Taylor Cup

Portland 3-1 Virginia

Game 1


Notes
The first game, in the first playoffs of the first season is upon us. Portland and Virginia were undoubtedly the best teams this season. With both having line ups filled with allstars, this series wont dissapoint. On the mound was 2 of the best pitchers this season. Mark Mulder will most likely win the pitching award, where as Dontrelle Willis had a good statistical season. Dye and Burroughs got singles, with Willy Mo Pena doubling them in. Zeros were put up for the next 3 and a half innings until Dye homered off of Mulder to cushion the lead, and Gagne came in and held Virginia in the 5th for the win.

Batters
POR
Berroa 0-3
Dye 2-3 1B, HR
Burroughs 1-2 1B, BB
Encarnacion 0-2
Pena 1-2
Giles 0-2
Sexson 1-2 1B
Simon 0-2
Brown 0-2

VIR
Everett 0-3 1B
Byrnes 1-2 1B
Blalock 2-2 2B
Mientkiewicz 0-1 BB
Hall 0-2 K
Bigbie 0-2
Crosby 0-2
Young 0-2
Herr 0-2

Pitchers
POR
Willis- 4 IP, 0 ERA, 1 Ks, 0 ER, 1 BB W
Gagne- 1 IP, 0 ERA, 0Ks, 0 ER, 0 BB SV

VIR
Mulder- 5 IP, 3.6 ERA, 0 Ks, 2 ER, 1 BB L

Player of the Game- Dontrelle Willis, 3 hit shut out

Game 2


Notes
Virginia looked to tie up the series, and have at least one win at home. But Portland was hot, after an ace like performance by Willis, Waetcher didn't disapoint either. Looper had strikeouts everywhere. He threw 5 Ks, but the thing is he gave up 5 hits. 3 were home runs. While on the flip side, Virginia only got 3 hits. Waechter didn't allow a hit for 11 strait batters after Aaron Herr hit a single to start the 3rd. Portland is just one win away from clinching the title.

Batters
POR
Berroa 0-3
Dye 1-3 HR
Burroughs 0-2 K
Encarnacion 1-2 HR, K
Pena 0-2 K
Giles 2-2 2 1B
Sexson 1-2 HR
Horwitz 0-2 K
Brown 0-2 K

VIR
Everett 0-3 K
Byrnes 1-2 K, BB
Blalock 0-2
Mientkiewicz 0-1 BB
Hall 1-2 1B
Bigbie 0-2
Crosby 0-2
Greenberg 0-2
Herr 1-2 1B

Pitchers
POR
Waetcher- 5 IP, 0 ERA, 2 Ks, 0 ER, 2 BB W

VIR
Looper- 4 IP, 9 ERA, 5 Ks, 4 ER, 0 BB L
Anderson- 1 IP, 0 ERA, 0 Ks, 0 ER, 0 BB

Player of the Game- Doug Waetcher, 3 hit shut out

Game 3


Notes
Portland had a great chance to clinch the championship with one win here, but what followed might be the best game in CBL history. No pitching at all, just hitting. A total of 19 runs were scored, a high for the league. Milton was ousted on Encarancion's 2 run homer, the 5th run given up, but Kurt Ainsworth let it be interesting, and let the first 5 guys on base in the 4th, with Burgos in for the hold. Crosby singled in Byrnes, then Dmitri Young hits a Grand Slam off Burgos. In the bottom of the inning, Matt Anderson gave up two 2 run homers, one to MVP Burroughs, but Tim Spooneybarger came in and held the potent Portland offense to no runs for Virginia's first win of the Taylor Cup

Batters
VIR
Everett 1-2 HR, 2 BB
Byrnes 1-2 1B, K, 2 BB
Blalock 1-4 2B
Mientkiewicz 1-3 1B, BB
Hall 2-4 2 1B, BB
Bigbie 0-3
Crosby 1-2 1B, BB
Young 1-2 HR, K, BB
Herr 1-3 HR

POR
Berroa 1-4 1B, 3K
Dye 2-3 1B, HR
Burroughs 2-3 HR, 3B
Encarnacion 1-3 HR
Pena 1-3 2B
Giles 0-3 K
Sexson 2-3 HR, 2B
Simon 1-2 2B, BB
Brown 2-3 1B, HR

Pitchers
VIR
Milton- 2 IP, 22.5 ERA, 3 Ks, 5 ER, 0 BB
Anderson- 2 IP, 18 ERA, 0 Ks, 4 ER, 0 BB W
Spooneybarger- 1 IP, 0 ERA, 0Ks, 0 ER, 0 BB SV

POR
Ainsworth- 3 IP, 24 ERA, 2 Ks, 8 ER, 7 BB
Burgos- 1 IP, 18 ERA, 0 Ks, 2 ER, 0 BB L
Gagne- 1 IP, 0 ERA, 0 Ks, 0 ER, 1 BB

Player of the Game- Sean Burroughs



Notes
Virginia had to win 3 strait games over Portland. But their offense was struggling as a whole, and Portland was hot. In the bottom of the 1st, Berroa hits a solo homer, then Richie Sexson jacks a grand slam off of Mark Mulder. Virginia had no match for them, because Dontrelle Willis was too strong. All of the scoring plays for the Trappers were off home runs. Willis recorded 4 Ks over 4 innings, which set up Eric Gagne for the save and clinched the Trappers the first championship in CBL history.

Batters
VIR
Everett 0-3 K
Byrnes 1-2 2B, BB
Blalock 0-2 K, BB
Mientkiewicz 1-3 1B, 2K
Hall 1-2 2B, K
Bigbie 0-2
Crosby 1-2 1B
Young 1-2 1B
Herr 0-2

POR
Berroa 2-2 HR, 1B
Dye 1-3 1B
Burroughs 1-2 BB, 1B
Encarnacion 1-2 HR, BB
Pena 0-3
Giles 1-3 HR
Sexson 1-2 HR
Horwitz 2-2
Brown 0-2

Pitchers
VIR
Mulder- 3 IP, 18 ERA, 0 Ks, 6 ER, 3 BB L
Anderson- 1 IP, 18 ERA, 0 Ks, 4 ER, 0 BB

POR
Willis- 4 IP, 0 ERA, 4 Ks, 0 ER, 1 BB W
Gagne- 1 IP, 0 ERA, 1 Ks, 0 ER, 1 BB SV

Player of the Game- Dontrelle Willis

Taylor Cup MVP- Dontrelle Willis 8 innings, 2-0, 5 Ks, 0 ERA

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Season 1 MVP Voting

Here are the 5 players who have proven themselves as a star players in this league. Four batters, and one pitcher are included in the voting. This will be Heisman style voting. With a selected group of gentlemen having votes, they will make first, and second place votes. First will be 3 points, second will be 1. Here are the choices.

Sean Burroughs- Portland Trappers
21-34, .618 Batting Average, 13 RBI, 13 Runs, 3 Home runs, 3 Strike Outs

Sean Casey- Austin Roughnecks
17-33, .515 Batting Average, 16 RBI, 9 Runs, 4 Home runs, 3 Strike Outs

Juan Encarnacion- Portland Trappers
19-32, .594 Batting Average, 12 RBI, 12 Runs, 4 Home runs, 2 Strike Outs, 11 Game hit streak

Doug Mientkiewicz- Virginia Beach Bums
17-35, .485 Batting Average, 13 RBI, 8 Runs, 6 Home runs, 1 Strike Out

Mark Mulder- Virginia Beach Bums
20 1/3 innings, 4-0 Record, 2.75 ERA, 13 Ks, 8 Walks

So there you have it!

End of Season Wrap-Up

So with a successful year down, the playoffs are among us. Virginia, and Portland finished at 9-5 making the playoffs. For the home playoff advantage, the tie breaker went from Season series, which was tied 2-2. Then Virginia had one run more during those games, which was the deciding factor. The playoffs will be one, 5 game series. best of 3 wins.

Orlando, and Austin were left out, but they get draft picks! Austin's offense outside of Greene, and Casey was nothing, while Orlando's offense wasn't any better.

Next season, JUST Omaha will join. They will have an expansion draft after the finals. They will also get the first pick in each round of the draft. After the draft, retirements, and roster moves will be made. For Orlando, Garciaparra and Delgado are retiring, causing them to rebuild. But they can fill the spots after Omaha picks their team.

2 added pitchers will be added for the longer season 2. A new Starting pitcher, and relief pitcher will be drafted and included.

Austin also has some new logos, so their bad past stays behind.

Game 14

Notes
Austin was looking to avoid a terrible 10 loss season, but Portland was hungry for a win. Victor Zambrano had the worst record in the league, but he just doesn't have an offense to back him up. He pitched a stellar game normally, but Doug Waechter did also. Both held the other team down, and it was 3-3 going into the bottom of the 5th. Austin had 3 solo shots, while Portland just had small bursts of offense. First batter in the bottom half of the 5th, Willy Mo Pena sends the Trapper fans home happy, with his walk off home run.

Batters
AUS
Dukes 1-3 3B
Greene 0-3
Baldelli 1-2 HR
Casey 0-2
Rolls 0-1 BB, K
LeCroy 0-2
Munson 1-2 HR, K
Cannizaro 0-2 K
Wilson 1-2 HR

POR
Berroa 1-2
Dye 0-1 BB
Burroughs 1-2 2B
Encarnacion 1-2 1B
Pena 2-3 1B, HR
Giles 0-2 K
Sexson 0-2 K
Horwitz 0-2
Brown 0-1 BB

Pitchers
AUS
Zambrano- 4 IP, 9 ERA, 2 Ks, 4 ER, 2 BB L

POR
Waechter- 5 IP, 5.39 ERA, 3 Ks, 3 ER, 0 BB W

Player of the Game- Willy Mo Pena



Notes
Chuck James was one of the few bright spots in the M's season. But Braden Looper wanted none of that! James went out and threw a 3 hit shut out to stick it to Looper. Looper gave up 5 runs in 4 innings, including 4 hits in the first 4 batters, then a 3 run home run to 9th Batter, Juan Francia. Looper and the Bums have one thing over James and the M's, they made the playoffs!

Batters
VIR
Everett 1-3 2B
Byrnes 0-2
Blalock 0-2 K
Mientkiewicz 1-2 2B
Hall 0-2
Bigbie 0-2
Crosby 0-2
Young 0-1 BB
Herr 1-2 2B

ORL
Grieve 1-3 2B, K
Stewart 1-3 1B
Garciaparra 2-2 2B, 3B
Delgado 1-2 1B
Crede 0-2
Freeman 1-2 1B
Abernathy 1-2 1B
LaForest 0-2
Francia 1-2 HR, K

Pitchers
VIR
Looper- 4.1 IP, 1125 ERA, 2 Ks, 5 ER, 3 BB L
Spooneybarger- .2 IP, 9 ERA, 1 Ks, 0 ER, 0 BB

ORL
James- 5 IP, 0 ERA, 1 Ks, 0 ER, 1 BB W

Player of the Game- Chuck James

Game 13

Notes
Somewhat of a throw away game for both sides here. But from a statistical standpoint, a huge game. 4 possible MVPs were up head to head. Sean Burroughs and Juan Encarnacion went a combined 0-4, but on the flip side Khalil Greene and Sean Casey went 3-4. But this game came down to pitching. Sidney Ponson needed a good outing just to show the haters. He went out and threw a complete game, one hit shut out. The one hit was a single, which Jermaine Dye got in the third.

Batters
AUS
Dukes 1-3 1B
Greene 1-2 2B, BB
Baldelli 0-2 BB, K
Casey 2-2 2B, 1B, BB
Rolls 0-3
LeCroy 1-3 2B
Munson 1-2 1B
Cannizaro 0-2 K
Wilson 0-2

POR
Berroa 0-2
Dye 1-1 1B, BB
Burroughs 0-2 K
Encarnacion 0-2
Pena 0-2
Giles 0-1 BB
Sexson 0-2
Horwitz 0-2
Brown 0-2 K

Pitchers
AUS
Ponson- 5 IP, 0 ERA, 2 Ks, 0 ER, 2 BB W

POR
Willis- 5 IP, 3.6 ERA, 2 Ks, 2 ER, 3 BB L

Player of the Game- Sidney Ponson



Notes
Mark Mulder had one more chance to go for the Pitching award, yet to be named. Elarton and Mulder went mano y mano giving up one run up each in the first four innings pitched. Then, Scott Elarton walked Eric Byrnes, and threw a fat one to Hank Blalock who hit it out for his 4th home run of the season. Matt Anderson came in and shut it down for a save.

Batters
VIR
Everett 1-3 1B
Byrnes 0-2 BB
Blalock 1-1 HR, 2BB
Mientkiewicz 1-3 1B
Hall 1-2 2B, BB
Bigbie 0-2 BB
Crosby 0-2
Greenberg 0-2 K
Herr 0-2

ORL
Grieve 1-3
Stewart 0-2 K, BB
Garciaparra 1-3 2B
Delgado 0-3
Crede 2-2 2B, 1B
Freeman 0-2 K
Abernathy 0-2
LaForest 1-2 1B
Roneberg 1-2 1B, K

Pitchers
VIR
Mulder- 4 IP, 2.25 ERA, 3 Ks, 1 ER, 0 BB W
Anderson- 1 IP, 0 ERA, 0 Ks, 0 ER, 1 BB SV

ORL
Elarton- 5 IP, 5.39 ERA, 1 Ks, 3 ER, 4 BB L

Player of the Game- Hank Blalock

Game 12

Notes
This was the first 6 inning game since the 2-0 pitching duel in Virginia in the second game of the season. Bobby Bradley was rolling to a win, up 5-0 with big time hits from Austin hitters. Then in the bottom of the 4th, Portland scored 4 runs to get within striking distance. Burgos shut down the Roughneck's offense in time for normally stellar Chad Bradford to give up one run in the bottom of the 5th to tie, then an rbi single to Angel Berroa for the win. Juan Encarnacion's 11 game hit streak also ended.

Batters
AUS
Dukes 1-4 HR, K
Greene 2-4 2 1B
Baldelli 1-3 2B, K
Casey 3-3 HR, 2B, 1B
Rolls 1-3 1B
Valent 0-3 K
Munson 1-3 2B, K
Cannizaro 0-3
Wilson 1-2 1B, BB

POR
Berroa 1-4 1B, K
Dye 1-3 3B, K
Burroughs 2-3 3B, 1B
Encarnacion 0-3 K
Pena 2-3 2B, 1B
Giles 1-3 2B
Sexson 1-3 1B
Horwitz 2-3 HR, 3B
Brown 1-3 1B

Pitchers
AUS
Bradley- 4 IP, 9 ERA, 3 Ks, 4 ER, 0 BB
Bradford- 1 2/3 IP, 18 ERA, 1 Ks, 2 ER , 0 BB L

POR
Ainsworth- 4 IP, 11.25 ERA, 1 Ks, 5 ER, 1 BB
Burgos- 2 IP, 0 ERA, 2 Ks, 0 ER, 0 BB W

Player of the Game- Brian Horwitz



Notes
With Portland clinching the playoffs, they need a dance partner. Virginia would have to win just one game to clinch, while the M's needed to sweep. It looked great when Shawn Chacon pitched his brains out to only have a one hitter when he was pulled for the save for Dewon Brazelton. He gave up 3 runs on 4 hits to get the loss, and Milton the win. Matt Anderson recorded his league leading 5th save.

Batters
VIR
Everett 0-3
Byrnes 1-3 3B
Blalock 1-3 2B
Mientkiewicz 0-3
Hall 1-2 HR
Bigbie 0-1 BB
Crosby 0-1 BB
Young 1-2 2B
Herr 1-2 1B, K

ORL
Grieve 2-3 2 1B
Stewart 0-2 BB
Garciaparra 1-3 2B
Delgado 2-3 2B, 1B
Crede 1-2 HR, BB
Freeman 0-3
Abernathy 0-2 BB, K
LaForest 1-2 1B., BB
Francia 0-2 K

Pitchers
VIR
Milton- 4 IP, 4.5 ERA, 2 Ks, 2 ER, 3 BB W
Anderson- 1 IP, 9 ERA, 0 Ks, 0 ER, 2 BB SV

ORL
Chacon- 4 IP, 2.25 ERA, 1 Ks, 1 ER, 2 BB
Brazelton- 1 IP, 27 ERA, 0 Ks, 3 ER 0 BB L

Player of the Game- Shawn Chacon, 1 hit allowed