Galena (AP) - The Anchorage Abominations, just a season ago a lowly doormat
in the PVBL, are now on their way to face the Mississauga Maple Dogs in the
EL championship series. The Abominations had to fight their way past the
league's best team, the Galena Hamsters. The Hamsters have qualified for
the post-season every season and posted another excellent regular season with
110 victories. Galena has had a history of faultering in the playoffs, which
Anchorage seemed to use to their advantage. Galena has won one championship,
in 1998, but has been eliminated all three other seasons before the World
Series.
Galena players, coaches, fans, and front office personell were noticably
upset after the surprise upset in Game 4 of the five game series. "We feel
robbed. This was a game we should have won. This is a series we should have
won. But we didn't and we'll have to figure out why." said centerfielder
Kenny Lofton, a restricted free agent in this off-season. "Ownership does
not tolerate losers in Galena."
The Anchorage locker room was decidedly upbeat, but there was no champagne
in sight. "We're not going to celebrate until that trophy is ours. We've
got eight more wins to get yet. Mississauga should be an easy sweep, and
then we'll see who our opponent is in the final." said Marquis Grissom, an
unrestricted free agent. "Whoever it is won't be a problem. I'm just hoping
for Phoenix so I can get some golf in."
Owner/manager Nick Tulach has not decided who his starting pitcher will be
for Game 1 against the Maple Dogs. "I have a lot of options with those
five great guys I have. It could be Bot (Mike Bottenfield), VL (Willie
VanLandingham), or Buddy (Moisan). They've all earned the right."
VanLandingham pitched in the loss to Galena, leaving the bases loaded for
reliever Mike Holtz to come in and give up the game-winning grand slam to
Roberto Petagine. Mike Bottenfield was the surprise starter of Game 1 of
the Galena series, but only lasted three innings before being relieved by
Oil Can Boyd, who pitched 9 score-less innings and became the hero of Game 1.
Moisan did not pitch in the first series, but was scheduled to start Game 5,
had it been necessary. "I'll do whatever it takes for this team to win. If it
means sitting through another series watching, well, that's okay. I'm sure
they'll need me down the line somewhere." said Moisan, who signed a long-term
deal with the Abominations earlier this week.
Most teams go with a four-man rotation in the playoffs, but Anchorage has
five equally good starters so the decision on who starts is largely an
instinctive one. "I usually go with my gut-feeling. Aldred was a gut-feeling
in Game 4. He's been great the last few weeks. Bot was a gut-feeling in
Game 1. That one didn't work out so well. " said Tulach. When asked what
his gut was saying for Game 1, he replied: "I dunno, I had some rotten
Chinese food last night, so my (colon) is doing most of the talking today."
