Mississauga Sinks Sled Dogs' Season October 8, 2000
Mississauga (AP) - The Mississauga MapleDogs, just a two seasons ago a
lowly doormat
in the PVBL, are now on their way to face the Anchorage Abominations in
the
EL championship series. The MapleDogs had to fight their way past one
of the
league's best teams, the Edmonton Sled Dogs. The Sled Dogs haven't
qualified for
the post-season every season but posted an excellent regular season with
92 victories. Edmonton has had a history of faultering late in the
season, which
Mississauga seemed to use to their advantage. Edmonton has won one
division championship, in 2000, but has been eliminated all three other
seasons before the playoffs.
Edmonton 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 pitcher Tim
Belcher, a restricted free agent in this off-season. "Ownership does
not tolerate losers in Edmonton."
The Mississauga 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. Anchorage should be an easy sweep, and
then we'll see who our opponent is in the final." said Marty Cordova, 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 Jesse Gouldson has 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 Rol (Rolando Arrojo), DW (David
Wells), or Curt (Schilling). They've all earned the right, but I'm
going with Kevin Brown."
David Wells pitched in the loss to Edmonton, leaving the bases loaded
for
reliever Dave Stieb to come in and strike out Alex Rodriguez. Kevin
Brown wasn't the surprise starter of Game 1 of the Edmonton series, but
lasted 8 innings before being relieved by Eric Plunk, who didn't pitch 9
score-less innings and never became the hero of Game 1. Arrojo did not
start in the first series and wasn't 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 Arrojo, who turned down a
long-term
deal with the Abominations earlier this week.
Most teams go with a four-man rotation in the playoffs, but
Mississauga has
five equally good starters so the decision on who starts is largely an
instinctive one. "I usually go with my gut-feeling. Trachsel was a
gut-feeling
in Game 4. He's been great the last few weeks. Brownie was a
gut-feeling in
Game 1. That one worked out so well. " said Gouldson. When asked what
his gut was saying for Game 1, he replied: "I dunno, I had some rotten
Mexican food last night, so my (colon) is doing most of the talking
today."
