FENCED OUT OF THE TITLE HUNT
Loss to Blues ends Redhawks' pursuit of second consecutive titleDENVER – The Redhawks figured that they’d have to outslug the Blues in a high-scoring game to reach the NABA championship game.
Instead, they didn’t slug at all.
With the exception of homers by Eric Remelius (pictured) and Corey Gaudet, the offense was meeker than Jassie James’ rack in a 7-3 loss to the Blues. The three-time defending-champion Blues will face the Knights for the third consecutive season in next week’s title contest.
The Redhawks were a few hits, pitches and key plays on the D’Evelyn diamond away from choosing their at-bat songs during the week. As the No. 3 seed, the Redhawks would have been the home team against the No. 5 Knights and permitted walk-up tunes. Instead, Hawks players can put their iPods on shuffle and imagine what could have been.
It was presumed that the contest was a no-Bright, no-chance affair with pitcher Ryan Bright in transit from the east coast. Pitcher Paul Willis wasn’t spectacular, but kept the Hawks in the game (7 IP, 5 ER, 7 K). By the time Bright arrived in the eighth, however, the Redhawks’ fears had been realized: It was too late.
“Sorry to be a cock-tease to you guys,” said Bright, whose trip was delayed numerous times.
Gaudet, Remelius and J.T. Ming each had two hits, but the Hawks were 2-for-23 otherwise. Frustrations erupted in the eighth, when Garrett Steinert was tossed for calling the umpire a “(cum-guzzling) idiot” after a late strikeout call.
An immediate prognosis of the Hawks’ future hasn’t been determined, but the team could pursue pitchers Brad and Brian Hull, who won an 18A championship with the Isotopes on Sunday.
Notes: The loss likely ended the career of Hawks’ career homer and RBI leader Chris Dobson (injured/retired) and Phil Wyett, who moved to South Carolina. Second baseman Matt Hohnholt has vowed to take at least one season off and Ming and Gaudet could be out of state next season. . . . Outfielders Douglas Swain Farnam and Derek Johnson, very rarely seen in the second half, missed the game. . . . The Redhawks leaders, among regulars, in key categories: Steinert (.429 average, eight steals), Ming (27 RBI), Chuck Gillem (six home runs, 39 runs scored), Danny Qiu (11 doubles), Willis (seven wins), Bright (1.64 ERA), Tommy Cowan (2 saves). . . . Eleven different players homered for this season for the Redhawks, who finished 16-9 overall.
Redhawks . . . . . . . 000 010 020 – 3 8 3
Blues . . . . . . . . . . 200 111 20X – 7 10 1
Redhawks (ab-r-h-rbi) – Gillem lf 3-0-0-0, Steinert dh 4-0-0-0, Ming 3b 4-1-2-0, Gaudet cf 4-1-2-2, Qiu ss 4-0-1-0, Willis p-lf 4-0-0-0, Remelius c 3-1-2-1, Hohnholt 2b 1-0-0-0, Cowan 1b-c 3-0-1-0, Carle rf 4-0-0-0, Rosalies 1b 0-0-0-0, Bright p 0-0-0-0. Totals 34-3-8-3.
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-k) – Willis (L 7-6) 7-10-7-5-2-7, Bright 1-0-0-0-0-2.
E – Qiu, Gaudet, Gillem.
LOB – Redhawks 6, Blues 6.
2B – Cowan (10), Ming (8).
HR – Remelius (1), Gaudet (1).
SB – Gillem (7).
