We Got Wood - 42.58 - We Need Just 1

[7teen]

It has been the goal from day 1. It was the goal in year one and the team fell short. It remained the goal in year 2, and again, the team fell short. Here we are, year 3, and the team has a chance. It needs just 1 more win. One more win over the course of the final three. All three games at home, in Portland, at the Trail in Multnomah. And who rolls into town.... Vancouver!

The goal itself is to not lose 100 games. In 2040, the Lumberjacks lost 104. In 2041, the cut into that number but still lost 102. Now the club sits at 62-97 on the season. Just one win away from taking that ever so small step into building into a franchise that can at least earn some respectability. Is the team competitive? Hardly. The team sits 28 games behind first place California in the Pacific division in the Frick League. The team has allowed 240 more runs than it has scored. But. But! Winning 63 games this season means that when you look back at the history of the franchise, in 2042 the team did NOT lose 100 games. And perhaps it shows the franchise is continuing to build its way up into a contender.

"Yeah it has always been the goal" said General Manager Chris Wilson. "Truth be told we were really hoping to never lose 100 games. We knew the first years were going to be a struggle and we'd have several losing seasons. Hell, we may not have a winning season for the first 10 years of existence. Who knows. But we wanted to stay away from 100. After that first season, and losing over 100, we just kept telling ourselves to get under than number and stay. We've said the Master Plan was to really take affect in year 5. Well, we are 3/5th of the way there. It's time to start at least showing we are improving."

To reach the mountain top, or at least start the climb, they'll have to take one game from the team's rival Vancouver. Rival in the sense that GM Chris Wilson brought some previous hatred of the Mounties organization over with him from his Madison Wolves days. While the rivalry has been anything but competitive since 2040 (Vancouver is 28-11 against Portland since 2040), and the hostility has been minor at best (Wilson hasn't chosen to focus much on the Mounties in recent years because, let's face it, we are getting owned), this is at least a chance to get some sort of edge over the Vancouver franchise.

"Yeah, I hate those guys up there. I've never liked them and never will" Wilson added. "But you have to tip your Mountie hat to them because they've stuck it to us for most of these first 3 years. But if we can somehow take one game, just one, this week from them it'll over us at least some satisfaction moving forward. We all know that sooner, rather than later, that record is going to flip into our favor. Just give it time."

Vancouver has won 7 of the teams' 11 meetings thus far in 2042. Wilson, nor manager Pedro Medina, would offer any insight as to who would pitch this key 3-game series. Both stated that, with the minor league seasons now officially over, there are some roster moves being made to provide some sips of coffee over this last 3 games and hopefully "build the foundation to owning the Mounties and letting our youth experience it."

[GoldenOne]

Go get them Chris!!