{"id":4194,"date":"2013-08-19T16:51:22","date_gmt":"2013-08-19T16:51:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/?p=4194"},"modified":"2013-10-15T23:44:08","modified_gmt":"2013-10-15T23:44:08","slug":"big-comeback-and-homer-carry-long-beach-wolfpack-into-nafa-a-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/?p=4194","title":{"rendered":"Big comeback and homer carry Long Beach Wolfpack into NAFA A championship"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><small>Written by Bob on August 18th, 2013<\/small><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/ottoinfocus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/wolfpack.17.Mich_.207web.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/ottoinfocus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/wolfpack.17.Mich_.207web.jpg\" alt=\"wolfpack.17.Mich.207web\" width=\"385\" height=\"223\" \/><\/a> <em>Wolfpack  catcher Jesse Mullen blocks the plate and tags out Northern Michigan\u2019s  Dylan Cuddahee trying to score the winning run with the game tied, 8-8,  in the botton of the seventh in the winners bracket semifinals,  Saturday, at Walker-Johnston Softball Compex in Urbandale. The Wolfpack  cameback to win the game 10-9 in extra innings.<\/em> Photo By BOB OTTO<!--more--><\/p>\n<p><strong>URBANDALE, IOWA<\/strong> \u2013 They\u2019re called the Long Beach  Wolfpack, but a name change might be in order, such as the \u201cComeback  Kids.\u201d For the second consecutive game, the Wolfpack rallied to pull out  a win.<\/p>\n<p>This time a big one in the semifinals of the winners bracket in the 40-team <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/2013-NAFA-A-winners-bracket10.pdf\">NAFA A World Series<\/a>, Saturday, at Walker-Johnston Softball Complex in Urbandale.<\/p>\n<p>In what seemed more like a heavy weight fight than fastpitch  softball, the Wolfpack pulled out a 10-9 victory over a Northern  Michigan team (3-1) that scored 19 runs in its previous game.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cWe haven\u2019t seen hitting like this ever,\u201d said Wolfpack  manager and catcher Jesse Mullen. \u201cEverybody\u2019s crushing the ball and we  have to crush it with them.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<ul><strong>IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS<\/strong><\/ul>\n<p>The two clubs combined for 27 hits \u2013 the Wolfpack leading with 17.  And they cleared the fences with five home runs, four by Northern  Michigan\u2019s Tom Tryban, Joe Barnette, Randy Wheelock, and Devin Milheim;  and one by the Wolfpack\u2019s Luis Perez.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/ottoinfocus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/No.Mich_.10HR.55web.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/ottoinfocus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/No.Mich_.10HR.55web.jpg\" alt=\"No.Mich.10HR.55web\" width=\"372\" height=\"234\" \/><\/a> <em>Northern  Michigan\u2019s Devin Milheim is greeted by his teammates after hitting a  three-run home run in the second that gave his team a 3-1 lead.<\/em> Photo By BOB OTTO<\/p>\n<p>After slugging it out for seven innings in which there were three  ties and four lead changes, the game came down to the eighth inning  tied, 8-8.<\/p>\n<ul><strong>ONE FOR ALL, ALL FOR ONE<\/strong><\/ul>\n<p>In the top of the eighth, the Wolfpack put the game in the win column  by scoring twice on Joe Janicke\u2019s RBI single that plated Dave Hess, who  walked, with the go-ahead run, followed by Dave Waco\u2019s hit up the  middle that brought home Perez, who reached safely with a single.<\/p>\n<p>About the Wolfpack\u2019s clutch hitting, Mullen said, \u201cif one guy doesn\u2019t do the job, the next guy will. We believe in each other.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/ottoinfocus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/wolfpack4.mich10.178web.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/ottoinfocus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/wolfpack4.mich10.178web.jpg\" alt=\"wolfpack4.mich10.178web\" width=\"292\" height=\"299\" \/><\/a> <em>Wolfpacks first baseman Dave Waco, front, and Northern Micigan\u2019s Joe Barnette collide and are sent sprawling.<\/em> Photo by BOB OTTO<\/p>\n<p>Now leading by a pair of runs, a big question loomed: could pitcher  Debby Day get three outs and seal the win? Yes, but not without some  trouble.<\/p>\n<p>Day got two ground ball outs to start the inning. But then Barnette  blasted a homer deep over the centerfield fence to cut the lead to one.  And Wheelock kept Northern Michigan\u2019s hopes alive when he singled to  left.<\/p>\n<p>But Day got Dylan Cuddahee on a strikeout to end the game and send  the Wolfpack into the winners bracket final against the Kansas City  Outlaws (See story below).<\/p>\n<ul><strong>DAY TOUGH COMPETITOR<\/strong><\/ul>\n<p>Day, who improved to 4-0, finished by allowing nine runs (seven  earned) on 10 hits, four walks and two strikeouts. Though Northern  Michigan roughed her up some, Mullen was impressed with her tenacity in  facing such a good hitting ball club.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/ottoinfocus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/day.mullen.jub_.234webA.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/ottoinfocus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/day.mullen.jub_.234webA.jpg\" alt=\"day.mullen.jub.234webA\" width=\"277\" height=\"313\" \/><\/a> <em>Wolfpack  pitcher Debby Day gets a big hug from catcher Jesse Mullen after  striking out the final batter and getting the win for the Wolfpack.<\/em> Photo By BOB OTTO<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cShe\u2019s gritty and doesn\u2019t give up,\u201d he said. \u201cIf  something happens, she just blows it off and goes right back at them.  She\u2019s stone-faced, you can\u2019t tell if she gave up a home run or struck  two people out in a row.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Northern Michigan trailed 8-7 going into the bottom of the seventh.  And only a huge play by Mullen at the plate denied them the win. The  inning started with Wheelock reaching first on an infield throwing  error.<\/p>\n<p>Then Day issued walks to Cuddahee and Lee Wykcoff to load the bases  for Guy Thorston. And the right-side hitter came through with a clutch  single to centerfield that scored Wheelock to tie the game.<\/p>\n<ul><strong>SO CLOSE TO VICTORY<\/strong><\/ul>\n<p>On Thorston\u2019s hit, Cuddahee kept churning around third base trying to  score the winning run. But centerfielder Aaron Breslow gunned a strong  throw to Mullen blocking the plate to cut down the sliding Cuddahee and  deny Northern Michigan the walk-off victory.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cIt\u2019s just been heartbreak after heartbreak for the other  teams I think,\u201d Mullen said. \u201cThese comebacks (were made) by all our  guys.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<ul><strong>Wolfpack down Kansas City Outlaws to reach championship game<\/strong><\/ul>\n<p>Batting cleanup, Luis Perez belted a walk-off solo home run that  sailed 300 feet over the slowpitch fence in deep centerfield to give the  Wolfpack a 5-4 victory over the Kansas City Outlaws in the winners  bracket final on Saturday night.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/ottoinfocus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/perez.luis_.HR_.281web.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/ottoinfocus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/perez.luis_.HR_.281web.jpg\" alt=\"perez.luis.HR.281web\" width=\"313\" height=\"283\" \/><\/a> <em>Luis  Perez belted a solo homer that gave the Wolfpack the walk-off victory  in the winners bracket final over the Kansas City Outlaws.<\/em> Photo By BOB OTTO<\/p>\n<p>Perez, who went 2 for 3 with a walk and two RBIs, also hit a two-run  homer in the first inning to put the Wolfpack up 2-1. The Outlaws tied  the game two-all in the second on Mark Whitworth\u2019s groundout, but Joe  Janicke\u2019s solo shot in the third put the Wolfpack back on top, 3-2.<\/p>\n<p>And in the fifth, Janicke (2 for 3, double, home run) led off with a  double and eventually scored on two passed balls to push the Wolfpack  ahead, 4-2, a lead they carried into the seventh.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/ottoinfocus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/wolfpack.mcdougall.catch_.315web.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/ottoinfocus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/wolfpack.mcdougall.catch_.315web.jpg\" alt=\"wolfpack.mcdougall.catch.315web\" width=\"324\" height=\"255\" \/><\/a> <em> Wolfpack left-fielder Tom McDougall made the play of the game when he made a diving catch to rob the Outlaws of a hit.<\/em> Photo By BOB OTTO<\/p>\n<p>The Wolfpack could have won the game in the top of the seventh, but  the Outlaws scored twice on a walk and two infield errors and Matt  Springston\u2019s RBI single that tied the game.<\/p>\n<p>The Wolfpack\u2019s Andrew Ysais came on in relief in the fourth to pick  up the win. The right-hander pitched well, allowing two runs (none  earned) on five hits, one walk and one strikeout.<\/p>\n<p>Outlaws\u2019 18-year-old New Zealand pitcher, Ethan Johnston, went the  distance allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits (three homers),  one walk, and five strikeouts.<\/p>\n<p>The win puts the Wolfpack in the championship game scheduled for  Sunday at 1:15 p.m. at Walker-Johnston Softball Complex. Meanwhile, the  Outlaws must win an 11:30 losers bracket final for a second shot at the  Wolfpack.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Written by Bob on August 18th, 2013 Wolfpack catcher Jesse Mullen blocks the plate and tags out Northern Michigan\u2019s Dylan Cuddahee trying to score the winning run with the game tied, 8-8, in the botton of the seventh in the winners bracket semifinals, Saturday, at Walker-Johnston Softball Compex in Urbandale. The Wolfpack cameback to win [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4194"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4194"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4194\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4344,"href":"https:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4194\/revisions\/4344"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}