# - Fan Appreciation Game IV
Clippers SSL Champions for 4th time in 5 Years!!!!
Resounding 6-2 Victory Over Excitables!!!
Clarkin Shuts Down Excitable Bats; Newman Provides Pop!!!
The Clippers advanced to their 4th Championship Game in 5 years with a shaky, but ultimately solid 6-2 win over the 3rd place Excitables. The Victory gave the Clippers an even 9-9 all-time playoff record. Highlights included CF Brian Bier�s INCREDIBLE string of 8, yes EIGHT, consecutive hits, as he singled in his first two at-bats, only to have the streak end on his third when he reached on an error to short. During the unbelievable run, Bier went 8-8, with 8 runs scored, 4 RBI, 3 HR and 2 walks, in 10 plate appearances. The streak may in fact have even been longer, as shotty stat keeping only provided that he went 2-4 with 2 runs and 3 RBI in the game before The Streak began. Had either or both of those hits come in his last two at-bats, it could have been as long as 10 straight hits. Either way, Bier, a perennial FORCE for the Clippers and arguably the single greatest spark to spur this dynasty, (arriving in 2002, the same year the Clam won Title #I.) caught fire at just the right time, and as usual was ESSENTIAL to victory.
SS Matt Newman had two hits and 3 RBI including his 7th HR of the season. The Dong would tie him with Ronnie for the overall season lead. In his final year as a Clipper Regular, Newman bashed a team leading 7 HR, batted .379 (including 4-6 in the playoffs) scored 10 runs, laced a team leading 16 RBI, collected 5 walks and 2 doubles. The �Heart & Soul� of the Clippers will be sorely missed and is beyond irreplaceable. Next year, however, he will be replaced by Phil.
P Christopher Clarkin collected his last two hits of a horrendous offensive season, but dominated the Excitables, only allowing two unearned runs on 5 hits. Teddy Nags collected two hits and two RBI, contributing to an already STELLAR offensive year. All pomp and circumstance aside, all the semi-final victory did was ensure what any self-respecting softball aficionado already knew was a forgone conclusion: Armageddon IV, Bulkheads v. Clam: 2006.
Clippers Fight Back From Early Deficit to Claim
Dynastic 4th SSL Title in 5 Years!!!
Down 5-0, Clam �Never Say Die� to an 11-9 Win Over The Bulkheads!!!
Teddy, Cucci Bros & Bier Provide Spark in Victory!!!
��Defending Champion Saltaire Clippers��. - Sounds so nice, they named the Clippers that twice�.twice!
The Defending Champs will begin next season under the same title, as the Clippers repeated as SSL Champions for the second time in their short stint in the league. The Victory solidified the Clam as the winningest team in SSL history percentage wise and pulled them to within 2 Championships of the all time leader. The Excitables own that label with 6 titles all time. The dynastic 4 out of 5 is the third most impressive dynasty in SSL history, as the Streakers won 4 straight and 5 out of 6 from 1975-1980 and the Excitables won 3 straight and 4 out of 5 from 1993-1997. The Clippers also stand in 5th place ALL alone with 4 Titles, behind only the Dragons, the Streakers, and Dogfish, each of whom have 5. In terms of Championships won, the Clippers dominance has pushed them ahead of countless teams, including the Bulkheads (3), Oedipus Wrecks (3) Danny�s Boys (2), The Men (1) the Fringe (1), The Upstarts (0), the Retreads (0). The Clippers beat their old friends the Bulkheads for the 4th time in Championship play and continued their playoff dominance, having gone 10-1 since 2002 and 4-0 in Championship games. The victory also gave the team a 10-9 playoff record, pulling them over .500 for the first time in any category in their 13 year history.
The victory was even more astounding based on the way in which it transpired. Each chapter of this epic battle between these two incredibly evenly matched teams seems to be written with a different pen. Remarkably, every game is close, and each win comes from a different formula. In 2002, the Clippers sealed the victory over the Bulks with a 3-run blast by SS Matt Newman late in the game, and held on in the bottom of the seventh, thanks in part to a spectacular diving catch by CF Brian Bier. In the 2003 Championship, despite facing a bases loaded, one-out, bottom of the seventh traumatic moment with the feared Jon Metzler at bat, the Clippers won their 2nd title. Deemed �the Mudbowl�, P Christopher Clarkin�s RBI infield single in the top of the 9th and 2nd extra frame proved to be the game winner as the Clam outlasted the Bulkheads yet again. In 2004 both teams decided to take a year off from playing eachother in the playoffs, but a regular season game provided some dramatics. A dropped ball at home plate proved to be the difference in a spectacularly pitched affair, with the Bulks winning 2-0 on the 2 run error. In the 2005 Championship, a back and forth contest saw Andy Mac�s hit a game tying HR in the top of the 7th. But this time, it was the Clippers with Home Field and after an intentional walk to Bier in the bottom half of the last inning, Clarkin laced a shot over the right field fence for a walk-off double and with it, the Clippers 3rd Championship.
Bringing us to 2006, where in the regular season 2 SPECTACULAR games continued the unprecedented streak of fan favorite affairs. In the first matchup, The Bulkheads clung to a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh. With one out and Jenny Nags on first after reaching on an error, the Bulks intentionally walked Bier yet again. In a once-in-a-lifetime gaff, Clarkin lined a single up the middle only to have it hit Jenny leaning from second. Luck appeared to be finally running out on the Clippers and spinning towards the Dark Side. But, with Clarkin on first and Bier on second and two outs instead of bases loaded with one, Newman once again took matters into his own hands and blasted a 3-run walk off HR to pull out the victory. In the follow up (if there could be one) the Bulks clung to a 6-4 lead in the 7th. The Clippers were down to their LAST OUT when AGAIN, Bier was intentionally walked to put Bier and Charlie on 1st and 2nd. Clarkin stepped up and tattooed a dramatic 2-run 2-out game tying double to left center, only to let the game slip away in the bottom half of the 7th, on an 2-out bases loaded errant throw at third by Cucci.
Thus bringing us to Armageddon IV. With the Bulkheads clinging to their last dramatic victory as solace in a rivalry that had brought them only heartache, they took to the field with a purpose.
The playoff format had taken a weird turn as rain had dumped on Wright field over the past two weeks, canceling the final regular season game and eliminating the 6th place Dogfish from playoff contention. The tireless efforts of Vern and Mario and the Saltaire township crew had preserved the Field in as good a fashion as could be expected, but the two teams had to play an unprecedented two games on Sunday. The Bulks hastily did away with the Dragons in the first game and the Clip-show took down the Excitables in the matinee. Earlier in the year, the Clippers became the first team to win 2 games in one day in SSL history, sweeping the day from the Fringe and Dogfish. To be crowned Champs, they were going to have to repeat the most difficult feat.
The Clippers went down in the first, mustering a walk from Clarkin and a Championship Game traditional special double from Newman, only to leave the two runners stranded. Then, the Bulkheads got the fireworks going in the bottom of the first. Steve singled and Andy hit a jammed flare single to left. Jon walked and Brian Feely hit a MONSTEROUS Grand Slam bomb to DEEP right center to put the Clam in an early 4-0 hole. Schlackman walked and Paul singled to continue the trouble. Karp grounded to third and Cucci nailed Adam going to third. With one out, Mike Mac�s grounder to second was dropped on the relay from Teddy to Newman to plate Paul, giving the Bulks a 5-0 and seemingly insurmountable lead. Next, the incomparable 3B Jon Cucci came up with a spectacular heads up play, throwing home on a Tommy Ho grounder to third to nail Karp at the plate and keep the Clam in the game. Cucci SHINED in the field, with that heads up play being the first of many fine flashes of leather. Here, he preserved a 5 run deficit, and throughout the game he made a plethora of game saving plays to keep the Clam in it. With Defense being the name of the game, Cucci provided sparkling work at 3rd.
Clarkin retired Missy to end the threat, but the Clippers, to a man, had ideas that this may not be their day.
The first to make the battle cry of the day was Brian Bier. As he ran in from center he shouted to Chip away, claw back and don�t give up, there was plenty of game left. For some, the deficit seemed like a pressure burst, allowing everyone to relax at the plate. Yet again, as it had been all season when during separate parts, Bier, Cucci, Newman (and for the whole season Clarkin) struggled, it was the bottom of the order who picked them up.
The Clam needed to make a statement and fast. After getting the 5 run lead, it was ESSENTIAL for the Bulks to shut the Clips down immediately to snuff out any hopes of a comeback. LF Matt Lipinsky wouldn�t hear any of it. He led off the all-important top of the second inning with a walk. Lipinsky was an absolute MADMAN at the plate (as well as in the conventional sense) all season long. Posting his BEST numbers by far as a semi-pro softballer, batting .407 with 9 runs scored, 2 BB�s and tied for second on the team with 4 HR�s and 12 RBI, and third on the team with 3 Doubles. He was an offensive force that carried the team through many of the dog days of summer. He learned early in the year that his patented hard pull stroke was better suited if he stood up in the box, and the results were fantastic, (both on and off the field�Ah-hem�and seeing as how baseball is the all-time pseudonym for sexual relations, that pun is like a QUADRUPLE eontondra.)
RF Andrew Sosa followed by reaching on an error. Sosa finished out HIS monstrous season by reaching base 3 times in the Championship game and scoring twice and adding a clutch RBI. De Chancho-de-Chancho, was very gifted at the plate this season, despite his piano-man stature. He carried a .444 batting average into the playoffs, BY far his best regular season to date. And hilariously, his ALL-TIME highlight would be a thing of beauty on display later in the game�
The Clippers All-Time Best Defensive First-Baseman, 1B Matt Mac�s hit the plate and grounded out a key RBI to plate Lipinsky and put the Clam on the board. Matty didn�t have the best offensive season, but his 2 RBI came against the Bulks and thus, his hits were quality, if not quantity. Then up stepped the Captain with one out. Charlie-O�s also didn�t have his best statistical season at the plate, like in 2005 when he batted .316 with 9 RBI, 7 runs scored and a HR or 2002 when he batted a career high .345, but he had his most CLUTCH season by far. He belted 7 hits on the season, and every one seemed to come at the most needed time. Two of the 7 were game breaking HR�s against the Fringe, and seemingly every one came when a run was needed or the lineup needed to be pushed around to get to Bier. Such as in the amazing 2nd regular season affair with the Bulkheads, when without his hit, the 7th inning rally never would have ensued. Here, yet again, with one out, Charlie came up with a scorching line drive up the middle to plate Sosa from second. Jenny grounded out and Bier flew out but Charlie�s message had been sent: �The Clam don�t back down! NARRGHHHHH��
The Bottom of the second was an essential defensive inning. The Bulks lead off with their dynamic 5some and Clarkin managed to get 4 outs in the inning after a botched double play ball off of Jon Metzlers bat. The comeback had begun.
In the top of the third, the Clip-show needed another chip. Still down 5-2 to Paul Kahn, the flame-throwing righty, the battle would be far from easy. Clarkin grounded out to Paul to lead off the inning but Newman singled. Newman had a PHENOMINAL Championship game. The Mammoth went 2-3 (reaching base 4 times) with 2 runs scored, a double and a walk to bring his AMAZING Championship pedigree thus far to: 8-14 (.571), 2 HR, 3 DBL, 5 RUNS, 7 RBI and 2 BB�s. Newman can certainty be �feast or famine� as Clarkin loves to exclaim, but no one can argue (nor would they want to!) that he doesn�t turn it on when it counts. The man is ridiculous. The most feared hitter in the league could easily rest on his laurels when the Championship game pressures press down, but the Jack Daniels slurping monster steps up to the challenge like no other. Newman also SPARKLED defensively this year, putting in his best glove work of his career, earning him his 2nd full Gold Glove and his 2 � overall, tying him with Bier for the all time lead. Nothing got by him as he grunted and groaned several barehanded (sometimes Unnecessarily!) Ozzie-esque plays at short. Newman to Teddy to Mac may not be as famous as Tinker to Evers To Chance, but when Newman departs for sunny North Carolina, the league will suffer a great loss as a staple of a spectacular defensive threesome will be gone forever�..sniff.
Returning to the action, with one out and Newman on first, Cucci popped up. With two down, Teddy Ballgame, put the cap on a SPECTACULAR season both offensively and defensively with at CLUTCH 2-run, 2-out HR that put the air BACK into the Clippers and COMPLETELY drained it out of the Bulkheads. Teddy had so many big doubles over the year he simply needed to straighten it out a tad and have it go left of the double pole in center, which he did. The �game of inches� metaphor not being lost on Teddy, had that hit simply gone for a double, it would have required YET another Clutch 2 out hit to plate the two runners. As it stood, Teddy�s first HR of the year became the turning point of the game, slamming the Clippers presence down like a jack-hammer, pulling them to 5-4 and for all intensive purposes, winning them a 4th Championship. The Bulkheads were reeling and the Clam was soaring, and doing so on the back of Teddy Ballgame.
Teddy carried the team along with Lipinsky again this year and quietly had a monstrous season. Tied for the regular season team lead in doubles with Clarkin, and the overall season leader with 6, Teddy batted .448 on the season with a 3rd best 10 RBI, ALL of them seemingly clutch. Teddy simply puts the CLASS in CLAm. He exudes professionalism and as a leader in the infield, he turned more double plays with Newman than this writer has ever seen in a single season. I am also quite sure, on top of his fabulous season at the plate, he didn�t make a single error in the field. Teddy did receive his 2nd Gold Glove, along with Newman, the only other Clipper to receive a full Gold Glove. (Cucci won his first � GG, mostly for his performance in the Championship game.)
Lipinsky flew out to left to end the inning, but the game was made anew by Teddy�s heroics and it was only a matter of time before the Clippers took over yet again. However, one HUGE obstacle still stood in the way, the Clam would have to defend against the top 5 Bulkheads twice more if they were to pull out the victory. Thus far in two trips to the plate the Bulkhead Bombers had plated 5 in the first and 0 in the 2nd.
Clarkin threw up another ZERO in the bottom of the third, shutting the Bulkheads down in a much needed 1-2-3 after pulling to within one. The two teams traded 0�s in the fourth, each having the bottom 3rd of their lineups go down. In the top of the 5th, with the game slowly winding down, but not a Clipper worried, Bier, Bulkhead Killer, stepped to the plate. In no-nonsense fashion Bier stroked another clutch game-tying solo shot to left, much to the adulation of Clippernation.
Bier had YET ANOTHER powerful season at the plate. After starting out slow (for Bier) he finished ridiculously strong. He finished the season at .541 and with 20 hits, second on the ALL-TIME Clipper list, falling just short of Clarkin�s mark of .548 on 23 hits set the year prior. The superfluous Bier scored 17 runs, 5th on the all time list behind Teddy�s 2002 mark and his own 2003 and 2005 marks of 21 runs scored and Clarkin�s 20 scored in 2005. Bier also knocked in 8 RBI and hit 2 DBLs. He hit 4 HR and had 6 walks, tying him for 2nd on the season list with Lipinsky (4 HR) and just behind Clarkin (8 BB�s). Bier was absolutely disgusting down the stretch, continuing his hot hitting into the playoffs where he collected 4 hits including a HR in the Championship game. That HR came in the top of the 5th, with one down. It was a TOWERING shot over the left field fence and it TIED the game up at 5. The Clam had STORMED back all the way from a 5-0 deficit and it was a brand new ball game.
Bier rivals Newman for Championship Game prowess. In 4 Championship games, Bier has bashed 4 HR�s, scored a ridiculous 8 runs, plated 4 RBI, walked twice and doubled. In his 4 Championship games he has batted .533 going 8-15. He has killed the Bulkheads and produced more in these clutch spots than any other Clipper. His defense has also dominated, covering massive amounts of ground out in CF. Swell work, Bier!
After Bier tied it up, Clarkin lined out to right, Newman walked but Cucci flew out to end the inning. The Clip-joint had come all the way back, but in the bottom of the 5th Clarkin would have to face the top of the order for the 3rd time around and in his 12th inning pitched of the day. After tying the game up, it was key to hold the Bulkheads down and not allow them to get wind in their sails. Yes. To cultivate and save all that wind for the Clipper sails�that�s right. Yes�. Precious Wind. Keep it ALL for the Clipper sails�.Yes�.precious.
Clarkin allowed a single to Jon but got the other beasts to go down weakly and the comeback was completely solidified. The game would start again, with 2 innings remaining in the 2006 season, game tied, 5-5.
In the Top of the 6th, a to-this-point unlikely hero would emerge. After Teddy and Lipinsky flew out, Sosa reached on yet another error. The big man actually ran out a pop-up VERY professionally and was rewarded for his effort as Karp dropped it at second. The very astute Sosa sat winded at first, as the Clippers applauded his effort. What happened next will surely go down in infamy. Not so much for the game breaking aspect as for the fact that Andrew Andromeda Sosa, Piano-man extraordinaire, would actually score ALL THE WAY from first base on a double to the gap. Newcomer 1B Matt Cucci, in his first Championship game was an offensive juggernaut even after only entering the affair in the 5th inning. Perhaps it was a breath of fresh air off the rested bench, but Cucci came into the game hungry. Cucci had told Clarkin before the contest that he liked coming in late in games so he could �provide some late inning heroics�. Skeptical, based on Cucci�s inconsistent first season in which he batted .250 (3-12) in limited playing time, Clarkin had drunkenly applauded the enthusiasm and heart. Cucci didn�t disappoint. He rocketed a clutch blast to deep right center, and with two outs Sosa was off on the pitch and �hustling� from first. As he reached third, already a marked accomplishment for the slowest man on earth, the Lightning Uruguarian looked very prepared to stop and collapse. However, with the wet field the ball had been bobbled and with two outs, Clarkin, serving as 3rd base coach, took advantage of the opportunity and sent the burly Right-fielder home. A look of absolute bewilderment came over the AMAZED Sosa when he saw Clarkin giving him the �GO!� sign and waving his arm in a furious circular motion. Eyes wider than even HIS stomach, the Truck Man pushed forth, almost FURIOUS that he had to keep running. He slipped and gutted his way to home plate, where he practically collapsed in the exalted arms of his teammates, scoring the go-ahead run and giving the Clippers their first lead of the day. Chuck reached on an error but Jenny grounded out to end the frame, Clippers 6, Bulks 5!
Clarkin set the Bulks down in the bottom of the 6th and it came to the final frame. With Clarkin jammering away that he wanted more runs to help face the top of that devastating lineup for the 4th time, Bier responded, as usual, with a line drive grounder past third. Clarkin lined out to right but Newman singled, putting runners on 1st and 2nd with only 1 out. Up came Johnny Cuc, who had just watched his brother give the team the lead. Despite contributing more than his fair share through his defensive prowess, Cucci had popped up thrice in 3 trips to the plate. Out of the 4 hole, that could kill any other team. But Big Cuc got that angry gleam in his eye. Here, it was no doubt due to his astute acknowledgment and recognition that he�d have to listen to his little brother rag on him about how much better a hitter he is for 9 long winter months. So he promptly laced a double over the right field wall to plate Bier and set up runners on 2nd and 3rd. After Teddy drew a walk to load the bases, up came Lipinsky. The Madman hadn�t had the same type of production as he�d had all year, but he drew a VERY CLUTCH walk to plate Newman and give the Clippers a 3rd and all-important insurance run. Never too anxious, the Madman worked the count and didn�t try to do too much. It was the most essential walk of the year, and while it doesn�t show up in the box score, had a huge impact on the game.
Sosa popped up to left, but reached and plated his first RBI of the day on YET another error when the ball was dropped. Then not to be outdone by older bro, Matt Cucci smashed another single to score 2 more, giving him a ridiculous 3 RBI and finishing his first championship game with a 2-2 performance. Charlie grounded out and Jenny the same, but the Clippers had a commanding 11-5 lead going into the bottom of the seventh.
Trying to simply throw strikes had become a difficult task in inning # 14 for Clarkin and he allowed 4 runs to cross the plate for an overall poor day at the office. But with credit to the Clipper defense, especially Cucci at 3rd who must have fielded 9 balls, after the initial bump of 5 runs in the first, the Clam shut down the powerful Bulkheads and put up 5 shutout innings before letting it get close in the 7th. The final score after a Schlackman HR in the 7th was 11-9 and the Clippers were crowned SSL Champs yet again!
The Championship is dedicated to Original and All-time Clipper, SS Matt Newman. His departure will surely hurt the Clippers both on and off the field as he is as much a great friend as he is a great ball player (which is quite the feat). The Clippers wish him and Corey all the best of luck in their new venture down in Hicksville. Like Ad-rock and Nick-D before him, the Clippers will not be the same without him and both Newman�s will be surely missed. Good luck!
Gold Gloves [awarded by the man who appreciates them the most]
� - Jon Cucci. [1st Gold Glove of any kind, received greatly due to a phenomenal Championship game]
1 � Teddy Nags [Teddy Collects his first full Gold Glove, giving him 1 1/2 overall, for Spectacular Double Play Prowess]
1 � Matt Newman [Matty Newms was stupendous in the field, this is his 2 1/2 Gold Glove]
And accolades and applause go to Big Brother Brian Sosa for his valiant contributions and team oriented work ethic. He didn�t get into the Championship game, so was not given a personal write-up in that context, but he played excellently this year collecting 3 hits in limited appearances and drawing 3 walks. He played a fine right field when called upon and was always prepared to either play or cheer on his mates, and do whatever was required of him. And he got 'LOTS of soda for Fan Appreciation Day!!! '
Nick D, founding father of El Cliperino, also didn�t play in the Championship game, choosing to let those who played all year get the glory. Nick D batted .250 on the year, bouncing back and forth from DC to NY, and played well when he was available. Next year the Clippers hope to get him back full time, as he has been missed.
The Clippers would LOVE to thank:
The Newmans and Corey (for housing Clarkin), James and Joanna, The Hunters (for the same!) The Lipinsky�s, Sarah K�s, Mr. K�s, Lisa, Blythe, Marcie, Caroline, Matt Cucci�s GF, whose name I forget, Mr. Dico, Jenny, The Nagangast family for rootin on and takin care of the boyos!, Mr. Delueew, Dougie K�s, the Bier/Cox�s, Tony A�s, Vern, Mario, Chuck Jones and everyone else who we forget.
Also Alex and Dick (Fantastic job as always) and our compadres in the SSL:
The Dragons, Excitables, Fringe, Dogfish
And most of all, our dear friends and mentors, The Bulkheads.
�Such a shame to have to play you, where one of us must lose�
---- some unknown FI homeless, jobless, yet genius poet.
