by Caitlen Sullivan
Vancouver Sun Sports Reporter
September 30, 2000
Mounties Clinch Division in Final Game
Flaskamper Pitches the Game of His Career
The Mounties would probably like to quickly forget about September and begin concentrating on October. They saw a double digit division lead melt down to four games as they began the final four game series of the year against the very team four games behind them in the standings, the California Crusaders.
Shane Wookey was on the mound for game one. He pitched well enough, but the Crusader’s Steve Taub was even better allowing the Mounties only three hits over eight, and the California club had narrowed the gap to three with three left.
Robbie Sargent was on the hill for the second game. He allowed five runs, two of them unearned, in his seven plus innings and that was plenty for the Crusader’s Paul Kimzey who spread six hits over eight innings as the Crusaders prevailed 5-3. The division lead was down to two.
Bill Govea lasted only three innings in the third game and it was pretty much a romp for the Crusaders behind Mike Shellenbarger. One game left and the lead was down to one. Another Crusader victory would tie up the division and require a playoff game to decide who would have to face streaking Madison in the first round of the playoffs.
With everything on the line, the Mounties sent John Flaskamper to the mound for game four. While not pitching particularly badly, Flaskamper had lost seven of his last eight decisions. But he sure stepped it up big time in probably the most crucial game of his career as he spread five hits over his eight innings, striking out nine while walking only one. When the Mounties came to bat in the last of the eighth inning, the game was scoreless. Ewan Olsen led off and was hit by a pitch. Arturo Gutierrez then pinch hit for Flaskamper and he too was plunked by Oscar Funke. Nick Mannerden executed the perfect sacrifice, moving the runners to second and third with one out. Oddly the next batter Matt Brunson became the third player of the inning to be hit by a pitch and Funke had loaded the bases with hit batsmen. Doug Newhouse then lofted a fly to center deep enough to score Olsen from third, and the Mounties had wrested a one run lead. Brock Lee made the final out, and then it was up to Jason Egan to try to record his 41s save of the season. The Crusaders went down in order, and the Mounties had clinched their second straight Johnson League Pacific Division title.
A little more needs to be said about John Flaskamper. He was rescued off the scrap heap last year by Vancouver after two years in the minor leagues, and he pitched well in infrequent relief appearances during the championship run. This year he was installed as a starter early in May. He ended up with a 10-14 mark with a more than respectable 4.09 ERA. He also recorded a career high 213 strikeouts. Even when he was losing, he was getting deep into the game. He pitched at least seven innings in twelve of his last thirteen appearances.
The playoffs start tomorrow night in Baltimore, the same opponent the team faced in the first playoff series last year. A big difference will be that Baltimore will have home field advantage, but the Mounties have played almost as well on the road as they do at home. A major concern will be the pitching which must return to its mid season form for the club to advance. Shane Wookey and Robbie Sargent will start the first games in Baltimore. Ben Walsh remains on the disabled list, and his perfect playoff record last year will be sorely missed. Reserve infielder Jason Sherman will also be missing with an injury. He might be able to return before the playoffs are over if the Mounties succeed in advancing. The only other injury is the day-to-day status of reliever Matt Whiteside who has a very mild oblique strain. Whitesides insists he will be 100% at game time tomorrow.
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