That's What Cheesehead - 00.23 - Another Early Exit

7teen · Post by **7teen** » Thu May 19, 2011 12:18 pm

Disappointment filled the home team's clubhouse yet again. For the second consecutive season, the Madison Wolves were eliminated in the Johnson League Cartwright Series by the Vancouver Mounties. Last season, the Mounties went on to win the title after sweeping the Wolves. This season, the Wolves pushed the defending champs to a decisive game 7, not that that lessened the pain felt by many of the Wolves players who were yet again denied the opportunity to play for that elusive title.

For the 4th consecutive season, the Madison Wolves won the division. In 2000, they won it by 30 games and won 107 games, their 2nd highest win total in franchise history. Only in 1998, when the club won 109 games, had this team won so many games. Everything seemed set up this season for a trip to the Landis Series. Vancouver, having a few pitching concerns and no where near the offensive fire power as the Wolves, appeared to be beatable. But that wasn't to be the case.

The Wolves lost game 1 when Jessie Wright, the Wolves 20 game winner, failed to get the club a needed game 1 victory. Despite leading 2-0 early the Wolves fail behind in the 8th and never recovered.

In game 2, the other 20 game winner for the Wolves, Tyree Wills, was dominating, holding the Mounties to just 1 run in 8 innings. Bolt Vanderhugen hit his 6th homerun of the postseason to carry the Wolves to a 4-1 win to even the series up.

The Wolves had to like their situation after game 3. John Rasmussen pitched 7 shutout innings and the club managed 7 runs on 12 hits to cruise to an easy 7-0 win and a 2-1 series lead. With Wright expected to go again in Game 4, the Wolves looked prime to get the monkey off their back.

But the Wright in this series wasn't the sameWright as the regular season and in the Doubleday series. Wright didn't even make it to the 5th, allowing 6 runs in 4 innings pitched. Down 6-2, the Wovles were shocked and never recovered as the Mounties evened the series at 2-2.

In Game 5, Vancouver jumped out to an early 3-0 lead before the Wolves battled back to tie it at 3-3. In a sick twist of fate, the Wolves closer, Justin Marco, allowed a run in the 9th for the loss. Many remember Marco's loss in game 4 of last year's sweep to the Mounties which cost the Wolves a slim chance at getting back into the series.

With their back against the wall, the Wovles responded at home in game 6. The Wolves went up 4-0 after an inning, hit 4 homeruns for the game, and never trailed. Vancouver cut it to 4-3 at one point, but the Wolves responded with 3 runs of their own to push the lead to 7-3 and the club never looked back. Thus setting up a decisive game 7 in the home park of the Wolves.

I don't want to get into the details of game 7. Just read Here

And with that, another difficult exit for the Wolves. In the last 4 seasons, the Wolves have won 402 games during the regular season. They have had the Johnson's League best record each of the last 3 seasons. Yet, they have 0 Johnson League pennants to show for it. They have 0 rings. They have 0 trophies. All they have is a meaningless divisional crown, a few individual ahcieveents, and a bunch of disappointment.

YouTube · Post by **recte44** » Thu May 19, 2011 6:13 pm

You have become the Atlanta Braves.

Greeney03 · Post by **Greeney03** » Mon May 23, 2011 10:12 am

recte44 wrote:You have become the Atlanta Braves.

Took my words out of my mouth. Very talented team, but could not go deep in post season.

7teen · Post by **7teen** » Mon May 23, 2011 10:25 am

I honestly felt that when Wright emerged as an ace about halfway through the season, I had the missing piece. I felt not having an ace #1 would cause me to lose in the playoffs. Wright stepped up and became the ace. Unfortunately, he lost 3 of the 4 games in the Cartwright Series.

Most of this team will remain in tact for next season. Hopefully the 5th time is the charm...

aaronweiner · Post by **aaronweiner** » Mon May 23, 2011 10:52 am

Wow, seriously? I didn't look that closely, but Wright lost Games 1, 4 and 7? Who the heck would have expected that?

7teen · Post by **7teen** » Mon May 23, 2011 11:05 am

aaronweiner wrote:Wow, seriously? I didn't look that closely, but Wright lost Games 1, 4 and 7? Who the heck would have expected that?

Certainly not me. Hindsight being what it is, I wish I had just pitched him in Games 1 and 5 and hoped Chip Foodie could have gotten the job done. My fault though for letting the AI start the highest rested starter opposed to using a strict rotation.

YouTube · Post by **recte44** » Wed May 25, 2011 5:53 pm

aaronweiner wrote:Wow, seriously? I didn't look that closely, but Wright lost Games 1, 4 and 7? Who the heck would have expected that?

He clearly should have won the Nebraska Award though.

7teen · Post by **7teen** » Wed May 25, 2011 8:16 pm

recte44 wrote:
aaronweiner wrote:Wow, seriously? I didn't look that closely, but Wright lost Games 1, 4 and 7? Who the heck would have expected that?
He clearly should have won the Nebraska Award though.

bschr682 · Post by **bschr682** » Wed May 25, 2011 9:21 pm

i voted him numero uno

The Brewster

The Brewster

That's What Cheesehead - 00.23 - Another Early Exit

That's What Cheesehead - 00.23 - Another Early Exit

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