sims at the plate, and Shawna Norton on third, Scooter Dawkins on second, and Angela Estes on first, Sims drove a ball to the opposite field, it went over the rightfielders head and all the runners scored. The grand slam by Sims made the score 6-0. After a single by Jill Gore, Mangan flew out to end the inning after the damage had been done.

End of 1st - In Every Orphus 6, Game's Cancelled 0

The second inning started to settle everything down. A leadoff single by Hunter Williams for Game's Cancelled gave them some life, but the very next batter, Sandi Johnson, grounded to Ripley at shortstop. He stepped on second and threw to first for the easy double play. A single by Andrew Bouton looked like it might restart the rally, but Matt Hoover flew out on the first pitch he saw from Smith and the inning ended. The bottom of the inning was a much different story for GC. A strikeout started the inning and a two out single by Norton was harmless. Orphus left a runner on first and did not score.

End of 2nd - In Every Orphus 6, Game's Cancelled 0

It seemed that if Game's Cancelled would have any chance to come back, they would have to start the rally in the third. Orphus must have sensed this as well, because they continued to strangle the GC offense. Smith quickly retired the first two batters, and after allowing a two out triple to Matt Wilson, he got Rebecca Rider to ground back to him to end the inning. And in the bottom of the third Larry decided to help his own cause, a leadoff home run put a little more padding on the lead. It could have been worse for Game's Cancelled though. Now playing with a full 10 in the field, they retired the next three batters and no more damage was done

End of 3rd - In Every Orphus 7, Game's Cancelled 0

The defensive rally must have sparked something for GC. A leadoff single by Clay Jordan was followed by a bomb by Hunter Williams over the rightfield fence. GC had finally broke through on the scoreboard with the two run shot. After a single by Johnson, Bouton hit into a fielders choice for the first out, erasing Johnson at second. That was followed by a single by Hoover that moved Bouton to third. Alicia Babin then grounded to second. A fielders choice put Hoover out at two, but Bouton scored on the play. The inning ended when Smith got Audry Wishnek to ground back to him.
In the bottom of the inning, Orphus would have to respond. Mangan led off with a double and scored two batters later on a double by Ripley. One run was in with only one out, but Orphus couldn't manage any more runs. The next two batters flew out to leftfield and the rally was quashed.

End of 4th - In Every Orphus 8, Game's Cancelled 3

Orphus still had a five run lead entering the home stretch. Smith again worked quickly, he retired the first two batters on two pitches and only an error that allowed Rider to reach base kept it from being a three pitch inning. No harm was done, a groundout by Jordan ended the inning. Smith faced four batters and threw only five pitches.
In Every Orphus was unable to capitalize in the bottom of the inning though. With one out Angela Estes walked, and she advanced to second on a flyout, but was not able to score. For the second straight inning Orphus left a runner on second base.

End of 5th - In Every Orphus 8, Game's Cancelled 3

With five innings complete, it didn't look like their was any doubt that In Every Orphus was going continue on their dream season. GC couldn't manufacture any offense and Orphus was getting exceptional pitching. Then it all fell apart for In Every Orphus. Hunter Williams started the inning with a innocent single and it no one thought that he would bat again in the inning, this time with his team leading.
Williams leadoff single was followed by an error that allowed Sandi Johnson to reach base, Andrew Bouton and Matt Hoover followed with base hits. Williams scored on the Bouton hit and now with bases loaded, Alicia Babin grounded back to the pitcher for the force out at home plate. Audrey Wishnek grounded out, but Bouton was able score and now Game's Cancelled had a bit of life, two runs had scored, runners were on 2nd (Babin) and 3rd (Hoover), and two were out. With an empty base, Smith pitched around the number 10 batter Andrew Mosteller, who was the Game's Cancelled late arrival. With bases loaded and 1-2 count against Matt Wilson, Smith was able jam Wilson with an inside pitch, but Matt was able to get enough of the ball to flare it into short rightfield. The double scored two runs, and when the ball got away from the shortstop, Mosteller was able to score all the way from first. The game was now tied. The next six batters for GC all reached safely as well. Six consecutive singles allowed four more runs to score. With Wilson on second, Rebecca Rider singled him home. Hits by Clay Jordan and Williams brought Rider around, and a hit by Johnson reloaded the bases. Bouton got his second RBI hit of the inning, driving in Jordan and Williams and after Hoover reached to re-load the bases, Babin grounded out to end the inning. Game's Cancelled had managed to turn the scoreboard around and upside down. The blow seemed to crush Orphus.
They couldn't muster a response in the bottom half of the frame. After a leadoff single by Mangan, they were only able to advance him to second base. For the third straight inning, Orphus left a runner on second base.

End of 6th - Game's Cancelled 12, In Every Orphus 8

The game was far from over entering the final stanza. A pair of one out singles gave Game's Cancelled first and third and a flyout by Rebecca Rider scored Andrew Mosteller with an important insurance run. When Clay Jordan flew out to end the inning it was the third time in the game he had ended an inning, but the first time with his team leading.
To their credit, Orphus didn't give up. A groundout by Scooter Dawkins to start the inning was followed by a line drive single by  Larry Smith. A single by Angela Estes gave Orphus a glimmer of hope. A double by Mike Sims scored Smith and moved Estes to third. Jill Gore hit a grounder for the second out of the inning. With two outs, Orphus was still down four runs. A two run single by Billy Mangan allowed Orphus to bring the tying run to the plate. However, Matt Candler flew out to left and Game's Cancelled completed one of the best comebacks in CSA playoff history.

End of 7th - Game's Cancelled 13, In Every Orphus 11

In a match-up between two of the best teams in CSA, both had to try to overcome major handicaps. In the end, playing with only nine fielders was the ultimate undoing of In Every Orphus. They did battle valiantly though, Orphus led 8-5 and were four outs away from the championship game. Game's Cancelled sulked for three innings and didn't seem to be putting up much of a fight, but just when it looked like they were dead and buried, they summoned the heart necessary to become a champion.

Although their were many key performers, the Player of the Game (POTG) was Hunter Williams, third baseman for Game's Cancelled.