Muckrakers gut Geezers, secure postseason berth

CONCORD -- "They" said it couldn't be done, whoever the hell "they" are.

Well, "they" -- and "they" know who "they" are -- can go do something anatomically interesting to themselves.

For the Muckrakers, the mighty, mighty, Muckrakers, have achieved what "they" said coulld be done, namely, make the D league postseason jamboree. The Big Dance. The Promised Land.

The scrappy Mucksters went into Thursday's game against the Geezers knowing they had to win in order to keep their season going. So, did the Muckrakers win? Hey, does Artie's sell beer by the pitcher?

Of course the Muckrakers delivered when necessary. They came out of Thursday's play 19-11 victors over the Geezers, good enough for a 4-3 record and a fourth-place finish in the D-league West. And good enough to make the playoffs, which open up on Sunday at 4 p.m. on Field 3.

Basically, the Muckrakers put this one away for all intents and purposes in the third inning with their record-breaking effort. We kid you not -- the Muckrakers sent 17 batters to the plate in the top of the third, and scored a total of 13 runs. This so disheartened the Geezers that they barely did anything until the sixth inning, which became a matter of too little, too late.

Eleven batters hit safeties in the third, with Randy Striegel doubling twice, and Mike Gale and Dave Alcorn each scoring twice in the frame. It was an inning that saw lots of Muckraker hustle, lots of Muckraker hitting with a few Geezer errors mixed in.

Again, the Muckrakers were solid on defense when they had to be. One special example was the Geezer runner who was cut down at the plate trying to stretch a triple into a home run. That play went Chris Wagnon to John Simerman to Striegel to Mat Petersen for those of you scoring at home, or even if you're by yourself.

Simerman also contributed a fine running catch at second base, and Alcorn fielded everything that was shot his way at third.

And we cannot forget Luke Abbott's lengthy homer leading off the fourth.

Look out playoffs -- here come the Muckrakers.

THREE STARS OF THE GAME
Dave Alcorn: Two hits, four runs scored, and my Lord, what a job at third base.

Steve Moscatelli: A 3-for-3 outing, and several nice stretching catches at first base.

Chris Wagnon: For directing this ragtag bunch of renegades into the playoffs. Thanks for all your hard work, Chris. Without you, there would be no Muckrakers.