November 23, 2002 Ridgebacks Crowned the New Champions of the BDBL SALEM, NH - In the history of Game Sevens, this one ranks up their with all the greats. After six grueling games of tug-o-war between the Salem Cowtippers and Allentown Ridgebacks, the two teams carried a 1-1 tie into the ninth inning of Game Seven. That's when an RBI double by former Salem legend Ellis Burks brought home the go-ahead run, giving the Allentown Ridgebacks their first of what is sure to be many BDBL championship titles. "Congratulations to (Ridgebacks manager) Tom DiStefano and the Allentown Ridgebacks," said a thoroughly-exhausted Salem manager Mike Glander. "Tom played a helluva series, and the Ridgebacks were as tough as advertised. We fought every step of the way just to stay in these games, but in the end, it just wasn't enough. The entire series came down to one clutch hit. They got it, we didn't. Simple as that." The champs wasted no time giving every fan in attendance an ulcer the size of Rick Reuschel's fist. Salem starter Rolando Arrojo (who was surprisingly well-enough rested to start today) allowed two base hits and a walk in the first inning to load the bases. Robert Fick, who has punished Salem pitching throughout this series, then popped out to shallow center to end the inning. Facing ELDS and ELCS MVP Roy Oswalt, Salem's #2 hitter, David Eckstein, bunted his way on base in the first. Eckstein stole second, then scored two batters later on a base hit by Todd Helton. "Lil' Davey did an awesome job for us throughout this entire series," said Glander, choking back a tear. "He really didn't do too much for us during the regular season, but he's really shown us something in the post-season. He's a pesky little gamer." Lance Berkman, who ended this series with a .154 batting average, grounded into a double play to end the inning, leaving a runner stranded at third. That, as it turned out, was a huge at-bat. Arrojo battled Oswalt bravely, matching the rookie ace pitch-for-pitch until the fifth. That inning, Ricky Gutierrez led off with a double, then advanced to third on a sac bunt by Oswalt. He then scored on a base hit by Mark Kotsay through a drawn- in infield. "Ricky Gutierrez," muttered Glander. "They've got Edgar, Bonds and Ramirez, yet the guys who killed us all series long are guys like Ricky Gutierrez, Tyler Houston and Robert Fick." In the sixth, Eckstein reached base on yet another bunt, then advanced to second on a fielder's choice off a hit-and-run. With the go-ahead run in scoring position and one out, Glander attempted to steal third, but the pitch sailed across the strike zone with Eckstein still standing on the bag. "I didn't get a good jump," explained Eckstein, who was apparently mislabeled with an "Ex" jump rating this season. In the hole 0-1, Sosa struck out. Berkman followed with the first of three strike- outs he'd have on the day. "Let's see...we have three great hitters on this team," said Glander, "and the only one who'll probably be here next year is Berkman. Great." In the eighth inning, Mike Cameron led off the inning by leaning into an Oswalt curveball. Trying to force his way into scoring position, Cameron got a little too excited and got picked off trying to steal second. Randy Johnson then busted through the bullpen door to face Todd Helton, who walked on four pitches. DiStefano then called upon Jose Mesa to face Sammy Sosa with the tying run on first. With all 55,972 Salem fans chanting "SAM-MY SO-SA!! SAM-MY SO-SA!!" in unison, Sosa grounded out weakly to short for what may be his final at-bat as a Cowtipper. "So many memories," said Sosa, swiping away tears rolling down his cheeks. "Those fans been very, very good to me. For two years, I give them 100-percent, and they return that love today. I wish I could tell them I be here next year, but I can't make that promise." As Sosa charged out to right field for the final time in his Salem career, Norm Charlton charged in from the bullpen to face Barry Bonds, who'd gone 0-for-3 up to that point. Bonds popped up to Sosa for out number one. Then came the most controversial call of the night. Standing on the top step of the dugout with his hat off, scratching his head like a confused Bobby Cox, Glander ordered Charlton to intentionally walk Manny Ramirez, putting the go-ahead run on base. Instantly, a low buzz filled the stadium. With Salem killer Robert Fick due to bat, DiStefano countered with Ellis Burks, who drove home the game-winner off David Weathers with a ringing double that instantly silenced the crowd. Corey Bailey then induced an inning-ending double play out of pinch hitter Fred McGriff, but by then, it was too late. Mike Lincoln, who'd made a living out of pitching to the bottom-third of the Salem lineup throughout the World Series, came in to face Berkman, Craig Wilson and Ray Durham in the ninth. Berkman concluded an 0-for-4 day with his third strikeout of the day, adding those to his first inning double play. Wilson, who was the center of controversy prior to this series, then whiffed for the third time in the game for out number two. The fate of the Cowtippers' season then rested on Durham's shoulders, and Durham responded by grounding out to the shortstop. "In the end, it came down to one play, one hit, one decision," said Glander. "You can't get much closer than that. There were a few times this game where we had a chance to win, but we didn't get the clutch hit we needed. They did. That's why they're the champions." "They deserve it," said Helton. "They were the better team in this series, and the better team won. We did everything we could to win, but it just wasn't enough."