Muckrakers' magical season comes to an end

CONCORD -- The Muckrakers' stay in the exalted territory of the playoffs lasted six innings and no more, as the team fell to the Unknown Playoff Opponent 21-14.

Still and all, it was a somewhat satisfying capper to a star-crossed season appreciated by all in Muckraker Nation. The playoffs were but a dream in mid-September but came into full fruition in late October.

If only that sweet feeling could have lasted longer, but the mighty bats of the Unknown Playoff Opponent (UPO) saw to that.

It was a doomed effort from the get-go, as (cue the violins) the Muckrakers took the field with only nine players and were forced to go with a three-man outfield vs. the strong UPO bats.

Still, the Muckrakers provided stiff competition, as exemplified by the three-run first inning thanks to the power and glory of Luke Abbott and his three-run home run. In the fifth, Mat Petersen got hold of one and sent a towering drive to deepest right, a ball hit so hard it that after it landed it probably touched off a land mine at the Concord Weapons Station. Petersen's clout was good for a two-run homer, which came just after Randy Striegel's two-run triple.

It was a heck of a game, but it was a heck of a season for the plucky D-leaguers. After a heck of an offseason, it'll be time to do it all over again. That's softball.

THREE (MORE OR LESS) STARS OF THE GAME

Mat Petersen: A monstrous home run and a triple, and three RBI. A fitting end to a sluggin' season.

Luke Abbott/Randy Striegel: No jeans this time for Abbott, just his third home run in as many games and what was probably a Muckraker-record six RBI. Mr. October indeed. Striegel played valiant shortstop, was a homer short of the cycle, playing with one bad leg all the while.

Chace Bryson: Left fielder ran himself ragged patrolling, along with Abbott, a very large outfield.