2025 Rockies Hold Off Red Sox, Claim 7-6, 60+ Golden Division Championship in Sacramento MSBL

Sacramento MSBL, 60+ Golden Division

Rockies 7, Red Sox 6

Submitted by Tim Burkitt, manager

Going into the playoffs in the 60+ Golden League, the Rockies were the #6 seed out of six.  We had a league record of 6 and 9.  We had to start with the #3 seed Cubs and beat them 17-4.

Next up was a date with the #1 seed Giants.  We beat them 8-3 to reach the championship game with the #2 Red Sox.  They went up 4-0 after two innings, but we scored five in the top of the fourth. The 5-4 score held until the Red Sox scored one in the bottom of the seventh.

With two outs, a foul ball off the side of the catcher’s mask made our catcher have to leave the game to get some water and ice.  Since our other three catchers were not at the game, the Red Sox loaned us a catcher for the last out, which was one pitch.  The next inning, our catcher was back, but a little wobbly.

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, the Red Sox had runners on first and second when they tried to take advantage of our catcher.  He threw the runner out by 10 feet.  The catcher was Wayne Grapes, usually our third baseman.

In the top of the ninth, our first batter walked and was sacrificed to second.  Our leadoff batter then singled.  With runners on first and third, the infield was in, while a ground ball to short kept the runner at third, and the batter beat the throw to first.

Our #3 batter, our pitcher Bobby Straight, then doubled down the left field line to the fence to score both runners.  Our cleanup hitter then lined out to short to end the half inning.  After the double, our starting pitcher came out, and Mike Pankow came in to try and close the game.  The Red Sox’s first batter grounded out to third.  The next two batters walked to put runners on first and second, bringing up their leadoff hitter, whom we couldn’t get out in the game.

He proceeded to hit a single and score one run.  With runners on first and second, the #2 batter in the lineup then hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the game.

Outstanding players:  Pitcher Bobby Straight, who threw all three playoff games and hit 3/5, Mike Egan 2/5, Tommy Arguijo 2/4, Tom Tomaszewski 3/4, Wayne Grapes, who caught a great game despite his injury late in the game, Bruce Maiman 1/2, Mike Pankow, great relief pitching and hitting in all three playoff games.