9-News: 36.092 – Nine Surge At The Wire

[RonCo]

Led by a revitalized Lawrence Columbus LaLoosh, the Yellow Springs Nine have taken a scant two-game lead over the Omaha Hawks as they head into the last five games of the season—a brace of games that includes three in Utopia field against each other.

LaLoosh, who had recent starts pushed back for health and injury concerns, went eight strong innings against Calgary—every one of them needed, as it took a 3-run homer from Rob Thomas in the 8th-inning to take home the win. LaLoosh struck out six and walked none while scattering nine hits. He went six against Brooklyn, leaving with a slim margin that the bullpen preserved. The victories raised his record to 18-7. “It’s great to win,” LaLoosh said. “We all know what’s going down this year, so we’re just trying to focus, focus, focus.”

The comment resurfaces the questions regarding whether this might be the last run for the Nine that have surrounded the team this season. Most of the club’s veteran stars are playing out their contracts or due opt-outs, leading many to say that the team feels like it’s on a life boat, waiting to se what’s going to happen.

The focus LaLoosh mentioned seems to be working, though. The club swept Calgary, lost a pair of games to Brooklyn, but have righted the ship to take the last two. With five games to go, they now lead the Heartland Division by two games—a position that, if they could keep it, would result in a bye into the Doubleday round. Less important, but also relevant, it also puts the team two wins away from 100 for the season, a number that they’ve only reached twice before.

Manager Bret Richards waved away that question. “We’d all like to get that, sure, but I’ll take 99 and a division title before 100 and second place. It’s like my grandma used to say, no one remembers nothing but how it ends.”

The team is in Madison for two more games before coming home to face Hawk Nation in the final three games.