THE VILLAGES RECREATIONAL SENIOR SOFTBALL
-Joe Sanchez
CAVALIERS WIN PENNANT #8
After beating the Pacers 14-13, Mike Thurik’s Cavaliers have claimed their eighth championship. That is far more than any other team in Division Four history.
Cavs’ #1 fan, Carol Thurik, watches intently.
The win came in dramatic fashion as the Cavs entered the bottom of the seventh inning two runs behind the Pacers. Larry Owens started the winning rally with a one-out triple and he scored on Mike Thurik’s single inside the third base line. Norm Kushin followed with a single and with two outs, Bob Gompers’ single cut the Pacers’ lead to one run. That brought up Frank Porcelli and his groundball to second base was mishandled, allowing Thurik and Kushin to score the tying and winning runs. The game ended on the first error for either team.
This is the first title for the Cavaliers since winter ’11. The Pacers were trying to win for the second time—the first came in Fall ’04.
In the first game of the special playoff, the Pacers outslugged the Pistons, 21-15. The Pacers had 15-run leads (17-2 and 21-6) in both the 5th and 6th innings. They took a 21-8 advantage into the bottom of the seventh, but gave up seven runs to make the final score 21-15.
The defending champion Pistons were hoping to be the third team to win back-to-back titles—the Cavs did it in winter-summer ’07 and the Wizards in fall ’09-Winter ’10.
The playoff was necessitated by a division rule that eliminates tie-breakers when teams are either tied or ½ game apart at the end of the season. The Cavaliers and Pistons had identical records with the Pacers ½ game behind. Having beaten the Pistons in their only meeting, the Cavaliers sat out the first game as the Pacers beat the Pistons.
Without a playoff, the Cavaliers would have still won by virtue of their tie-break advantage over the Pistons. The only difference the playoff made is that it allowed the Pacers to move to second place, dropping the Pistons to third.
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TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE: Thursday, December 5
9:00 on Field 2: #16 Thunder at #1 Cavaliers
On Field 3: #13 Rockets at #4 Kings
On Field 4: #15 Hawks at #2 Pacers
10:30 on Field 2: #9 Magic at #8 Knicks
On Field 3: #12 Hornets at #5 Lakers
On Field 4: #14 Mavericks at #3 Pistons
12:00 on Field 3: #10 Suns at #7 Celtics
On Field 4: #22 Bucks at #6 Timberwolves
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TOURNAMENT RESULTS, December 2
#12 Hornets 12, #21 Bobcats 9
#13 Rockets 16, #20 Spurs 9
#14 Mavericks 22, #19 Bulls 17
#15 Hawks 15, #18 Grizzlies 10
#16 Thunder 11, #17 76ers 3
#22 Bucks 16, #11 Heat 9
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REMINDER:
DIVISION FOUR FOOD DRIVE
As in previous years, Jerry Saltness is coordinating a food drive to help the needy in our area. Division Four players are being asked to contribute food items (non-perishable) or cash. The food will be collected at the Saddlebrook Softball Complex throughout the post-season tournament.
