Hartford clinches first ever McCoy Division Title September 25, 1997
Hartford (AP)- After an arduous see-saw battle with the Deadwood Outlaws all
season long, the Hartford Whalers pulled together down the stretch and today,
clinched the first ever McCoy Division title. Appropriately, Hartford clinched
it all in a home series against who else, Deadwood. Even more appropriately,
the Whalers won it in a thrilling extra innings affair, 7-6 (11).
Hartford played only one game today but it would be all they needed to provide
their fans with jubilation, exultation and a reason to turn New England upside
down. After a back-and-forth contest, much like their season, Hartford
prevailed in the bottom of the 11th inning on Mark Whiten's RBI single, driving
in Kurt Abbott. Abbott drove into Deadwood cathcer, Don Slaught, with all his
might, forcing him to drop the ball. Kurt crossed the plate, Slaught's ball
rolled aimlessly away and with it, Deadwood's hopes at winning the division and
perhaps even the wildcard. In fact, Abbott was so determined to jar the ball
loose and there was such a great collision that he fractured his nose in the
melee and is listed as day-to-day. But Abbott felt no pain as the team rushed
the field and tackled him before lifting him up on their shoulders and carrying
him off the field to the delight of the crowd.
Cal Eldred was the starting pitcher for the game and went 6 innings, allowing 4
earned runs on 7 hits and 3 walks. Broskie and Pichardo followed in relief
before Huisman (6-5) shut down the Outlaws in the 10th and 11th to set the
table for victory. The hero of the game, Kurt Abbott, also hit a towering
3-run shot in Hartford's 6-run 5th inning. Jeff Brantley took the loss,
pitching a horrible 11th inning, failing to record a single out.
Manager Jeremy Chrabascz had this to say after the game, while being drenched
in Gatorade, "We set goals and we met our goals. It was nip and tuck for a
long time but these guys pulled through in the clutch. Every last one of them
deserves all the credit in the world." All-Star pitching ace and Cy Young
candidate, Greg Maddux (21-4), had little voice left but managed to comment,
"This is great! To win against our divisional rivals. To win it at home in
front of our family and fans. Just incredible. Kurt's getting a steak dinner
or something tonight." The hero himself, Kurt Abbott, simply said, "We're in
the playoffs and I did my job tonight. I don't think I earned my paycheck most
of the season but hopefully between tonight and whatever I do in the postseason
I will have."
Chrabascz gathered the media together for one final word before dispersing for
the celebration to say, "I would like to thank and congratulate the Deadwood
Outlaws organization for a tremendous season and for creating the best rivalry
in baseball with us. We'll be fighting with them every year and Phillip
(Raisor) deserves Manager of the Year for putting together the team he did and
for staying competetive through a flurry of horrible injuries. We wish them
all the best in the wildcard race."
The Hartford Whalers finish out the season by hosting the last-place Edmonton
Oil Kings. Few veterans and regular starters are expected to risk an
appearance. It is predicted that Hartford will face Motor City in the first
round of the EL playoffs.
Errata
THERE ARE, IN FACT, 8 GAMES REMAINING
WITH DEADWOOD 6 GAMES BACK. THERE ARE TWO GAMES LEFT IN DEADWOOD TOMORROW AND
THEN A COUPLE OF OTHER SERIES WITH EDMONTON AND MONTREAL. HARTFORD'S REAL
MAGIC NUMBER IS NOW "2". WE'LL LET YOU KNOW HOW THINGS GO...
CHRABASCZ HAD THIS TO SAY, "IF WE CAN'T WIN 2 OF 8 THEN WE DON'T DESERVE TO BE
IN THE PLAYOFFS!" AND WITH THAT, THE LINEUP OF SCRUBS AND ROOKIES WAS
ELIMINATED AND THE REGULAR LINEUP OF VETERANS AND STARTERS REINSTATED FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THE REGULAR SEASON. CHRABASCZ SIMPLY COMMENTED, "WE'RE NOT TAKING
ANY CHANCES ANYMORE. SCREW RESTING EVERYBODY. IF WE WIN IT ALL THEN THEY'VE
STILL GOT 6 MONTHS OR SO TO GO GOLFING SOMEWHERE, RIGHT?"
