November 3, 2000

Zoots Win - Again

STAMFORD, CT - The Stamford Zoots rallied from behind once again in Game Five of
this Ozzie League Division Series, scoring four runs in the sixth inning to beat
the Litchfield Lightning by one run and advance to the OLCS.  A two-run base hit
by Rafael Palmeiro off Litchfield's lefty specialist Rheal Cormier drove the final
stake into the heart of the Litchfield Lightning.  Kevin Brown surrendered five 
runs on five hits and five walks through six innings, yet managed to secure the win
and an OLDS MVP trophy.

The Stamford offense came out firing right away against Litchfield ace Pete Harnisch.
Omar Vizquel led off the Stamford half of the first with a base hit, then stole
second.  Rafael Palmeiro then delivered a base hit to right, but right fielder
Marquis Grissom gunned down Vizquel at the plate.  Barry Bonds then led off the 
next inning with a homer, giving Litchfield the early lead.

Michael Tucker led off the bottom half of that inning with a walk, then scored on
a triple by Magglio Ordonez, tying the game at one apiece.  In the fourth, Litch-
field manager Phil Geisel's bold managing style paid off when he pinch hit J.T.
Snow for Grissom with one out and runners on first and third.  Snow lofted a long 
fly ball to center, that was just long enough to score Bonds from third for the go-
ahead run.  Lance Berkman, who came into the game to replace Grissom, then ripped
a three-run homer in the sixth, putting Litchfield ahead 5-2.

The never-say-die Stamford home crowd on its feet during the following half inning, 
expecting nothing less than another come-from-behind victory.  They got their wish
when Harnisch inexplicably broke down under the immense pressure.  Harnisch allowed
a leadoff walk to Michael Tucker, then back-to-back singles to Ordonez and Brad
Ausmus.  The base hit by Ausmus scored Tucker, cutting Litchfield's lead to two.

Then, with no outs, runners on the corners, and the pitcher due up, Geisel called
upon his #1 draft pick this past winter, Cormier.  Cormier got the first out of the
inning - a sac fly by pinch hitter Chad Curtis that cut Litchfield's lead to one
run.  Vizquel then doubled off Cormier, putting runners on the corners for Corey
Koskie.  Koskie whiffed for out number two.  

Then, clutching a one-run lead with two outs in the sixth inning of the fifth and
final game of the OLDS, Cormier surrendered a two-run base hit to Palmeiro, giving
Stamford a 6-5 lead.  

John Wetteland, Yorkis Perez and Bobby Chouinard then retired nine of the ten 
batters they faced in the seventh, eighth and ninth, securing the victory.

Stamford catcher Ausmus rushed into the arms of Chouinard as the final batter, 
Scott Brosius, popped out to second for the final out of the series.  For Stamford,
it is their second trip to the OLCS and fourth consecutive post-season series
victory.  For Litchfield, it is their second post-season series loss to Stamford,
and third post-season series loss to Paul Marazita.  Despite 103 wins this season,
the Litchfield Lightning will be watching the World Series from home yet again.