Game of the Century!
We bring you guys the Game of the Century!
With help of the Toronto Blazers, and Athens Bobcats!
Season 133 was a season of wit, shock, triumph, grit, and unexpected plot twists, highlighted by a Cinderella story of the Fresno Colorado Rockies, the extremely uncommon scenario of the Sins in the wildcard, and the triumph of the Denton Grains that was rightfully earned. But the protagonist of the story relies on the shoulder of the Toronto Blazers. A well known team with some very successful seasons, lurking in the shadows of his dominating division. Entering the season he explained to me his exact goal, “My goal is to make it to the 2nd round of league playoffs, which will be difficult challenge with the formidable division rivals in the Buckeyes”, to everyone's surprise, the division was in hands of the Blazers in what seemed as a “breeze” he said.
The Toronto Blazers began the season just the way he could have hoped he would have, noting an impressive 24-6 record at the midway point, and he did not plan to stop there. The Blazers stated “The Buckeyes unexpectedly were hovering around .500 at midseason, I knew then that the division this season was mine to secure”. Win after win he ended up 47-13! Hosting him as the 1 seed in the Alta Canyon, and the 8th in the world! In season 131, he was the 1 seed and surprisingly was bounced out of the first round by the 8 seed, this postseason, his goal was to beat the 8 seed.
The Blazers went to battle the Chicanos in the first round, the Blazers didn’t want to venture home early his last playoff run. The Blazers dominated, winning both games 1 and 2. Advancing to the 2nd round to face the assertive Cincinnati Reds. This would be a tough task as the Reds have imposed their dominance claiming 64 division titles. The Blazers lineup shocked everyone winning 12-6. The Blazers were happy stating, “the Reds are a great team so I can’t be too joyful yet” as the Blazers said. The Reds responded by taking game 2 in a nail biter winning, 7-6 as the Reds walked it off. The Blazers were flabbergasted but the Blazers had a revelation that would help shut down the Reds lineup. The Blazers would anticipate steals after anyone on the Reds got on base and worked perfectly. As the Blazers would stupefy everyone with a walk off 3-2 victory led by Costa's 4-4 day at the dish with 3 RBIs. As a result the Blazers were in the final round facing the St. John’s Peace Sharks. This would be the toughest task for Toronto as the Peace Sharks held the most league titles in Alta Canyon history. The Blazers continued their game 1 success, winning 3-2. Toronto kept his cool as 1 win didn’t mean he was out of the woods just yet. Peace Sharks responded with an 8-0 beatdown led by a 1 hit shutout. Bewildered by this debacleToronto stated, “game 3 is all that matters at this point.” This game 3, was arguably the game of the century, arguably one of the best Franchise Ball games played of all time.
I was very fortunate enough to watch this highly anticipated matchup and boy was my adrenaline flowing watching this game. The untouchable Zach Harlan was undefeated searching to keep the good times rolling with his sub 2 ERA, on the other side, the Peace Sharks had Wadsworth on the rubber, who accompanied a dominant 11-2 record and 2.5 era. With a dominant pitching duel one would expect silenced bats and a high whiff rate.
The first few innings were scoreless, until Toronto broke the silence with an RBI double from Bertram. Giving them the first run of the game, then it was back to being a pitching masterpiece until the 7th when Toronto struck again, scraping home another run with an RBI single from Davis. We entered the 8th inning with 2 runs scored, Harlan was pitching an absolute gem holding the Sharks scoreless through 7. But this is where the fun really happens so grab your popcorn and soda because we are going on an adrenaline ride!!
The 8th inning would begin with a Terry 2 run nuke that forced the Blazers to call to the pen. In trots, Valles who hadn’t pitched all season! Luckily, he enters with the bases empty. Mcullin slapped a double followed by a single RBI from Esquivel giving the Peace Sharks the first lead of the game, just when it couldn’t get worse, Hodgins knocked him in with a double off the left field wall to bring the score to 4-2. A drastic swing of momentum allows Abreu to slice a 2-out single , increasing the deficit to 6-2 Peace Sharks. I recollect the silence and awe of the group chat, it seemed like the Blazers were doomed to lose this game. The bottom of the 8th was highlighted by a Bass solo nuke, but nothing else. Just like that the infamous 9th inning arrives. The Blazers call in Blackwood for the 9th, he’s been the most reliable arm in the pen, but the pressure swallows him like quicksand. As a quick Irizarry single followed by a Terry double to extend the lead.
The bottom of the 9th began with 2 outs, and they were down 6. The chances of winning this game were below 0.1%. The room was so silent that you could hear a pin drop. The inning began with back-to-back singles. The dream wasn’t over! Until eventually the bases were juiced. Crack! Everyone looks up as Bass clubbers one, deep to right, going, going, and GONE! In the matter of seconds, Toronto gains momentum cutting the deficit to two! The energy was at an all-time high, and the Blazers kept their foot on the gas as Coughlin doubled after, with team mvp Matthew Bell stepping up to the dish, hitless and a look of pure determination and a sneer that struck fear in eye any pitcher as he slapped a hard hit single passed the 2nd baseman causing the Blazers dugout to explode , cutting the lead to one! The hysteria continued, as a Moorman double to left Moorman tied the game! It was the craziest phenomenon to happen in baseball history! The light switch in the room was turned on, and not even thoughts were able to be heard. We have just witnessed one of the most improbable 9th inning comebacks, yet the game wasn’t even over. An out later and we were going to extras! Toronto called for the services of 37 year old Gregory Bounds to shut down the Sharks. Sadly his old arm didn’t hold up as he relinquished the lead back to the Sharks. Beginning the 10th with a single by Pape, Terry mashed a double to left, giving Sharks the lead. After that Gamboa hit a single to left which begged the question of who do the Blazers call on? In a stage of panic, Toronto opted to call on 32 year-old veteran Marquise Hennessey, who hadn’t seen Major League action all season! The Blazers needed to stop the bleeding immediately. Fortunately, for Toronto Hennessy came in and shut the door on any Peace Sharks momentum holding the deficit to 2. The Blazers were forced into a very improbable scenario. The Peace Sharks had called in a reliever, once again we were all holding hands in a moment of faith. First batter to the dish was Catcher Alexander Costa, who’d been hitting the absolute cover off the ball. The crowd rose to their feet and with all they had screamed at the top of their lungs for Costa to cut down the lead! With the crowd on his side and the ballpark shaking he smirked at the pitcher, and said, “Give me the best you got! You pitch like my grandma, slow and weak!” With the first pitch, it was like the world went in slow motion as Alex belted a 400 foot piss missile to center! A quiet celebration later, Toronto was still down one. So we sat up, dumbfounded for what is next. Marroquin hits a double to the gap! The winning run was now at the plate! Davis swings at a nasty curveball off the bottom corner for out number 1. Next stepped up LF Pedro Lugo, who couldn’t hit water if he was in a boat to that point. With the odds stacked against him. He comes up, and says “Fuck it what do I have to lose?” With a full count, he makes swings, and dribbles one past the 1st baseman to TIE THE BALL GAME! The dugout breathes a sigh of relief and adrenaline starts pumping as they have a chance to win it right here! With Bass steps up to plate, he can win it here, he swings, but is out. Down to the final out of the inning 2B Joey Coughlin steps up to the plate. He'd been dreaming of this scenario all of his life! He’d played his scenario over and over in his head since he was a child to drive in playoff clinching RBI. Coughlin patient takes ball 1 outside. 2nd pitch swings at a ball on the inside corner and whiffs hard almost falls over. With a 1-1 count, the pitcher gets the signs the place is silent as tensions rise. Pitcher hangs a slider over the plate as Coughlin swings and drives the ball between the OFs to left center as the crowd roars and chaos ensues with fans rushing the field! The TORONTO BLAZERS ARE YOUR ALTA CANYON LEAGUE CHAMPIONS! UNBELIEVABLE! The Toronto Blazers are advancing to the World Playoffs.
This singular game that transpired had everyone in a frenzy, the Blazers would get past the first round with a bye, and dominated James in round two. Though the Blazers would fall to the Cinderella story himself in the Fresno Colorado Rockies. This Toronto Blazers team displayed lots of grit, energy, and determination. But that league finals vs the Peace Sharks shall never be forgotten.
The Tampa Bay Thunderbirds streamed the game 3 of the Reds vs Blazers, but said “Game 3 of that Reds vs Blazers game was insane. But I'm still pissed I didn't stream game 3 of the Blazers vs Peace Sharks, that was the game of the century”.
When I asked the Rangers about those last couple innings we watched together, he stated “I'd say the best way to describe what unfolded in the last two innings of that game was pure insanity. It's hard to come back by multiple runs in the last inning of any game, but to do it twice in the same game with the season on the line is something truly special. Pitching is what usually wins you championships at the end of the day, but ultimately, you need a gritty offense, too, and that's exactly what the Blazers demonstrated.” A perfect response for a perfect game.
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Post season Interview!:
Magic: Looking back to this season, what was learnt the most throughout the whole season?
Blazers: Looking back at it, what was learnt the most throughout the season was my offense. In the playoffs I was scoring a lot of runs and even in the regular season too. The most important thing about my offense was clutch. Mostly in the playoffs walking off twice in Game 3. And scoring 6 runs in the 9th in the most important game of my life
Magic: How has this impacted your future with this organization? What is the next goal?
Blazers: It has impacted my future massively, the next time I’ll make the playoffs I gotta remember this last season, I mean I was a rookie going into the 2nd and 3rd round but now I have some experience in hand and I actually know what I’m doing. My next goal is to make it to the World Series. I feel like what I’ve done to my team should deserve to make it there, but I know it definitely won’t be an easy road to attain it.
Magic: If you had a tip for the newer teams reading this, what would that be?
Blazers: A tip for the newer teams is that let your last season be a learning lesson to the next season as in Season 132 my offense was horrible and was 34-26, I had to do a lot of changes to the team offense wise and then next season I was 1 game away from the World Series. So just make sure you identify your team's mistakes and flaws and learn from it. And be smart with what you do with your team.
Magic: Thank you, and goodluck the rest of the season!
