November 23, 2002 Salem Shocks as Helton Saves the Day SALEM, NH - The Salem Cowtippers weren't expected to compete in the BDBL World Series. Facing the dominant Allentown Ridgebacks, Salem was out-voted 12-2 in league polling, making them the biggest underdogs in league history. But today, the underdogs rose to the occassion and let the league know that they wouldn't just roll over and play dead. For the city of Salem, it was their first opportunity to show the world the league's greatest stadium and the league's greatest fans outside of the Bronx. With the ballpark adorned in red, white and blue bunting, the retractable roof of Sam Adams Stadium nearly came crumbling down when local legends Godsmack played the national anthem. But that was nothing compared to the noise generated by the home crowd when former team captain John Olerud took the field to throw out the first pitch. The Salem offense began today's game by making some noise in the first inning against Allentown starter (and longtime Ozzie League nemesis) Randy Johnson. Thanks to a pair of walks and a sacrifice bunt, Salem put runners at first and second with one out for Sammy Sosa. Sosa grounded to third, advancing both runners. Craig Wilson, the most controversial starter in BDBL history, then stepped to the plate for the first time as the buzz in the ballpark rose to deafening levels. Wilson whiffed, giving Johnson the first of eleven on the day. Allentown all-world superslugger Barry Bonds wasted no time making his presence felt in this series, taking Salem starter Mike Mussina deep into the night to lead off the second inning to put the Ridgebacks ahead. After Randy Johnson struck out the side in the second, the infamous Tyler Houston led off the bottom half of the inning with another homer off Mussina, giving Allentown an early 2-0 lead. With one out in the third, Salem finally got on the board when Mike Cameron homered off Johnson. David Eckstein followed with a base hit, then stole second, putting a runner in scoring position for the heart of Salem's lineup. But Lance Berkman grounded weakly to short, and Sammy Sosa popped out to end the rare scoring oppor- tunity. With Salem still trailing by one run in the fourth, Wilson tied it all up with one swing of his bat, leading off the inning. But Salem's elation was short-lived, as the relentless Allentown offense loaded the bases with two hits and a walk in the fifth. Russ Johnson - Allentown's answer to Craig Wilson - then stepped to the plate and stroked a grand slam home run off Mussina to put the Ridgebacks in the lead 6-2. "Before this series started, we offered to sit Craig Wilson if Allentown would sit Russ Johnson," said Salem manager Mike Glander, "but (Allentown manager Tom DiStefano) didn't take the bait." As Johnson, who came through with several clutch hits as a member of the 2000 Cow- tippers, rounded the bases with his first high in the air, the Salem crowd stirred with anxiety, wondering whether their hometown boys would fight back as they have all season or roll over as so many Cowtippers teams have in post-seasons past. Sosa answered that question immediately, sending a Johnson offering to the deepest part of the ballpark in the bottom half of the inning to give Salem a pair of runs and cut Allentown's lead to two. After a scoreless sixth, Cameron stepped to the plate to lead off the seventh and lined a triple to the gap in right. Eckstein followed with his third hit of the game, plating Cameron and cutting Salem's deficit to just one run. Berkman then drilled a double off the wall, scoring the tying run as the home crowd rocked the stadium to its foundation. As Johnson left the mound with his head hung low, and the Salem crowd sang "Hit the Road, Jack", Allentown closer John Smoltz trotted into mid-field to face Sosa. On the first pitch, Sosa lined one back through the box, scoring Berkman from second for the go-ahead run. Once again, the noise inside the domed stadium was deafening, even despite the absence of those plastic noisemakers, which are banned at Sam Adams Stadium. In the eighth, Salem turned to OLDS MVP Chad Fox to hold the lead. Unfortunately, Fox proved he wasn't up to the task, allowing base hits to Johnson and Edgar Martinez to put runners at the corners for Barry Bonds. Randy Choate, the Trojan Horse given to the Cowtippers from the Los Altos Undertakers organization, then walked Bonds to load the bases for the BDBL's all-time RBI leader, Manny Ramirez. Steve Karsay, called upon to relieve Choate, then whiffed Ramirez to the delight of all 56,329 fans in attendance. With two outs and Robert Fick standing at the plate, Salem seemed to be out of the woods. But Karsay, apparently drained from his nail- biting confrontation with Ramirez, drove the 'Tippers right back into the woods by walking home the tying run of the game. Ricky Gutierrez then popped out to left to preserve the tie, leaving the bases loaded. Karsay attempted to redeem himself in the bottom half of the inning by whacking a one out double off of Mike Lincoln. Jose Mesa then entered the game and walked Cameron, putting two runners on base. Salem then attempted a hit-and-run play with the GDP-prone Eckstein at the plate, but Eckstein lined into an inning-ending double play. In the ninth, Norm Charlton and David Weathers managed to retire the side in order, bringing the heart of the Salem lineup to the plate in the bottom of the ninth. After Berkman grounded out for out number one, Sosa doubled. Todd Helton, who had pinch hit for Wilson in the seventh, then stepped to the plate with first base open and the winning run in scoring position. DiStefano then stepped out of the dugout and signalled for his lefty specialist Dan Plesac. "I thought for sure Plesac was going to put Helton on," said Glander. "I was shocked and elated when Fick actually squatted down behind the plate." Helton swung away, banging a double to the gap to allow Sosa to jog home for the winning run as the Cowtippers rushed to the plate for an impromptu celebration. "Todd had a miserable LCS," said Salem hitting coach Pat Tabler, "but he certainly made up for it today."