Games 1 and 2

The 1997 GABL World Series began in Bridgetown with the Grandview Griffs (84-78) visiting the Bridgetown Parrot Heads (102-60). This is the Griffs first trip to the championship series while the Parrot Heads are making their 3rd appearance in a row and their 4th overall (winning in 1993 and 1995 while losing in 1996).

Game 1 matched J.Rosado (5-5, 3.62) for the Griffs against K.Brown (20-3, 2.51) for the Parrot Heads. The game began with the Griffs going down 1-2-3 in the top of the 1st inning. Bridgetown got things rolling in their half of the inning with a 1-out single by Vizcaino followed by a 2-run HR by Karros. McGwire then worked Rosado for a walk which was followed by consecutive singles by Valle and Tartabull to load the bases. Elster then lined out for out number 2. Wehner, playing 3B in place of the round 1 playoff MVP Castilla due to the lefty starter, lined a shot into the left field gap for a 2-run double. Brown ended the inning by striking out. (BPH leads 4-0)

The bottom of the 3rd saw Bridgetown plate another run on a 2-out solo HR by Tartabull. (BPH leads 5-0)

The bottom of the 4th saw Bridgetown add another on a lead off solo HR by Castilla who was subbing for Wehner in order to save Wehner for future games. (BPH leads 6-0)

The top of the 5th saw Grandview break the ice against Brown. Giambi singles to lead off. Bell doubled after a Wilson strikeout to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1-out. Raines, pinch hitting for Rosado, drills a single to CF to plate Giambi, but Bell is thrown out trying to score from second by Mashore. Jefferies grounds out to end the inning (BPH leads 6-1).

The Griffs bring in Mohler to pitch. Valle starts Bridgetown's 5th inning by drawing a walk. Tartabull strikes out before Elster flies out to deep center with Valle tagging and advancing to 2nd. With 2-outs Castilla singles to score Valle. (BPH leads 7-1)

Bridgetown starter Brown baffles the Griffs until the top of the 8th inning. Bell begins by grounding out. Mohler is pinch hit for by Tucker who promptly doubles down the RF line. Jefferies flies out for out number 2. Knoblauch comes through in the clutch with a single up the middle to score Tucker. McRae ends the threat by flying out. (BPH lead 7-2)

There are no further threats by either team, BPH wins 7-2 and leads the series 1-0.

The stars of the game were Brown (CG, 7 H, 8 K, 0 BB, 2 ER), Castilla (2-3, 2 RBI, 1 HR), Karros (3-5, 2 RBI, 1 HR), Tartabull (2-4, 1 HR), and Wehner (1-1, 2 RBI, double).

R H E MGG 2 7 0 BPH 7 14 0

WP - Brown (1-0) LP - Rosado (0-1) HRs - Karros, Tartabull, Castilla

The game 2 starters were Cone (5-1, 3.36) for the Griffs and Guzman (19-4, 2.92) for Bridgetown. The Griffs get things going in the top of the 1st with Jefferies singling followed by a walk to Knoblauch to put runners on 1st and 2nd with 0-outs. Guzman inticies McRae to hit into a 4-6-3 double play leaving Jefferies on 3rd with 2-outs and Griffy Jr at bat. On a 3-1 count Jr grounds out to Castilla at 3rd on an outside Guzman fastball that Jr tried to go the opposite way with. (Game tied 0-0)

For the next 7-1/2 innings neither team can get a runner past 2nd base. Cone and Guzman are dominating. Bridgetown doesn't get their first hit until the bottom of the 6th inning when Hollandsworth smacks a 2-out double. He is stranded at 2nd when Vizcaino strikes out. Guzman is equally impressive, allowing only 2 hits (both singles) through the top of the 8th inning.

The bottom of the 8th inning sees Bridgetown come alive against Cone. Tartabull doubles with 1-out and is subbed for by pinch runner Goodwin. Reed draws a walk to put runners on 1st and 2nd with 1-out. Guzman is removed for pinch hitter Giles who grounds out with the runners advancing. Hollandsworth is given an intentional walk to load the bases with 2-outs. Vizcaino strikes out to end the inning. (Game tied 0-0)

Nen relieves Guzman and sets down the Griffs 1-2-3 in the top on the 9th. The Parrot Heads also go 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 9th.

The top of the 10th inning sees Wilson draw a lead-off walk followed by a single by Bell with the runner going to third. Raines pinch hits for Cone and drills a double scoring Otero (who pinch ran for Wilson) and moving Bell to third. Jefferies is intentionally walked to load the bases. Knoblauch gounds into a force play at the plate for the first out. McRae hits a deep shot to LF, which is caught (2nd out) on the warning track, allowing all runners to tag up and advance scoring the runner on third. Griffy Jr is intentionally walked to load the bases again. Sprague hits one to centerfielder Hollandsworth which he misplays into a 2-base error scoring 2 more runs. Giambi is intentionally walked. Otero singles driving in 2 more runs. Bell ends the inning by striking out. (MGG leads 6-0)

Wade comes in to pitch in place of Cone. The Parrot Heads go quitely in the bottom of the 10th, stranding Valle at 3rd after a 1-out triple. MGG wins 6-0 and ties the series at 1-1.

The stars of the game were Cone (9 IP, 2 H, 14 K, 3 BB, 0 R) and Guzman (8 IP, 2 H, 4 K, 5 BB, 0 R).

R H E MGG 6 5 0 BPH 0 3 2

WP - Cone (1-0) LP - Nen (0-1) HRs - None

Games 3 and 4

The 1997 GABL World Series came to Grandview for games 3 and 4. Coming off an exciting victory in game 2 at Bridgetown hopes were high in the Friendly Little City that the Mighty Griffs could pull off the miracle upset over the heavly favored Parrot Heads. 42,570 fans crowded into Juniors Yard under gray skies but comfortable tempretures. The place went wild when Ohio State's newest coaching legend John Cooper tossed out the first pitch and pumped his fist in the air. The national anthem was sung by crowd favorite Paula Cole and the ump cried "play ball".

Alex Fernandez went to the hill for the Griffs and retired the side in the first with a little help from an X-chart double play by Jay Bell. In the bottom of the 1st Ken Griffey Jr. blasted a 2 run shot to get the Griffs off to a 2-0 lead against Greg Maddux.

In the bottom of the 4th Jefferies singled and stole second then scored on a Knoublach single. It was Grandview 3 Bridgetown 0. The roucus crowd began singing "we don't give a damn for the whole state of Michigan, the whole state of Michigan" as the sun peeked thru the clouds between innings.

Danny Tartabull lead off the 5th with an x-chart single to rightfielder Jason Giambi. Kevin Elster then hit a sinking x-chart drive to left that Brian McRae booted for a one base error. With 2 on and none out, trailing by 3 in the 5th Hal pinch hit for Maddux with Giles. The press box was abuzz with shock at the bold move but a silence fell upon all of Grandview when Giles rolled a 5-3. Had a righty been at the plate it would have been HR 1-2 flyout 3-20. But with the lefty Giles it was HR 1-6 flyout 7-20. The split was 3 and the deed was done, the game tied. Bridgetown took the lead 4-3 when Hollandsworth Doubled, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a sac fly.

Jeff Montgomery came in to pitch for the Jacksonville Juggernout and was masterfull for 4 innings holding the Griffs hitless. Rob Nen came on to pitch the 9th and allowed the tying run to reach on a 1 out walk to PH Tim Raines but then coaxed a double play gound ball out of Greg Jefferies to end the game and send the Griffs fans home empty and sad.

Game 4 seemed like a "must win" for the Griffs and all lucky charms were brought to bear. With all the excitement over Centeral Ohio's new NHL team the BlueJackets it seemed appropriate when new mascot "Stinger" showed up for the first pitch. With a little slight of hand "Stinger" switched the Baseball with a Hockey Puck and threw a strike to startled Dan Wilson. With a grin Wilson examined the puck and tucked it into his back pocket. Boston native and Redsox fan Aimee Mann sung the national anthem with great spite and at the end yelled "screw the curse of the Bambino, win one for Olde Beantown".

Doc Gooden climed the hill for the Griffs and promplty served up a tater to Hollandsworth to lead off the game. Before everyone was in their seats it was 1-0 Bridgetown. Batting 2nd Vizcaino ground one sharply to Knoublauch who made an error on an easy x-chart chance. Hundley then got an x-chart single hit to short and Gooden was visably shaken. Unable to throw a strike The Doc walked McGwire, Castilla, and Karros to score 2 more for the Parrot Heads before a flyout and double play ended the inning.

Down 3 and facing Kevin Brown the Griffs came to the plate in the bottom of the 1st needing some lightning. With 2 out and a man on first Ken Griffey Jr rose to the occasion again with his second homer in as many days. Both came on a roll of 3-5 which is HR 1-18 vs rightys. The Yard was again alive with hope as the 1st ended and the Griffs only trailing by 1, 3-2. Once again the jovial Griff fans broke into song... "we don't care for the whole state of michigan, the whole state of michigan. the whole state of michigan we don't give a damn for the whole state of michigan, were from OHIO"

The mood quickly evaporated as the Mashers of McGwire pushed across another run in the top of the 2nd to go up 4-2. The only other bump in Kevin Brown's day came in the bottom of the 5th when Gregg Jefferies hit a 2 out triple to drive in the Mighty Griffs 3rd run of the day but after a walk to Knoublauch McRae flied out to end the threat.

Each team scored a run in the 9th but Nen was able to close it out for the Bajan Bombers who won 5-4 and take a 3 games to 1 lead back to Barbados for game 5.

Game 5

The 1997 GABL World Series returned to Barbados for game 5 with the Parrot Heads leading 3 to 1 after sweeping 2 games in Grandview. The starters for game 5 were Rosado (game 1 starter) for the Griffs and Guzman (game 2 starter) for the Parrot Heads.

The top of the 1st inning sees the Griffs off to a fast start. Jefferies starts the game with a single to center. Knoblauch hits into a force play with Jefferies being out at second. McRae singles with Knoblauch stopping at 3rd. With 1-out Griffey hits a slow roller to short that Elster only has one play which is to first to get Griffey with Knoblauch scoring from 3rd. Sprague and Giambi hit back-to-back doubles scoring two more runs before Wilson grounds out to end the inning (MGG leads 3-0)

McRae adds another run to the Griffs total with a 3rd inning 1-out HR off Guzman. (MGG leads 4-0)

Bridgetown comes alive in the bottom of the 3rd. Wehner leads off with a single. Guzman, trying to sacrifice, lays down a great bunt for another single. Mashore draws a walk to load the bases with 0-outs. Vizcaino get a run home with a sac fly. After a visit to the mount by the Griffs pitching coach, Rosado settles down striking out Karros and getting McGwire to pop out. (MGG leads 4-1)

The bottom of the 4th sees Bridgetown mount another rally. With 1-out Valle and Giles both draw walks. Wehner pops out and Guzman walks to load the bases for the top of the Parrot Head order. Mashore flies out to end the inning. (MGG leads 4-1)

The top of the 6th inning is a good one for Grandview. Sprague and Giambi draw 1-out walks. Wilson singles scoring a run followed by a Bell sac fly to score another. The inning ends with Rosado striking out. (MGG leads 6-1)

The last gasp comes for the Parrot Heads in the bottom of the 8th inning. With 1-out Valle triples (just missing a HR). This is followed by a Giles line out and an Elster ground out. (MGG leads 6-1)

There were no other threats by either team for the remainder of the game making the final score Grandview 6 and Bridgetown 1. Grandview forces the series back to their home field with Bridgetown leading in the series 3 to 2.

The player of the game was Rosado (CG, 5 H, 1 R, 4 K, 5 BB). He had the Parrot Heads handcuffed most of the day while working his way out of a couple of major jams. The hitting star for Grandview was McRae (2 of 5, 1 HR, 2 runs, 1 RBI)

R H E MGG 6 8 0 BPH 1 5 0

WP - Rosado (1-1) LP - Guzman (0-1) HR - McRae (1st)

Game 6

The Parrot Heads are champs again. The Bajan Bombers could only manage 2 hits against Fernandez and Wade but one of them was a 3 run jack by Hundley (ballpark homer on 5-4, its a 1-6 chance for LH). Maddux got the complete game victory giving up 8 hits, 3 of them to Giambi. In the bottom of the 9th Jefferies lead off with an x-chart single (ss Elster) and then I tried to bunt with Dan Wilson (b bunter). But as everybody in Ohio knows I've had no luck with the bunting this year. Wilson poped up and then Livingstone hit into a double play to end it.

Mcrae and Griffey both have nice 3 columns with a weinie in betweenie on 3-9 (its a strikeout). I grooved in on this one 3 times durring the game. I hate the weinie in betweenie. My big guns were all quiet for the series. Knoublauch .143, McRae .083, and Griffey .130. Can't win with that!