October 30, 1997
Hackensack, New Jersey
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The Landis Memorial Series didn't get off to a great start for the Hackensack Bulls. In fact, after 8 and a half innings, it looked like it the start would be downright disastrous. Opening the series at home, the Bulls went into the 9th inning tied 2-2 with the Baltimore Monarchs. But normally reliable Toby Borland allowed a single to Monarch's third baseman Robert Jowers and issued a free pass to catcher Rande Sorbo. The next batter, SS Steve Kava, capitalized by slapping a double that plated the go-ahead run. Bulls manager Antonio Gonzalez was forced to bring on right-handed reliever Patrick Garten who issued his own walk before striking out two Monarchs to end the top half of the 9th and keep the Bulls within striking distance at 2-3.
Then the Monarchs seemed as if they couldn't stand prosperity. Reliever Alex Kapranos induced a ground out by the first batter, but then issued consecutive walks to SS Rafael Rodriguez and 1B Stan Ross. After getting the next batter to ground out, 3B Carl Tawk sent a 1-2 pitch into the seats for a 3-run homer and a dramatic 5-2 walk-off win. "That's exciting for the fans," said GM Ben Teague, "but the joy was mixed with relief up in the owner's box. You don't want to drop a home game to start a 7-game championship series." The Monarchs were able to steal the next game 6-4, but at least the Bulls were headed to Baltimore tied 1-1 in the series instead of being down 0-2.
The trip to Baltimore, however, got off to a bad start as the Bulls dropped the first game 1-3. Being down 1 game to 2, the Bulls got consecutive superb outings by starting pitchers Williamson Prushnok and Esequiel Mejia to head back to Hackensack needing just one win to deliver the MBBA championship to the home crowd.
The Bulls players may have looked ahead, however, as they were drubbed in the 6th game 12-5. Facing a deciding game 7, the Bulls capitalized on another strong 7.2 innings from Prushnok and big days at the plate from Rodriguez and Ross who both had 2 RBI to wrap up the series with a 5-2 victory.
"It's always nice to win a championship series in front of the home fans," said Teague, "but I would have taken a 4-game sweep, too."
The media tabbed Bulls SS Rafael Rodriguez as the MVP of the Landis Memorial Series. The 29-year-old delivered a .407 average with 2 home runs, 9 runs scored, and 3 RBI in the series.
Post-game, championship celebrations in Hackensack resulted in the arrest of 47 people and an estimated $3.5 million in damages.
