NALB 2014 Playoffs - League 2 Series

K. Fields
2015-10-11T18:54:34-04:00
Baseball

2014 League 2 Series - Richmond Slam (85-77) vs. Quebeck Sky Chiefs (90-72)

Game 1: Richmond 7, Quebeck 2
Game 2: Richmond 4, Quebeck 3
Game 3: Quebeck 12, Richmond 7
Game 4: Richmond 2, Quebeck 0
Game 5: Quebeck 5, Richmond 0
Game 6: Quebeck 3, Richmond 1
Game 7: Richmond 4, Quebeck 2

The Richmond Slam have become regulars in the postseason. This marks their fifth straight playoff appearance. On the other hand, the Quebeck Sky Chiefs have been slowly improving under the steady hand of manager Cherokee Clark. In his fifth year with Quebeck, Clark delivered the turnaround story Sky Chiefs fans have been waiting for. After a 70-92 season in 2013, his ball club improved 20 games to go 90-72. Canadian baseball enthusiasts rejoiced as the Sky Chiefs returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

Quebeck hosted the opener for game one of the League 2 Series. The Slam named Katamor Eizan (13-8, 3.78 ERA) as their starter while Dan Eckenrode (11-6, 3.29 ERA) pitched the opener for the Sky Chiefs. Richmond’s offense is keyed by right fielder Tony Rodarte, the league’s most dangerous hitter. Rodarte wasted no time by taking Eckenrode deep with a two run blast in the top of the first. First baseman Odalis Corrales contributed a solo homer in the fourth to make it 3-0 Richmond. Quebeck went to their bullpen in the sixth and the Slam took advantage. The hits came easily against relievers Mauro Santana and Boris Crookshanks. The Slam extended their lead to 7-0. The Sky Chiefs scraped out a run in the seventh and another in the ninth. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome a four hit gem by Eizan as he pitched a complete game to give Richmond a 7-2 win.

In game two, the Slam had an inconsistent starter on the mound, Luís Baboun (9-19, 5.20 ERA). The Sky Chiefs were in much surer hands with veteran Paul Pole (12-11, 3.57 ERA). Baboun was up to the challenge, however. Both pitchers gave up three runs in seven innings. Shortstop Chick Veras led off the game with a home run for the Slam. Richmond added a run in the second and Quebeck responded with a run in the fifth. The Slam pulled ahead 3-1 when Tony Rodarte and Carlos Tejera hit back to back doubles in the sixth. Quebeck’s superstar second baseman, Marc-André Lavoie, thrilled the hometown fans with a game tying two run homer in the seventh inning. The game went into extra innings. In the twelfth inning with Ezra Demello pitching, the Slam scored the winning run on an Edmundo Ovelha single. Richmond defeated Quebeck, 4-3.

Game three saw the series move to Richmond. The Sky Chiefs desperately needed a win. They pinned their hopes on left hander Norberto Baleazar (13-11, 3.15 ERA). The Slam like their chances with hard throwing Argentinean lefty Gutierre ‘Bucky’ Jiménez (15-8, 3.13 ERA). It was a hitters game as neither pitcher looked particularly sharp. The Slam had 12 hits while the Sky Chiefs had 13. The Slam had a 7-6 lead heading into the eighth inning. Richmond’s bullpen was ineffective. They surrendered four runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth. The game was a disaster for the Slam as they also committed four errors on way to a 12-7 loss.

The Sky Chiefs had another lefty on the mound for game four. Heath MacKissock (11-11, 4.06 ERA) was paired off against Richmond’s Hap Bedford (12-10, 3.49 ERA), one of the greatest pitchers in NALB history. Bedford lived up to his lofty reputation. He fell one out shy of a complete game shutout. He walked none and struck out nine. MacKissock pitched a solid 6.1 innings and only gave up two runs. The Slam won this pitchers’ duel 2-0.

In game five, Dan Eckenrode (11-6, 3.29 ERA) and Katamor Eizan (13-8, 3.78 ERA) were back for their second starts of the series. In game one, Eizan pitched a complete game to give Richmond the win. This time, it was Eckenrode who came out on top. The Sky Chiefs won behind 5.1 shutout innings from Eckenrode and their bullpen took care of the rest. Quebeck scored a run in the second and fifth innings and put the game away with three runs in the seventh. It was a decisive 5-0 win.

The series shifted to Quebeck for game six, where every game was a must win for the Sky Chiefs. The starters were Luís Baboun (9-19, 5.20 ERA) and Paul Pole (12-11, 3.57 ERA), who each got a no decision in game two. Both pitchers looked very good. Baboun lasted seven innings while Pole went a full eight. Pole helped his own cause in the fifth inning when he batted in the first run of the game with a line drive double. Feliciano Gómez followed with an RBI single and the Sky Chiefs took a 2-0 lead. The Slam managed a run in the sixth inning when Steve Shepphard scored on a wild pitch. Marc-André Lavoie padded Quebeck’s lead with an RBI single in the eighth inning. The Sky Chiefs evened the series at three games each thanks to a 3-1 win.

The atmosphere was electric in Quebeck for game seven. The pressure was on Richmond’s Gutierre Jiménez (15-8, 3.13 ERA) and Quebeck’s Norberto Baleazar (13-11, 3.15 ERA) to deliver quality starts. The Sky Chiefs had home field advantage as well as momentum in the series. The Slam appeared calm and collected, however. In the top of the second inning, the Slam got things started with a pair of walks by Odalis Corrales and Carlos Galicia. Benny Way got a hit to load the bases. Baleazar forced in a run when he gave up a walk to Chick Veras. Edmundo Ovelha and Tony Rodarte had back to back hits and the Slam were quickly out in front 4-0. The score remained until the bottom of the seventh. Javier Mejia and Manuel Arellano got hits and the Sky Chiefs had two men on. They caught a break when Richmond’s Carlos Tejera committed an error in left field. Both runners scored and it was a 4-2 game. Neither team would score again. The Slam won the game and the League 2 Series.

Shortstop Chick Veras was the League 2 Series MVP. The Slam’s leadoff hitter hit .321 (9 for 28) with 3 2B, 1 HR, 5 R, and 5 RBI.