Komoux Masters Real Baseball
A Trip Back in Time – to September 2006
Fans: This article was first published in late October of 2006. As the 2012 playoffs head to a completion this Sunday at Highland Field, a look back at one of the most dramatic and lasting events in the long history of the league will get us ready for the weekend to come. Enjoy.
‘Pappy’ Pederson Powers Cubs to Championship
"The last game of the 2006 season produced a number of firsts as the Komoux Masters Real Baseball League wrapped up Sunday at Highland Field.
"For the first time in league history, the Fisherman’s Lodge Cubs are league champions! For the first time since the Cards made the finals, Woodie orchestrated ‘The Wave’ around the ballpark. And for the first time in Canadian history (the records are being double-checked), a Canada Pension Plan recipient hit a walk-off home run to decide a major baseball championship!
"The game played out like most playoff games – low-scoring because of great pitching and defence. The league salary cap (currently at $0) seems to be the main reason for the evident parity among teams. Remember, this championship game was between the # 6 Cubs and the #7 TC Valley Collision Twins.
Jake and Clay went head-to-head on the mound in the first five innings. Dale and Jeremy also took the mound for the Little Bears, with Byron and Donnie going for the Twins. Dale G. and Dave G. each had a couple of the Cubs seven hits, and Brian had a big RBI. The Twins managed only four hits.
"The Cubs took a 2-1 lead and were up 4-2 going into the eighth. The Twins rallied big time to tie the game going into the ninth.
"To lead off the bottom of the ninth, a line shot was hit to right centre. It looked to be the double or triple the Cubs needed to squeeze across the winning run. But the Twins' centre fielder tracked down the ball and made a fantastic catch to apparently save the game!
"But up came Sy Pederson, the KMRBL’s favourite 60-year-old Black Creek resident. Realizing he was due (he had not hit a home run since he was in his 50s), Sy was looking for that fastball up. He took the first pitch he saw deep to left field, over the monster fence and into the forest! What a finish! What a spot in history for the legendary Sy! Congrats to the Cubs and to the league!"
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Note: The 2012 KMRBL playoff championship goes this Sunday, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. at Highland #3 with regular-season champs Fisher Realty Blue Jays taking on regular-season runners-up Courtenay Plumbing Twins.