Falcons Forum

Falcon Awesome 2: Electric Boogaloo will have to be put on the back burner. For the sixth time this century, we made it as far as we could go. For the fifth time this century, we couldn't finish the job. I guess we'll have to petition to have the final game played at K2, because that seems to be the only place we can take care of business.


Saturday, 9:00 am: Greenthumb at Falcons

I'm going to continue to beat this dead horse until conditions improve: the so-called "bye" that has the high seeds playing at nine in the goddamn morning on Saturday IS NOT an advantage. Regardless, we did manage to begin tournament weekend strong. Greenthumb took an early 2-0 lead after the first inning, but it was all Falcons after that. MAX6s in the second and third for the home side and it was just counting outs after that.

Falcons 19, Greenthumb 8.

Saturday, 12:00 pm: Isotopes at Falcons

Deja vu all over again. The Isotopes, already 1-0 after a Friday win over Greenthumb and well rested thanks to their killer 5-seed schedule, took an early 2-1 lead after the first inning over the Falcons. And, just like the game before, the Falcon bats woke up in the second to put up a MAX6. The Isotopes showed some late life, closing the score to 13-10 after 5.5 innings, but a six-run sixth highlighted by a Goliath 3-run homer that disturbed a local birthday party put this one to bed for the Falcons. Having secured the pool win, t'was time for pizza and watching ball the rest of the day.

Falcons 19, Isotopes 11.

Quarterfinal: Sunday, 11:30 am: Expos at Falcons

ACTUALLY rested this time, and with the stands jammed with the Falcon Faithful, the Falcons began the march to the finals Sunday morning against the pesky Expos. The visiting Expos put up a 3-spot in the top of the first inning, only to be answered by a well-rested MAX6 by the home Falcons in the bottom half. After trading delicious doughnuts (metaphorical doughnuts, unlike the actual, real-life doughnuts on the bench we had thanks to Lindsey, and fresh baked cookies from Taxman's daughter Serrennia) in the second inning, the Expos broke out for four in the top of the third to re-take the lead, and tighten the collars of Dr J and the Falcon fans in attendance. In response, the Falcons... scored only one to tie it up then laid a goose egg in the fourth. The Expos also didn't score in the fourth, but added one in the top of the fifth to go up 8-7. But that was all they could muster, and the Falcons added three in the fifth and another four in the sixth to move on.

Falcons 14, Expos 8.

Semifinal: Sunday, 1:00 pm: Falcons at Storm

Who doesn't love a Falcons-Storm playoff classic? This is the only game all weekend where Whitby's Most Beloved Slo-Pitch Team would be the visitors. No matter... the visiting Falcons managed a singleton in the top of the first, and held Storm to a doughnut in their half, turning up the heat on the favoured Storm. Storm wouldn't stay silent for long though. After holding the Falcons to no runs in the second (and third, and fourth...), they put up two in the second to take the lead, then three in the fourth to go up by five. The Falcons responded with a whimper in the fifth, scoring one and Storm piled on with another two in their half. After five, Storm led 7-2 and it was getting late for team blue. But that's when something that never happens happened: Storm showed some cracks. A five-run top of the fifth for the Falcons jammed the wedge in to tie the game, and after Storm went four-up, three-down in the bottom of the sixth, it all fell apart. In the top of the seventh, Storm's Jeff uncharacteristically lost the strike zone, walking two after back-to-back doubles to begin the inning. He was replaced by Rene, who was shortly replaced by Joey. I think even Storm would say if Joey is pitching, things aren't going their way. Joey issued a bases-loaded walk to Shohei, and SLF followed with a bases clearing triple to put the nail in Storm's coffin. Storm went three-up, three-down in the bottom of the seventh, and it was back to K1 for the Falcons to meet their fate.

Falcons 14, Storm 7.

WMSPL Playoff Tournament Final: Sunday, 2:30 pm: Broadway at Falcons

Before this game even got started, the murmurs began at the semifinal game on K2. Whispers in the handshake line spread rumours that no one expected: Broadway was up big on Triple Play over on K1... could they hold on? Those rumours were confirmed on the way back to Bill's car for a cold refreshment when 2027 VP Division dwelling Broadway secured the biggest upset of the tournament, holding Triple Play to only six runs in a 12-6 win to keep their championship hopes alive. Up on the hill, the Falcons were relaxed. Whether it was Triple Play or Broadway, the Falcons knew they were playing with house money at that point and were happy to be where few thought they'd end up. Doug Short, the only man to bankrupt a casino faster than Donald Trump, had Triple Play and Storm in the finals. This would be the most unexpected final pairing at that playoff tournament since the Rebels (6th) met Coulas (9th) in 2018.

With fresh lines on the field, the two teams, clearly exhausted already from their previous games that day, began a battle that wouldn't end in regulation. They say defence wins championships, but really, does that apply in slo-pitch? It did in this one. After three innings, the score was 0-0. Neither team's leadoff hitter had batted twice. Schneids had already made an assassination attempt on the league president (get well soon, Ryan!). Broadway had managed only two singles, and the Falcons only had three.

In the top of the fourth, a spark. Chris dinked a single to right, and Trevor followed up with a monster blast to make it 2-0 Broadway. In response, the Falcons got a runner to third base but couldn't score him. Broadway tacked on another run in the top of the fifth to go up 3-0. What even was this game? A classic? A classic.

The Falcons clawed back a couple in the bottom of the fifth inning, starting with singles by Dunner and the Ringer. They were moved over when Barry Guerrero Jr walked to load the bases. With the sacs juiced and no one out, this was the first of many opportunities the Falcons couldn't take advantage of to put this game away. They did manage two sac flies to bring the score to 3-2 after five, but the chance to flip the momentum was clearly missed. Broadway only sent three to the plate in the top of the sixth, so for a minute hope flourished on the home side. The Falcons tied it up when Goliath's lead off double in the bottom of the sixth was moved to third by a Shohei single and cashed by Johnny Wagons' RBI single. The Falcons ended the inning with the go-ahead run on second base.

Tied at three going into the seventh inning is what everyone expected, right?

Right?

Broadway started their seventh with a groundout to the pitcher, and a flyout to right. A two out single was moved to third with a subsequent single. But that's as far as he'd get. A flyout to right ended the top of seven tied.

The Falcons had a situation evolving that you'd wish for. Tie game, bottom of seven in the championship final. The heart of the order due up. To the Falcons, it wasn't "if", but "who". Who would have the championship RBI? How would this play out?

We got baseball'd. Time Out and Schneids each get hits three out of every four times to the plate. Dunner is right behind them. Was it Brad's pitching? It certainly was a factor. Between the three of them, they missed hitting the ball square by about 3/4" combined, and it ended up in three pop-outs.

Extras, kids.

And that's where the wheels fell off. Defence wasn't a factor in either direction for the Falcons in the top of the eighth. Broadway's bats just came alive, and they batted around and then some. When the dust settled, they'd scored 10, more than tripling their total output in the first seven innings. It's a funny game, isn't it? Undaunted, the Falcons knew they were capable of matching that feat. A valiant effort scored five in the bottom of the eighth to make the score look closer than it actually was, and Broadway walked away champions.

Broadway 13, Falcons 8.