Athens Fighting Centaurs 4 @ 0 Beirut Cedars
Middle East Baseball Opening Day but more importantly for the 1,000 Blue & White Army travelling fans, it was the first ever official game for the Centaurs. There may have been a 1,000 official fans but it's estimated there were double maybe even triple that number if you include the unofficial Athens fans who travelled to Beirut, one fan who wanted to remain anonymous.
"The boss thinks I'm sick. I didn't travel with the Blue & White's, the 1,000 tickets we got from Beirut sold out in 10 minutes, it was crazy. So I decided to travel to Beirut anyway, soak up the atmosphere. Well I get here and scalpers are charging $600 for the cheap seats, I think once in a lifetime so I buy one. I'm thinking there'll be all Cedars fans round me I was wrong, it was Athens fans, crazy it was like a home game".
Inside Beirut's Ballpark
One other person who also thought it was a home game was Maxim Makin, Makin had the privilege of being the first ever starting pitcher in Centaurs history. He didn't dissapoint, 7 innings of shut out baseball, 7 innings were he gave up just 1 hit and 1 walk.
He'd been backed up by the batting card, Chris Carter was the first ever Centaur to reach base in the 1st when Cedars pitcher Tony Caraballo walked him, however apart from Arbizo also walking in the 3rd Athens hadn't got an hit going into the 6th. "It was like a light switch had been flicked" said manager Nabih said after the game, well if you had to rely on one person to hit that switch it would be Chip 'Sarge' Saunders.
Athens Radio Announcer Damaris Falkedes
"Top of the 6th, Centaurs apart from a couple of walks haven't bothered the Beirut scoreboard, Sarge coming to the plate. Sarge grounded out in the 3rd, Tony Carabilo still on the mound for Beirut, why shouldn't he be he's shutdown Athens so far today. Ball just missing the outside corner, 1-0 count, Saunders flexes his fingers round the bat handle, Caraballo with the pitch, line drive it drops in Saunders plants his foot on 1st, Sarge as his and Athens first hit in franchise history. Opa to Caraballo the Beirut pitcher as he throws the historical ball over to Saunders, Sarge tips his batting helmet to the Cedars pitcher and throws the ball to the Athens dugout".
Saunders reached 2nd on a Arbizo sac bunt, Aymeric Barajas was intentionally walked.
Athens Radio Announcer Damaris Falkedes
"Chris Carter to the plate, runners at 1st and 2nd 1 out. Caraballo first pitch fastball called strike, Carter fouls of the second pitch 0-2 count, just 1 out but looks like the runners could be going, Barajas a known speed merchant, Saunders not so. Middle of the zone fastball, Carter makes contact and hits it right back past the pitcher, base runners take off, Sarge reaches 3rd he turns the corner, run Sarge, run. Sarge slides for the plate Seyfert the Beirut catcher tags him...........SAFE! HE'S SAFE! Athens take the lead Athens 1 Beirut 0 top of the 6th".
Saunders would run Makin close for player of the game with a rbi double in the 7th to make it Athens 2 Beirut 0, Athens would increase the score to 4-0 with a Vincente Chavez 2 rbi single another in contention for player of the game, however it was Makin's game to go into Athens Fighting Centaurs mythology.
Centaurs GM Neil Thomas.
"I know Max was angry being taken out of the game, we just talked in the locker room and he understands manager Nabih's thinking. He probably could have pitched another inning, he'd thrown 85 pitches so yes another inning was doable. However it's a long season and Max is our ace, plus we have a deep and capable bullpen so why not use it".
The bullpen the final piece in the team jigsaw was used and although Paul Farrell seemed a bit rusty in his 27 pitches giving up two hits, those hits didn't trouble the Cedars scoring. Akli Yoofi came into the game in the bottom of the 9th, Chester Owens was on second, Carlos Torres on first. Yoofi's nerves showed as he hit José Muñóz with a fastball inside, not only loading the bases but also bringing Juan Rodriguez to the plate, the run that could tie the ball game, 6 pitches later.
Athens Radio Announcer Damaris Falkedes
"3-2 count bottom of the 9th, Athens leading 4-0 but the Cedars have the bases loaded with 2 outs. Beirut fans cheering trying to put Yoofi of his game, the 1,000s of Centaurs fans sat quiet, nervous some can't even look heads buried in hands, in mitts, in Greek flags. Yoofi looks into Sarge's eyes, the catcher signals to his pitcher what pitch he wants, the Nigerian born pitcher nods. The wind up, the pitch high fastball, Rodriguez swings misses game over oooooooopa, oooooooopa, Athens wins, Athens wins, Socrates, Aristotle, Zeus, Poseidon our boys did us proud".
11:05am Wednesday 2nd April 2042
Athens Fighting Centaurs 3 @ 1 Beirut Cedars
The Centaurs would chalk up their second win in a row on the back of Abil Gibson's 8 innings giving up just 1 run of 2 hits, Yoofi would gain his second save of the season. 2 rbi from right fielder Esteban Cuervo and an rbi from Nate Wood who replaced catcher Saunders who was rested on a precaution basis led the hitting with Athens tasting victory again.
11:05am Thursday 3rd April 2042
Athens Fighting Centaurs 2 @ 3 Beirut Cedars
GM Neil Thomas
"Look I've got 27 guys in that locker room who think they've let the Blue & White fans down, I told them the truth there are over 160 games in a season if you think your going to win everyone, get ready for disappointment. You can try to win every game as you did today but sometimes the cards don't fall besides your going to have a surprise when we go to the bus".
This was the scene that greeted the Centaurs outside the stadium.
