Hi to All of my good lifetime friends. What a great time it has been
“battling” all of these 41 seasons. We have had much better teams that just
couldn’t get over the top. But Mark Buehrle who spent every year of his
career but one with the Buccos finally won one for us. Thank you all for
helping make the possible. Fun!!
The top winner in Bucco history surpassing the great Steve Carlton in
lifetime wins wasn’t as strong as he was in many years but by total
coincidence he faced one the great pitchers of our time Clayton Kershaw
TWICE. The first game he battled Mr K. to a 1-1 draw through 6 innings
allowing only 2 hits but the Bucs lost in 10 innings by the score of the
series 2-1. In game 6 with the Bucs up 3 games to two, Mark faced Clayton
once again. This time he outdueled Clayton allowing only ONE hit in almost 6
innings. Buehrle left after giving up his only walk in the 6th innings as
the Bucco pen took over to take a 2-0 lead to the bottom of the 9th. In this
classic series only one game was not decided by a single run. Victor
Martinez nailed a smash over the fence off of Jared Hughes to once again get
to a 2-1 score with two outs. Hughes got that final out by retiring
Donaldson to give the Bucs this victory that been sought so long.
Jason Parry deserves a Manager of the Year award for his fierce battles as a
wild card through the ayoffs beating mighty and heavily favored Susquehana
team in round one in 7 games, winning two in deep extra innings. Then
facing the nearly unbeatable Solana Beach and taken in 7 games again , the
Goiter won two more extra inning games and two more 2-1 victories including
5 more one run games. And then finally favored to win against the hapless
Bucco, they lost two at home by one run again 2-1, and 3-2. Going to Mike
Schmidt Stadium they seemed about to lose but once again won an extra inning
game 2-1 behind MrK. The were inspired by a 5-2 game to tie the series AT
Bluebonnet. Matt Shoemaker took an early 4-0 lead in game 5 but yet again
the Jason’s Goiter fought back to 4-3 only to stopped by Hughes and
Gorzelany. Game six was described above as MR B outpitched Mr K with Mr
Hughes closing the door a final time.
Every Bucco win was by one run! Jason came ever so close to his first World
series win but we would bet a bunch of dollars that he will not take him 41
years to win his first title.
The MVP was Jimmy Rollins , another, older veteran , who played his heart
out. He played all 17 games coming into the final game with a slash line of
.333, .540, .417. Three home runs, 9 RBI’s and 21 hits. Stole 6 bases.
True he was 0-5 with two whiffs in that final game but without him, the Bucs
wouldn’t have won a single series. Matt Shoemaker won 4 games in the series
starting fewer games than Johnny Cueto who won 3 . Matt’s ERA was 2.28 in
27+ innings.
Thanks to all of you but especially Bob Van Valkenburg for helping us have
so much fun for so many years. That 50anniversary is just a piece down the
road. Who would have imagined Jim Lafargue’s idea would have grown into
these two or more leagues that have endured for so long.
Thank you so much!!
.
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