Fellowship Series Wrap-up
Old Forest defeats Bree
The Cheese took Game 1 thanks to a rescue pitching effort by 'Wose' Arweoden and homers from Tiger Guril, Braddock the Fell and 2 by Zoot the Unchaste. Bree starter Torg Shinsnapper had a horrible start, giving up 5 runs on 5 hits in 2.2 innings before Arweoden came in and stopped the bleeding. Meanwhile, Merry Fellows starter, Yvestil Ala'Niel, didn't fare much better, giving up 6 runs in her 4 innings of work. Old Forest came back to take Game 2 by a 2-1 score with Frodo Chubb out-dueling Vrsol Swordbasher.
Bree relievers and a costly error let the team down in Game 3, as Hildibrand Bridger blew a save in the 9th, allowing 4 runs. With the Cheese leading 6-3 in the 9th, Bridger gave up singles to the first 2 batters. Then, a mishandled grounder by second baseman, Bill Pelham, allowed Thor Wingnutt to score. Eolf Elrithor later smacked a 2-run double, and Grunthos the Flatulent made a failed attempt at getting the winning runner out at home on a grounder his way.
Another missed opportunity came in Game 4 when the Merry Fellows overcame a 3-0 deficit to score 3 to tie it in the 8th and went on to win it in the 9th. Torg Shinsnapper let walks get him into trouble in the 8th, allowing the first 2 Old Forest runners to reach base before Elrithor hit an RBI double. Elfprodder scored on a sac fly, then Sifur Silvermaster tied the game with a single that scored Elrithor. Gamaithor 'Air' Elylith slugged a game winning HR in the bottom of the 9th.
Finally, Old Forest hurler, Ala'Niel, tossed a 6-hit shutout in Game 5 to secure the Merry Fellows their 2nd straight trip to the Two Towers Series.
Wilderland sweeps Mirkwood
Game 1 went to Wilderland, as Lintegurth Musiceye scattered 11 hits but only allowed 3 runs in a complete game effort. A bigger blow to the Marauders effort was the loss of Bundin Manskin to an elbow injury. Bugrin Spinner held the Marauders scoreless for 8 innings, and Prarg Halflingslobbr picked up a save in Game 2 when Wilderland won it, 2-0. After a brilliant pitcher's duel in Game 3, which saw Mirkwood's Hallalonn Brilhirion give up just 1 run in 8 innings and Wilderland's Merimac Snowmouth allow 2 in the same time frame, Phantom Fil-Gar gave up a 2-run HR to Radaidur Morauden in the bottom of the 9th to give the Wargs a 3-0 series lead. The Wargs finished off the first playoff sweep of the Marauders with an 8-7 victory.
Minas Morgul over Grey Havens
The Slayers easily took Game 1 by a score of 10-1. In a 9-run 6th inning, the power-hitting team scored on 5 singles, 2 doubles and a bases-loaded walk. Grey Havens bounced back for a 4-1 victory in Game 2 behind Isiclya Belurion.
Game 3 was a titanic struggle that lasted 19 innings and tested the endurance of both teams. In the end, 12 pitchers saw action, and one of them may have seen the end of his career. Neither team could get anything going against brilliant pitching. Minas Morgul only allowed 5 hits, and 3 of those came in the final 7 innings. In the top of the 19th, Firbal the Nasty sent a 1-1 pitch deep into the night for a 2-run HR to give the Slayers the victory.
The biggest blow came when Minas Morgul starter, Gleran Foemaker, came off the mound in the 6th. After complaining of terrible pain in his shoulder, he was sent to see team doctor, Fastolph Greenthumb. After examination, it was determined that Foemaker had suffered a severely torn rotator cuff. It does not appear likely that the 23-year-old will ever pitch again.
Firbal the Nasty kept slugging in Game 4, smacking 4 hits and collecing 3 RBI in the Slayers' 10-2 win. In Game 5, he broke a 4-4 tie in the 8th, scoring on a wild pitch from Soia Glithrarion. The Slayers went on to score 3 more in the 9th and take the series.
Hops defeat Lumberjacks
Game 1 was a classic pitcher's duel with last year's Gandalf Pitcher, Sorrel Amblestar, facing off against the 2010 winner, Gimli Cloudskin. Amblestar allowed nothing through 8 innings, while Cloudskin gave up a run in the 2nd, and the Hops won it by a 1-0 score. Game 2 was almost as tense, as the Hops won it 2-1 behind a 5-pitcher effort. Nimue Skymantle went 7 innings, allowing just 1 run, before the bullpen went into action, keeping Lothlorien scoreless. In the third straight pitching-dominated matchup, Lothlorien came out on top, winning it 2-1. Baldrick the Cunning held the Hops to a single run in his 7 innings of work. Game 4 was more of the same, with Amblestar scattering 11 hits and allowing 2 runs in the Hops' 3-2 win.
It was no pitcher's duel in Game 5, as the Hops pounded the Lumberjacks, 12-2. Young Arghren Glimmerhand went 5-for-5 with a homer, as Misty Mountain took the series from Lothlorien.
Old Forest and Wilderland advance to the Shire Conference Championships, while Misty Mountain and Minas Morgul meet for the Mordor Conference title.
Posted at January 27, 2007 12:40 PM | more from League News