THE
PERFECT SEASON:
EN FUEGO GOES EXTRA INNINGS TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND FINISH THE
SEASON UNDEFEATED 13-0.
August
22, 2000
CHAPPAROSA
PARK, LAGUNA NIGUEL – FINAL: En Fuego 20, Big Wally’s 19
It
took En Fuego thirteen games and two innings to go undefeated for
the season as they beat Big Wally’s 20-19 to take the 2000 Summer
Chapparosa League Championship. In the best of three championship
series En Fuego needed only two games, plus the two innings to win
their third championship in team history and first since the summer
of 1997.
En
Fuego won the first game against Big Wally’s convincingly 20-9. It
was the second and final game that will go down as one of the all
time classics for the franchise. It was a win for the third title in
team history, the teams first ever undefeated season, 13-0, and it
was a one run victory in an extra inning final game sweep for the
championship.
In
a back and fourth battle, En Fuego led after the fourth inning 11-9
when Big Wally’s put five on the board in the top of the fifth to
take the lead for the first time. Trailing 13-17 in the bottom of
the seventh En Fuego rallied to tie the game on outfielder Jason
Martnick’s one out home run, which put the game into extra innings.
Neither
team scored in the eighth inning. In the top of the ninth Big
Wally’s scored two runs to take a 19-17 lead. In the bottom half
of the ninth Big Wally’s were able to get the first to batters out
but they were unable to retire another batter after that. With two
outs and the quest for an undefeated season about to end, outfielder
Greg Reynolds walked followed by
singles by outfielder Brett Nista, first baseman Kevin
Dull, and
Martnick to tie the score at 19. Catcher Jason
Santoro walked to set the stage for second baseman Mike
Kerr. With the winning run on third and two out Kerr laced a
single that actually landed on the right field chalk line and drove
in the game winner. “It’s all about opportunities.” Said Coach
Craig Watkins “Kerr is the type of
guy that wants to be at bat in that situation. I have a lot of faith
in him and the entire team. This has been a season to remember and I
can’t think of team that wanted to win so much.” |
