THE PATH NEVER BEFORE TRAVELED

Pay Attention, It's Free completes an incredible run with an improbable league championship

On the way to a record setting season, Pay Attention, It's Free ran the gauntlet, defeated two former league champions and two more division champions, and set a CSA record for playoff wins in one season, and that was all in one week!

A 7-1 regular season with the only blemish being a 19-18 loss to the team they would eventually meet in the title game sent Pay Attention to the playoffs. Even though they came in 2nd in the Tuesday night Frankie Allen division, the strength of schedule was the second easiest in the division. A win over Liquidated Damages when both teams had records of 5-1 was enough for the commissioner to extend a playoff invitation to Pay Attention. Pay Attention finished the regular season the next week with a blowout win and accepted a bid to "The Gauntlet". "The Gauntlet" was a special play-in section to determine the final invite to the round robin group play. Pay Attention's weak schedule made them the fourth seed and made the road to a championship a nearly impossible one. Facing the prospect of having to play 8 games in four days, and having to win at least seven of those games was going to be next to impossible.

Entering the tournament, the path seemed impossible and team captain Leland Dombrowsky didn't give his squad much of a chance. But a couple of breaks along the way helped clear the path and when the team took the field, they were absolutely dominant.

First Brass Monkey withdrew from the Invitational. This moved the original number one seed in "The Gauntlet", Team HOT, directly into Group A and reduced the number of play-in teams to four instead of five. This meant that Pay Attention, who were going to have to win every game to advance, only had to play three games.
The second break came in group play. After Liquidated Damages had been defeated by both Infomart Mavericks and Pay Attention, the final round robin game between Infomart and Pay Attention was not necessary because both teams had advanced to the championship round. Not having to play another game in the cold was an advantage to a team that had already played four times in three days.

On the field Pay Attention did not need any lucky breaks. Playing shorthanded in the field in every game but one, no team scored more than nine runs against Pay Attention in any tournament game. Playing in the semi-finals and finals with only eight fielders, Smell the Glove only managed six runs and Team HOT scored nine runs, but still was beaten 23-9.

During the regular season, Pay Attention was outstanding. In eight games they allowed only 47 runs, an average of less than six per game. 30 of those runs came in two games, 19 against Team HOT in the only loss and 11 against P-Dub while playing with eight fielders. Those were the only two games that they allowed 10 or more runs and seven times in the regular season and playoffs they allowed 4 runs or less in a game.

Pay Attention, It's Free had a record setting season. They broke the record for most wins in one season with 13 and games played in one season with 14.

See below for a game by game recap of the entire season.

Game 1 - September 16, 2008
"With a little help"
Win versus Client #9, 12-2
A skeleton crew and a brand new roster made the outlook bleak for the revived Pay Attention franchise. But a little help from CSA stalwarts, Smell the Glove and P-Dub gave Pay Attention, It's Free a full squad for the first game and they took advantage. Client #9 was playing only their second game with CSA and was overmatched. Pay Attention was up 9-0 going into the bottom of the fourth inning and cruised to 12-2 win.

Click here for the starting line-up versus Client #9

Game 2 - September 23, 2008
"Sign of things to come"
Win versus Twinkies & Round Eyes 15-3
An early game with a skeleton crew is a recipe for disaster. Patience by Twinkies & Round Eyes allowed the game to be played and when it was, Pay Attention started what would be a season long trend, playing shorthanded. With only eight fielders and an automatic out, Pay Attention allowed the first three batters of the game to score, and then didn't allow another run. They overcame the early deficit quickly and cruised home to a 15-3 victory. In what was a sign of things to come, Pay Attention showed that they can still have a dominant defense with only eight fielders.

Click here for the  starting line-up versus Twinkies & Round Eyes

Game 3 - September 30, 2008
"Blessing in disguise"
Loss versus Team HOT 19-18
In an ironic twist, a high scoring game was an aberration for Pay Attention. But the result of the game turned out to be the best thing that could happen to both teams. Team HOT stayed unbeaten and positioned themselves as the front runner to win the division. Pay Attention suffered what would be the only loss of the season, but was able to accept a playoff invitation because of it.

Had PAIF won the game and gone on to finish 8-0 and win the division, they would have made the same decision that The Despicables (8-0 in Fall 06) and Mission Accomplished? (6-0-2 in Fall 07) had and turned down a playoff invitation. As it turns out, the 7-1 record and soft schedule gave PAIF the second lowest seed of all the tournament teams instead of a number 1 seed that an undefeated team would automatically get.

The game itself was a wild contest. Team HOT jumped out to a big lead right away and led 8-0 going into the bottom of the third, but then the lights came on and so did the PAIF offense. Pay Attention maxed out in the third and scored 10 runs to take the lead. Five more runs in the fourth gave PAIF a 15-10 lead and they seemed to have taken command of the game. But Team HOT showed the resilience that they displayed all season. Trailing by five in the last inning, an eight run rally reversed their fortunes and they held on to win the game when PAIF left runners on 2nd and 3rd in the bottom of the sixth. The 19-18 win for Team HOT really set the stage for the rest of the season for the entire league.

Click here for the starting line-up versus Team HOT

Game 4 - October 7, 2008
"Back on track"
Win versus NTS 22-1
Facing a severely overmatched and undermanned opponent, Pay Attention started what would end up being a championship winning streak with a blowout win over NTS. The 10 run second inning was the second time in as many games that PAIF had a "maxed out" inning.

Click here for the starting line-up versus NTS

Game 5 - October 14, 2008
"The new line-up"
Win versus No Glove, No Love 13-1
Pay Attention, It's Free was 3-1 halfway through the season, but they had played a soft schedule and when they were given a serious challenge, they were unable to win. The roster needed changes and that is just what the team captain did. Game 5 was the first game PAIF played with what would end up being the "championship line-up". The defense was as good as ever after re-aligning all the pieces and setting up a fielding alignment that was very difficult to score on, but the offense was slow to respond. But when the bats started to respond, they did so in a big way. After being shutout in the first two innings, a four run third gave them a lead that they did not relinquish and they ended the game in five innings 13-1.

Click here for the starting line-up versus No Glove, No Love

Game 6 - October 21, 2008
"Rounding into form"
Win versus P-Dub 16-11
Playing shorthanded was now old hat for this team. With only eight fielders and an automatic out Pay Attention once again allowed the first three batters of the game to score. But they settled in after that, and although P-Dub provided a much tougher challenge, once PAIF took the lead, they never gave it back. A five run bottom of the sixth gave Pay Attention a comfortable lead going into the final inning where they held on for a 16-11 victory that was much closer than the score indicated.

Click here for the starting line-up versus P-Dub

Game 7 - October 28, 2008
"Championship potential"
Win versus Liquidated Damages 6-4
One of the best games of the year was a pitching masterpiece for both teams A monster three run home run by Trent Spratlin in the top of the sixth gave Pay Attention a 6-3 lead in a game where they left eight runners on base and Liquidated Damages left 12 runners on base.

Click here for the starting line-up versus Liquidated Damages

Game 8 - November 4, 2008
"Clinched!"
Win versus Base Ballaz 24-6
Base Ballaz had an outside chance to qualify for "The Gauntlet" with a win, Pay Attention had already been extended an invitation to "The Gauntlet" but probably would have turned it down if they lost. The game was never in doubt. Pay Attention scored 10 runs in the top of the first and even though Base Ballaz cut the lead in half in the bottom of the inning, PAIF's top ranked defense shut them down the rest of the way, allowing only one more run. Pay Attention also had the highest scoring game of the season with 12 more runs over the last two innings on the way to a 24-6 victory.

Click here for the starting line-up versus Base Ballaz

Game 9 - The Gauntlet - Round 1 - Monday, November 17, 2008
"The Challenge Begins"
Win versus (G5) Client #9 18-6
The first of three re-matches for Pay Attention, this second game against Client #9 went in much the same way as the first match-up, even though Pay Attention was playing with a completely different line-up. It was 10-1 after two innings and PAIF cruised to the next round. Client #9 cut the score to 10-5, but that was as close as it would get. Even playing with nine fielders and taking an automatic out, Pay Attention got their sixth 10+ run win, ending it with a grand slam by Denny Crane with no outs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Click here for the starting line-up versus (G5) Client #9

Game 10 - The Gauntlet - Round 2 - Monday, November 17, 2008
"All Coming Together"
Win versus (G3) Limpin' But Crimpin' 23-2
The only game in the entire tournament in which Pay Attention trailed at the end of an inning turned into the biggest rout of the season for them. Limpin' But Crimpin' held down Pay Attention's offense for two innings and led 2-1 after two, then Pay Attention exploded with 22 runs in the next three innings. And for the second straight game the undermanned defense was excellent, holding an opponent to six runs or less for the eighth time in 10 games.

Click here for the starting line-up versus (G3) Limpin' But Crimpin'

Game 11 - The Gauntlet - Finals - Monday, November 17, 2008
"A Gauntlet Sweep"
Win versus (G1) The Craptastics 15-4
Many teams sweep doubleheaders, but no team in CSA co-ed softball history had ever won back to back to back games in one night. That was the task at hand, and to make matters more interesting, Pay Attention played the last four innings with only eight fielders and an automatic out, but at this point, playing with eight was nothing out of the ordinary. Pay Attention jumped out quickly on the Thursday Nickajack division champions with five runs in the top of the first and they never trailed. The Craptastics chipped away at the lead and it was a close game after three, 6-4. The top of the fourth was the turning point of the game. Pay Attention had scored three runs to extend the lead and with two outs and an automatic out on deck, Leland Dombrowsky had an inside the park home run. The inning ended on an automatic out and the run inspired Pay Attention. In the bottom of the fourth Pay Attention was playing with only eight players and with two outs and a runner on, a leaping catch in rightfield by Monica Neuert ended the inning and took all the life out of The Craptastics. They did not score another run and Pay Attention cemented the lead with three more runs in the fifth. In fact, The Craptastics did not have another runner reach base, Leland retired the next nine batters in order to end the game, and Pay Attention, It's Free had run the gauntlet and qualified for the last invitational spot.

Click here for the starting line-up versus (G1) The Craptastics

Game 12 - Round Robin - Group B - Wednesday, November 19, 2008
"Hollow victory"
Win versus Liquidated Damages 11-8
A re-match of one of the best regular season games of the year had Liquidated Damages on the brink of elimination. They had already lost their first game in group play, so Liquidated, the Spring league champions, had to win in order to have any chance to avoid elimination. It was a much higher scoring game than the last contest, but the game was defined by more than the outcome. After Pay Attention took a 6-2 lead after two innings, Liquidated rallied with five runs in the top of the third to take the lead. Pay Attention tied it up right away and with two outs and the game tied Trent Spratlin hit the ball a mile high, literally. Kayla Timulak had a bead on it in leftfield, but missed the ball ever so slightly and it clipped off her glove and caught her in the eye. Kayla obviously had to leave the game, but incredibly was able to walk off the field. Liquidated continued the game with nine fielders and managed to tie the game briefly, but Pay Attention took a three run lead in the bottom of the fifth and was able to hold on to win 11-8 and eliminate Liquidated Damages

Click here for the starting line-up versus Liquidated Damages

Game 13 - Championship Semi-finals - Thursday, November 20, 2008
"One Step Away"
Win versus (A2) Smell the Glove 9-6
The second straight game versus a 2008 champion, this time they faced the defending league champions Smell the Glove. Smell the Glove was playing with only nine, Pay Attention had only eight fielders. It was the fourth time that Pay Attention would play with only eight, and they were 3-0 in the previous games. But they had never done so against the top team in CSA. The game started out like the other semi-final had gone, high scoring (in the other semi-final 55 runs were scored). Smell the Glove took advantage of Pay Attention's hole in the field and jumped out for four runs. But Pay Attention responded, taking advantage of Smell the Glove's undermanned outfield and posting five runs to lead after one with the go ahead run scoring on a two out double with an automatic out on deck. Then the game took a dramatic defensive swing. Over the next three innings each team managed only one run a piece and Smell the Glove tied the game with one run in the fifth and entering the final two innings the game was tied at 6. In the sixth Smell the Glove had their seemingly best opportunity to take the lead, with the top of the line-up due to bat, they managed only a harmless single and were unable to score. In the bottom of the sixth Pay Attention took advantage of a fortunate break and rallied for three runs. The go ahead and eventual game winning run scored on an inside the park home run by leadoff batter Chris Maust. A diving try by the rightfielder was close, but Chris was able to round the bases and give Pay Attention the lead. After a second run scored on a sacrifice fly, Trent Spratlin tripled with two outs and he scored the critical third run on a two out single by Kristin Andreano. The three run lead gave Pay Attention a chance to be aggressive on defense in the top of the seventh. Facing the bottom of the order, the only runner to reach was on a two out walk and Pay Attention advanced to the finals when a harmless fly ball to left field ended the game.

Click here for the starting line-up versus (A2) Smell the Glove

Game 14 - Championship Game - Thursday, November 20, 2008
"Improbable Journey Complete"
Win versus (A1) Team HOT 23-9
In a fitting ending to the 2008 season, Pay Attention, It's Free would face the only team to defeat them, Team HOT. Team HOT was the only team that had not suffered a loss during the Fall 2008 season and had scored 30 runs in the semi-finals to advance. Team HOT had a full squad and lots of confidence. 12 players in the line-up and three more reserves on the bench. Pay Attention had confidence as well from five straight tournament wins and 10 consecutive victories overall, but they were playing shorthanded against the only team to score more than 11 runs in a game against them. It looked like both teams were in for another slugfest. Pay Attention showed up for a slugfest, but after scoring seven runs in the first two innings, Team HOT cooled off and the only runs they scored for the rest of the game came on a two run home run.
Pay Attention however displayed the dynamic offense that supported them all season. And added a bit of timely hitting and smart base running. In the final game, PAIF scored five runs on outs. Including two runs on a sacrifice fly in the first inning with an automatic out on deck. Denny Crane managed to score from second on a foul ball flyout to deep left-field. It was a play that defined the game. When the top of the first had ended, Pay Attention had scored six runs and would never trail. Playing with an automatic out for the seventh time, no team knew how to minimize the damage better and no batter was more accustomed to batting in front of an out than Leland. Leland had batted in front of the out in all seven games and in the finals the rest of the line-up set the table perfectly. Leland never came to bat with two outs and Pay Attention scored three or more runs in every inning. Outscoring Team HOT 14-2 over the last three innings, the game ended by rule in the fifth inning. Click here for the game recap

Click here for the starting line-up versus (A1) Team HOT

Statistically, Pay Attention was clearly the class of the league during the Fall 2008 season. Outscoring opponents by an average of over 10 runs a game. During the regular season it was dominance during the middle of the game. From the second to the fifth inning, Pay Attention outscored the opponent 96-16. In the playoffs it was the end of the game where Pay Attention shined, from the fourth inning on Pay Attention outscored the opponent 49-6 in six games, never allowing a run in the sixth or seventh inning.

Pay Attention was constantly putting additional obstacles in its own path during the season. Seven times they played with an automatic out. That spot accounted for 22 outs (7 1/3 innings worth) but Pay Attention was 7-0 in those games. Only five times did Pay Attention play with a full complement of 10 fielders (going 4-1). Four games were played with nine fielders and they won all those games and five times Pay Attention played with only eight fielders, remarkably winning all five games and allowing only 33 runs in those five games. In fact in the nine games played with less than 10 fielders Pay Attention went 9-0 and allowed 51 runs (an average of 5.7 per game) and in the five games with a full complement of fielders they allowed 31 runs (an average of 6.2 per game).

During the season Pay Attention scored five or more runs in an inning 20 times (in 77 innings) and three times scored the maximum 10 runs. The opponent on the other hand scored five or more in an inning only four times (in 81 innings) and 42 times Pay Attention kept the opponent from scoring in an inning. During 14 games Pay Attention trailed after five innings only once (Liquidated Damages 10/28) and after six innings only once as well (Team HOT 9/30).

Four times during the season Pay Attention scored 20 or more runs in a game and 12 times they allowed less than 10 runs. Also, they won by 10 or more runs nine times and eight of those games ended because of the "mercy" rule.

Team Stats

Over 14 games
Total Batters: Pay Attention, It's Free 541, Opponents 411
Runners Left on Base: Pay Attention, It's Free 95, Opponents 86
Scoring Percentage (runs scored vs total batters): Pay Attention, It's Free 41.6%, Opponents 19.9%
Out Percentage (outs recorded vs total batters): Pay Attention, It's Free 40.9%, Opponents 59.1%

Starting Line-ups