Superman returned just in time.
Each year Steve Roberts makes a Veto League Baseball appearance and each time provides a positive boost to a lineup. With three home runs, including a third inning grand slam, Roberts helped the SNK Crushers (4-8) to a 22-21 victory in seven innings over the Baseball Furies (6-6) in the final regular season game of 2006.
While the win didn't have many implications for Jeff Kilgard's SNK Crushers, it did, however, greatly benefit Kiel Engstrom and the Vandals (7-5). Engstrom's crew will now have home field advantage in the Black Hawk Division Playoff game against the Baseball Furies.
Due to attendance troubles, each divisional playoff will be one game only. The Meteors will be at the River Bandits in the Saukie Divisional Playoff.
Kilgard's crew trailed 8-2 before Roberts' blast in the third. They again lost the lead in the top of the fourth inning thanks to one of two James Francescon home runs. The round trippers were the first and second of Francescon's VLB career.
Trailing 12-7 in going into the bottom of the fourth, the Crushers heavy-hitters struck again. This time it was Engstrom's turn to sock his first home runs of the season.
"I was overdue," Engstrom, last season's likely MVP but we haven't voted on it yet which is stupid 'cus it's 2006, said.
The Crusher's took their first lead in the fifth and aimed to break the game open. With two ours and runners on first and second, Ryan Barton (subbing for captain Bob Zerull) intentionally walked Roberts to load the bases. He was unfamiliar with the new rule.
Roberts, as usual, was dismayed.
"What is this?" he asked. "I want to know what day and time this rule was made!"
"January 20th," Matt Veto replied. Engstrom followed up with "an about 9:30 p.m." and Roberts took his base. The Furies got out of the jam with little injury. The Crushers led 15-12.
The Furies took advantage. Batting around the order nearly four times in two innings, the Furies unloaded a furious fury of hits. Scott Ellefritz had seven hits in the game including three doubles; Eric Lindburg (6-for-10) had two doubles in the game and scored four times. Francescon finished the contest with five runs and six RBI. It appeared that it was just going to be another one of those crushing, Crusher defeats as the Furies scored nine unanswered runs.
"Come on," Kilgard said. "Let's come back instead of blowing a lead like we always do."
And with those ever-inspirational words came a comeback.
Down 21-15 in the last inning, the odds were not with the SNK crew. However, they rode the heels of two big hits from VLB rookie Howard Zimmerle (3-for-9, 3 runs), which kept the inning alive.
Engstrom (4-for-8, 5 RBI), Bobby Carter (4-for-8, 3 runs) and Roberts (4-for-7, 6 runs, 7 RBI) each notched hits and the Crushers scored five times. With two outs, Zimmerle singled and Kilgard beat out an overthrow to first base, which allowed the tying run to score and Zimmerle to move to third.
"I'm anchoring myself right here at second base," Kilgard said. Zimmerle represented the winning run at third.
Veto (4-for-9, 3 runs) stepped to the plate with two down.
"I saw they were shifting me hard left, both in the outfield and on the infield," Vet said. "I didn't want to hit it to right field, because he hasn't dropped a ball in years."
Veto placed a liner perfectly up the middle, just to the left of second base to plate Zimmerle capping a Crusher comeback.
"I'm so happy," Kilgard said. "Even if I'm not in the playoffs."
Zerull was not in attendance, but his voice could still be heard.
"I don't care," he probably would say. "As long as everyone had fun."
We did.
Each year Steve Roberts makes a Veto League Baseball appearance and each time provides a positive boost to a lineup. With three home runs, including a third inning grand slam, Roberts helped the SNK Crushers (4-8) to a 22-21 victory in seven innings over the Baseball Furies (6-6) in the final regular season game of 2006.
While the win didn't have many implications for Jeff Kilgard's SNK Crushers, it did, however, greatly benefit Kiel Engstrom and the Vandals (7-5). Engstrom's crew will now have home field advantage in the Black Hawk Division Playoff game against the Baseball Furies.
Due to attendance troubles, each divisional playoff will be one game only. The Meteors will be at the River Bandits in the Saukie Divisional Playoff.
Kilgard's crew trailed 8-2 before Roberts' blast in the third. They again lost the lead in the top of the fourth inning thanks to one of two James Francescon home runs. The round trippers were the first and second of Francescon's VLB career.
Trailing 12-7 in going into the bottom of the fourth, the Crushers heavy-hitters struck again. This time it was Engstrom's turn to sock his first home runs of the season.
"I was overdue," Engstrom, last season's likely MVP but we haven't voted on it yet which is stupid 'cus it's 2006, said.
The Crusher's took their first lead in the fifth and aimed to break the game open. With two ours and runners on first and second, Ryan Barton (subbing for captain Bob Zerull) intentionally walked Roberts to load the bases. He was unfamiliar with the new rule.
Roberts, as usual, was dismayed.
"What is this?" he asked. "I want to know what day and time this rule was made!"
"January 20th," Matt Veto replied. Engstrom followed up with "an about 9:30 p.m." and Roberts took his base. The Furies got out of the jam with little injury. The Crushers led 15-12.
The Furies took advantage. Batting around the order nearly four times in two innings, the Furies unloaded a furious fury of hits. Scott Ellefritz had seven hits in the game including three doubles; Eric Lindburg (6-for-10) had two doubles in the game and scored four times. Francescon finished the contest with five runs and six RBI. It appeared that it was just going to be another one of those crushing, Crusher defeats as the Furies scored nine unanswered runs.
"Come on," Kilgard said. "Let's come back instead of blowing a lead like we always do."
And with those ever-inspirational words came a comeback.
Down 21-15 in the last inning, the odds were not with the SNK crew. However, they rode the heels of two big hits from VLB rookie Howard Zimmerle (3-for-9, 3 runs), which kept the inning alive.
Engstrom (4-for-8, 5 RBI), Bobby Carter (4-for-8, 3 runs) and Roberts (4-for-7, 6 runs, 7 RBI) each notched hits and the Crushers scored five times. With two outs, Zimmerle singled and Kilgard beat out an overthrow to first base, which allowed the tying run to score and Zimmerle to move to third.
"I'm anchoring myself right here at second base," Kilgard said. Zimmerle represented the winning run at third.
Veto (4-for-9, 3 runs) stepped to the plate with two down.
"I saw they were shifting me hard left, both in the outfield and on the infield," Vet said. "I didn't want to hit it to right field, because he hasn't dropped a ball in years."
Veto placed a liner perfectly up the middle, just to the left of second base to plate Zimmerle capping a Crusher comeback.
"I'm so happy," Kilgard said. "Even if I'm not in the playoffs."
Zerull was not in attendance, but his voice could still be heard.
"I don't care," he probably would say. "As long as everyone had fun."
We did.