October 17, 2060
by Banjo Jackson
Nashville, TN
After putting up perhaps the quietest 115-win season of all-time, the Nashville Bluebirds received a bye in the Geoghegan Series and squared up against the Des Moines Kernels in the Doubleday Series. Despite wining 11 games fewer than the previous season, Nashville had the best record in the BBA and went in the postseason well-rested, aside from newly acquired catcher, Todd ‘TNT’ Tatlock, being shelved for at last the first couple weeks of October.
Mark ‘Bender’ Lolololo was on the bump for Game 1 and the Nebraska candidate did not disappoint. The star southpaw allowed just two hits in 7.1 IP while striking out six. After a Juan Rivera solo homer in the first inning, the Bluebirds didn’t look back. Gillstrom frontrunner, Francisco Calderón, added a solo shot of his own and the Bluebirds would go on to win comfortable, 6-0.
Fellow Nebraska candidate, Eric Stevens, took the mound for Game 2 and allowed three hits, however, two of them were homeruns. Luckily, they were both of the solo variety and Stevens was otherwise lights out and struck out eight in 6 IP. After facing a 2-0 deficit, Alfonso Gonzáles tied up things an inning later with a two run shot off former teammate, Steven Clayton. Things would remain deadlocked until Rivera stepped up to the plate to begin the bottom of the 9th inning, where he wasted no time in sending everyone home with a walk-off homer. David Molina, yet another Nebraska candidate, pitched 3 IP of perfect baseball to pick up the win.
The Birds headed to Iowa for Game 3 in what looked like another pitcher’s duel through the first 3 innings. Then the Bluebirds erupted for 9 runs in the next 3 innings, including another Rivera moonshot. Phil Cole struck out 10 Kernels and allowed 3 ER in 6.1 IP. Molina pitched 2.1 IP of more perfect baseball and Nashville took a 3-0 lead in the series.
Looking to finish off the Kernels with a sweep, the Birds turned to veteran southpaw, Barney Lindsay, who allowed 4 ER in 6 IP. And wouldn’t you know, Rivera hit another homer in the 5th inning to put the Bluebirds up a run, but Des Moines would counter in the bottom half of the inning. Things would head into extra innings and the bluebirds dropped their first game of the postseason when the Kernels hit a walk off homer off Heng-zong Tang.
The celebration in Des Moines didn’t last long, however. Crissy Tingle led off Game 4 with a solo homer and it was smooth sailing after that. Bender pitched another 7.2 IP, allowing 3 ER, but the Bluebirds scored 7 of their own and finished off the series.
DH Juan Rivera
Rivera was named series MVP for just the second time in his illustrious career. He batted .409 with 4 HR and 9 RBI and now will turn his focus on taking down the Twin Cities River Monsters in the Cartwright Cup, which will be must watch baseball for anyone whose ever loved the game. The two behemoths will face off for the pennant and a chance to play the winner of Vegas and Charlotte in the Monty. Nashville was 8-6 versus Twin Cities in the regular season.
