1987 WORLD SERIES

World Series in Manhattan – banners all over the ball park, crowd overflowing the stadium, and lots of hot dogs and beer. Gas Hornets open the series minus their number 1 power hitter – Andre Dawson (.262, 47 HRs, 131 rbis). He’ll be back, but not until game 3 …

Game #1 – Roger Clemens (28-5, 3.04) vs. Jim Clancy (13-7, 3.88)

Top 1st – Lead-off walk to Doran is quickly erased when Hayes grounds into DP. Clancy then walks Daniels, but gets a 6-4 FC to end the inning.  Bottom half, a 2 out single by Joyner is all the Gas Hornets muster as Jacoby (in the clean-up spot for Dawson) grounds out to end the inning.
Top 2nd – Scioscia gets a 1 out single for the Demolition’s 1st hit and then Gross doubles him to 3rd. Threat with runners at 2nd and 3rd – 1 out.  Guillen grounds to 1st, Joyner moves to his right, cuts it off – flips to Clancy and held the runner at 3rd, 2 outs.  Clemens is fooled on the 3rd strike and the threat is over.  Bottom half, a 2 out single by O’Neill is followed by a Clemens hitting Griffin in the leg. Clancy up and Clemens throws a wild pitch advancing the runners. Clancy then tags one on a line, but right atGuillen to end the inning. Both teams use their pitchers (as batters) to end the threats.
Top 3rd – Doran draws another lead-off walk. With 2 outs he steals 2nd. Boggs then works Clancy for a walk (#4 walk for Clancy).  But Chet Lemon can only fly out to RF, still 0-0. Bottom half, with 1 down Sax walks. He’s taken out on a FC by Joyner, but Jacoby follows with an infield single putting runners on 1st and 2nd – 2 outs.  Jody Davis up, slashes one in the hole, between 1st and 2nd, Doran can’t get it, Joyner rounds 3rd, but slams on the breaks as Lemon fields the ball and stares him down. Felder then hits a hard grounder, Doran gets it, flips to 2nd to end the inning, no runners cross the plate.Top 4th a one out single by Gross (his 2nd hit) is wiped out by a DP. Bottom half – Clemens fans 2 and no one reached 1st.
Top 5th – With 1 out Doran works Clancy for another walk (Doran’s 3rd of the game and Clancy’s 5th). Von Hayes then follows, Doran dancing at 1st, and Hayes drills one RF for a base hit, Doran advanced to 3rd. Runners on the corners, 1 down and Daniels and Boggs to follow. Clancy digs in, infield hoping for DP, and Daniels rocks one straight up, I mean straight up and foul behind 3rd, Jacoby gets under it for the out. Boggs steps in, Clancy pitches and it’s rapped back to him, he gloves it and tosses over to 1st for the 3rd out, escaping again. Bottom half, Yount Ks, Sax takes Clemens to the wall for a long out, and Joyner draws a walk. Jacoby ends it by lining out to short.  0-0 after 5.
Top 6th – Lemon grounds out, Scioscia blasts one to RF – O’Neill chases it to the track, against the wall, caught. Gross then fists one to RF for his 3rd hit of the game.  That brings in Righetti to pitch against Guillen. Guillen grounds into a 6-4 FC to end the inning. Bottom half, Davis fans, Felder goes deep, but not deep enough and O’Neill cracks a 2 out double (his 2nd hit of the game). Clemens ends the threat by fanning Griffin.
Top 7th After Clemens fans, Doran works Righetti for Doran’s 4th walk of the game! Doran working over Rags, Rags tossing back and forth to 1b, finally he hurls one to Hayes at the plate, strike, but Davis fires one to 1b and thy pickoff Doran. Hayes then doubles off the CF wall. Rags stays in for 1 more lefty and gets Daniels to fly out to end the inning.  Durham fans pinch hitting for Rags to start the bottom half (7th K for the Rocket). Yount and Sax go down without much excitement, on to the 8th score still 0-0.
Top 8th Buice comes in to pitch as well as Kenny Williams for defense in RF. Boggs draws a lead-off walk (Chicago batters really working the pitchers in this game – the 7th team walk).  Lemon bounces one up the middle, Griffin fields, flips to 2nd to start the DP, but it wasn’t in time, infield hit, 2 on, no outs. Sciosia bunts them over to 2nd and 3rd. Gross comes up, 3 for 3 at the time, and tags a 2 run single to break the tie. Griffin and Clemens then go down to end the inning, but Chicago has taken a late 2-0 lead, and the Rocket has been growing stronger each inning. Bottom half, Joyner opens up with double (his 2nd hit plus a walk). Hershiser suddenly runs in from the bullpen to pitch! Jacoby grounds out. Davis grounds out moving Joyner to 3rd but with 2 outs. Felder swings, connects and his liner is snared by Doran for out # 3, on to the 9th with the Demolition holding a 2-0 lead.
Top 9th, Hudson is brought on to see if anyone can get Doran out while he is a batter. Called third strike, Doran not pleased, speaks to the ump, but the ump gives him a look like – huh, you think I gave you those 4 walks, this guy got it over the plate, si’down!  Hayes singles (3 for 5). Collins in to pinch run.  Zane Smith comes in to pitch. It’s a ball to Daniels, Collins breaks and Davis guns him down, 2 outs.  Daniels then flies out. Bottom of the 9th, Hershiser still on the mound.  Hershiser made 36 starts in the regular season and no relief appearances.  Williams leads off – and is hit by the pitch. Alfredo then lines into DP. Moreland then pinch hits and grounds out to end the game.  Chicago takes the opener 2-0 behind the 6 hit pitching of Roger Clemens (1-0) and Orel Hershiser (S1). Buice (0-1) takes the loss with a walk and 2 hits in his inning of pitching.

Final Score: Chicago 2 – Manhattan 0
Win:  Roger Clemens (1-0  0.00)
Loss: De Wayne Buice (0-1  18.00)
Save: Orel Hershiser (1) (0.00)
Home Runs: None

Game #2 – Dennis Eckersley  (9-5, 3.93, 54 games, 13 starts) vs. Jimmy Key (21-5, 2.54)

Top 1 – Guess what, Doran walks to open the game! Hayes then fails to bunt him over with a 3rd strike foul. Eric Davis fans and Key balks Doran to 2nd. Boggs walks, but Lemon lines out to Sax. Bottom half, after  Sax fans, Yount doubles and Joyner walks. This set the stage for a Jacoby Baltimore Special – 3 run HR (1) and Manhattan finally scores in the World Series! O’Neill then singles and Jody Davis follows him with another single.  Felder fans and Griffin smacks a rocket to RF and Lemon spears to end the inning – Manhattan a 3-0 lead.
Top 2nd – Scioscia leads off with a double.  Gross follows with his 5th straight hit moving Scioscia to 3rd. Guillen flies to CF, but not deep enough to advance the runners, 1 out, runners on the corners.  Eckersley bats and fans.  Doran steps in and HITS the ball, and it’s fair and it drops in for single scoring 1 moving Gross to 2nd. Hayes ends the inning on a 6-4 FC.  Bottom half was 1-2-3 with 2 Ks for Eckersley, 3-1 Gas Hornets after 2.
Top 3 – 3 up 3 down (that’s the first time this series Chicago goes out in order!).  Bottom half, Joyner raps a single to lead off.  Jacoby bounces into a FC.  O’Neill fans and Davis ends it grounding out 6-3.
Top 4 – another 3 up 3 down for the Demolition, same for Manhattan – still 3-1 going to the 5th.
Top 5 – another 3 up 3 down for the Demolition, same for Manhattan – still 3-1 going to the 6th.
Top 6 – another 3 up 3 down for the Demolition. Bottom half Mohorcic comes into pitch for Chicago.  He gets the Gas Hornets in order.
Top 7 – Williams in for defense, Key gets Chicago out in order again. With 2 outs Durham pinch hits for Key, flies out to end the inning, going to the 8th it’s 3-1 Manhattan, Burke coming in for the 8th.
Top 8 – Phelps comes in to PH for Mohorcic to lead off the inning and he reaches on a Jacoby throwing error.  Doran moves him to 2nd on a swinging bunt.  Hayes flies out, and Davis whiffs. Gossage in for the bottom of the 8th.  With 1 out, Yount beats out a shin burner for his 2nd hit of the game. Joyner then reaches on FC but beats the throw to first.  Jacoby grounds out, we go to the 8th with Manhattan holding onto the 3-1 lead and Boggs, Lemon and Scioscia due up …
Top 9th – Boggs pops up to lead off. Lemon then fans. Scioscia ends the game striking out as well. Manhattan ties the series with 3-1 win. Key (1-0) wins tossing 3 hitter for 7 innings fanning 7. Burke picks up the save (1) fanning 3 in his two innings.  Eckersley (0-1) gets the loss.

Final Score: Manhattan 3 – Chicago 1
Win:  Jimmy Key (1-0  1.29)
Loss: Dennis Eckersley (0-1  5.40)
Save:  Tim Burke (1) (0.00)
Home Runs: Brooky Jacoby (1)

Game #3 – Doyle Alexander (14-5  2.55) vs. Dave Stewart (16-7  3.41)

With the series tied the Demolition looked to try and keep the home field advantage and possibly take the series 4 games to 1, which would have allowed them the chance to party on their home field.   Of course the Gas Hornets had other ideas.

Chicago got off to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third when Ozzie Guillen scored on a Ken Phelps fielder’s choice ground out.
But the top of the fourth was a disaster for the Demolition and just what the doctor ordered for the Gas Hornets.
Manhattan sent 10 batters to the plate and before it was over they put up a seven (7) spot.
After striking out Robin Yount, Dave Stewart lost his control and walked Wally Joyner & Andrew Dawson.  Brook Jacoby then smashed a triple in the gap in left, scoring both runners.  Jody Davis struck out for the second out of the inning.  Leon Durham singled scoring Jacoby, followed by a single to Alfredo Griffin & a walk to Paul O’Neil.
So bases loaded, two outs, the score 3 to 1 Gas Hornets and Dave Stewart struggling – Steve Sax then goes Yard for a Grand Slam, making the score 7 to 1.
The Gas hornets tacked on another run in the fifth, when Durham singled and reached second base on a throwing error by Kent Hrbek, which allowed Andrew Dawson to score from second base.
The Demolition scored two in the bottom of the sixth on a Kent Hrbek 2-Run Home Run, but it was a little too late as both teams went scoreless in the final three frames.

Final Score: Manhattan 8 – Chicago 3
Win:  Doyle Alexander (1-0  3.24)
Loss: Dave Stewart (0-1  14.54)
Save: None
Home Runs: Kent Hrbek (1), Steve Sax (1)

Game #4 – Jim Clancy (3-7  3.88) vs. Roger Clemens (28-5  3.04)

Down two games to one the Demolition went with their ace in Roger Clemens.   Clemens didn’t pitch like an ace, at least not in the first inning.
Steve Sax led-off the game with a two bagger to left center, followed by a Robin Yount walk, had two on and no one out, two batters into the game.  Clemens got Wally Joyner swinging on three straight pitches for our number one.  He then blew away Andrew Dawson looking at the third strike.   Brook Jacoby had other ideas.  Jacoby took a 1-1 fastball and deposited it way back into the seats in left, giving the Gas Hornets a quick 3-0 lead.   Clemens finished off the inning by striking out Jody Davis, which was Clemens third strikeout of the inning.
Leon Durham hit a solo shot in the second to make it 4-0 Manhattan.
Kal Daniels homered to right in the bottom of the second to chip away at the gas Hornets lead at 4-1.
A Brook Jacoby Double drove in Wally Joyner (Who Doubled to lead off the third) and increase the lead to 5-1.
Kal Daniels was at it again in the fifth inning, blasting his second Homer of the game into deep right field.  Von Hayes who walked, scored on a fielder’s choice Ozzie Guillen  to make it 5-3 Manhattan still with the lead.
Chicago picked up one more in the seventh Hrbek Doubled, a walk to Von Hayes and a RBI single by mike Scioscia put the Demolition within 1.  (5-4 Manhattan still the lead).
Chicago got the tying run to second base in the bottom of the 9th with two outs in the form of pinch runner Dave Collins who pinch ran for Kent Hrbek who was on – on a fielder’s choice, but the Demolition couldn’t get any further.   Four Gas Hornets  relievers including Jerry Reed closed the door.
Chicago is now down three games to one in the series, and has one more home game left.

Final Score: Manhattan 5 – Chicago 4
Win:  Jim Clancy  (1-0  3.00)
Loss: Roger Clemens (1-1  3.21)
Save: Jeff Reed (1) (0.00)
Home Runs: Leon Durham (1), Brook Jacoby (2), Kal Daniels 2 (2)

Game #5 – Jimmy Key (21-5, 2.54) vs. Dennis Eckersley (9-5  3.93)

Chicago, their last home game of the year, as face and players will change in the off season find themselves down 3 games to 1, holding on to hopes and prayers and looking to take the series back to Manhattan for game 6.

Eckersley was cruising through 2 & 2/3 with last 3 outs – strikeouts (the last two looking) walked Paul O’Neil who scored on a Steve Sax Double to give the Gas Hornets a 1-0 lead after 2 & a half innings of play.
Chicago put one on the board in the fifth on a Ozzie Virgil Home Run, one in the sixth on a Wade Boggs solo shot & one more solo shot in the seventh, on Ozzie Virgil’s 2nd Home Run in the game.
Eckersley was working steadily & headed to the 9th with a 3-1 Demolition lead.  With two outs in the 9th, Eckersley let up a solo shot to Andrew Dawson to put the Gas Hornets within one.   Chicago pulled “the Eck” with 2 outs, 1 run in, and 1 out to go.  John Davis was called upon and threw one pitch to the tough hitting Brook Jacoby (Batting well over .400 in the series), who promptly hit a one hop come-backer to Davis, who threw to Hrbek for the final out.

Final Score:  Chicago 3 –  Manhattan 2
Win:  Dennis Eckersley (1-1  3.29)
Loss: Jimmy Key  (1-0  2.40)
Save: John Davis (1) (0.00)
Home Runs: Andrew Dawson (1), Wade Boggs (1), Ozzie Virgil 2 (2)

The World Series makes it return to Manhattan for Game 6 (and 7 if necessary) – and to the Manhattan fans, the improbable but delightful results of Manhattan having a 3 games to 2 edge has the city stirring like a “hornets” nest!

Andre Dawson returning to the lineup and Leon Durham getting the opportunity to play each game in Chicago as DH certainly had to be factor. Each of them got 3 hits in the Windy City, each a HR. However, the big story for Manhattan both in Chicago and in the series thus far has been Brook Jacoby. Jacoby swatted 3 HRs in the LCS and in the 3 games in Chicago he went 6 for 11 (.545) with 6 rbis, 2 runs scored, 2 doubles, 2 triples and a HR. Through game 5 he’s batting .421 for the series with 2 HRs.
Chicago had a tough time at home, but with their game 5 win, they definitely are showing they are not done by any means. They plan to start Orel Hershiser for game 6 (17-8, 3.49 era in the regular season and the save in game 1 of the series). Maybe he’s got the magic they need because if they can get to a game 7 they will bring back the Rocket who was super impressive in game 1 (7 shutout innings on 6 hits).   Manhattan will be countering Hershiser in game 6 with Charles Hudson (“river line”). Hudson was 3-4 on the season with a 2.39 era – he primarily came out of the bullpen but did make 6 starts (0-3 in those starts), but Schindel feels he’s saving one last great effort for the season.
The Manhattan fans are happy to see some more action this year – and hope to be having a party real soon.

Game #6 – Orel Hershiser (17-8  3.49) vs. Charles Hudson (3-4  3.29)

Home team fans get excited real early as Manhattan scores 2 runs the 1st inning. Sax singles moves to 2nd on a Yount groundout. Then he moves to 3rd on WP. On the next pitch, Hershiser again misses the catcher (let alone the plate) and Sax scores to make it 1-0. Joyner doesn’t know what to think as he sees Hershiser toss consecutive wild pitches. Well he must have thought Orel was going to groove one, because he rocks the next pitch so far over the CF wall that extra postage was needed. The first inning ends with a 2-0 Gas Hornet lead.
Well, Demolition players weren’t going to make it that easy. Hrbek leads off an walks. Hudson then does Hershiser one better by tossing a wild pitch that was so wild Hrbek (speedy Kent) is able to scanter all the way to third. Scioscia, the batter then coaxes Hudson to walk him (helping him settle his nerves).  Hayes then grounds out moving Scioscia to 2nd. Guillen follows and hits one to left center that Yount takes in, speedy Hrbek tags and just eludes the tag at the plate to cut the Manhattan lead to 2-1.
Chicago then pulled a great defensive play in the 3rd when O’Neill lines one to CF and Eric Davis cuts down Griffin with a strike to the plate to keep the score at 2-1. The game stayed that way until the 5th and then the flood gates opened … for Chicago.
Top of the 5th the Demolition held true to their namesake and put a demolition move on the Hudson and the Gas Hornets.  When the 5th inning dust settled, Chicago had scored 5 runs.  The 1st 3 came on a 3 run HR (1) from Eric Davis, he was going to be good in the field and at the plate in this one.  After a strike out of Hrbek and a then a walk to Scioscia, Hudson (still in) tosses a pitch to Von Hayes and he buries it in the RF stands for a 2 run HR (1). Now up 6-2 Chicago is feeling pretty good.
Good enough that they piled on 2 more runs in the 6th, on Billy Doran 2 run blast (1). This one was hit off Terry Leach who had not magic in this one.  Manhattan tried a comeback scoring 2 more runs in the bottom of the 6th on a Jody Davis HR (1) and a Dawson HR (2) in the 8th, but to make certain Chicago would win, they added an extra insurance run in the 9th to win game 6 9-5.
The Manhattan hopeful are now beginning to wonder, once up 3-1 in the series, they have seen Chicago claw and clobber back to tie the series 3 game apiece. Tomorrow there will be another game – Clemens will be back, Alexander will be going for Manhattan – winner takes all.

Final Score: Chicago 9 – Manhattan 5
Win: Orel Hershiser (1-0, 3.09 era)
Loss:  Charles Hudson (0-1  10.70)
Save:  Dale Morhorcic (1) (0.00)
Home Runs: Bill Doran (1), Eric Davis (1), Von Hayes (1), Wally Joyner (1), Andrew Dawson (2), Jody Davis (1)

Game #7  – Roger Clemens (28-5, 3.04) vs. Doyle Alexander (14-5  2.55)

Well sports fan, the climax to a great season in the Mid-West Winter League and great postseason. We have Roger Clemens (1-1)  vs. Doyle Alexander  (1-0). Clemens making his 3rd start, his first a gem. Alexander is making his 2nd start his first was also a quality appearance. The fans are excited – and tense. The players a bit edgy.
Gas Hornets strike first again, again putting up a 2 spot in the 1st inning. A 1 out Yount double and then a 2 out single by Dawson scores the first run. Then with Dawson on 1st, Jacoby cracks a over 3rd, Dawson rounds 3rd heading for home. Jacoby wants to be sure Dawson scores and tries to get to 3rd on the play at home. He’s cut down, but Dawson scored for Manhattan’s 2-0 lead.
Top of the 4th the Demolition get things going. With 2 out, Scoscia singles. Von Hayes comes up hits one to the gap in RF that has extra bases written all over it. Scioscia’s running on 2 out, Dawson is digging for the ball, Hayes is chasing Sciosia around the bases, Mike turns 3rd and heads home with a full green light, Dawson throws and just like that the inning is over as Scioscia is cut down at the plate. Still 2-0 Manhattan.
That lasted only until the 5th when Chicago breaks through. Inning starts with Guillen grounding one to Alexander, he makes a backhand stab, it’s off his glove, he spins and falls on the ball, twists and fires to first – right past Joyner and Guillen is safe. Stuck at first as the ball bounce right back to Joyner, but safe nonetheless. Clemens tries to bunt him to 2nd but it ends up a FC. With the “Rocket” (don’t think that refers to his running) on 1st, Boggs doubles, Clemens holding at 3rd. Tying run in scoring position and 1 out.  Doran bloops one to RF, Clemens scores, but they hold up Boggs, 2-1 Manhattan. Kal Daniels steps up, Doran on 1st, Boggs on 3rd, Manhattan looking for 2. Daniels obliges by bouncing one to Sax, over to Griffin and back Joyner – but Daniels beats it out, Boggs scores, game tied.  And that where it stood after 5.
In the Manhattan 5th, Alexander was lifted for a pinch hitter so in the 6th bullpen ace Tim Burke was brought in. Gas Hornets really trying to hold Chicago and at the same time get a run or two across the plate to regain the lead. Burke does his job in the 6th getting the Demolition in  1-2-3 fashion.
Clemens has breezed through things since the 1st found the 6th a bit tougher. Joyner opens the 6th with his 7th hit of the series hitting a line drive over Boggs’ head at 3rd for single. The Rocket fans Dawson before Jacoby raps his 2nd double of the game. Joyner wisely holds up at 3rd.  It was Jacoby’s 10th hit and 4th double of the series.  To the plate, LCS hero Jody Davis. He flies out to Von Hayes in LF and Joyner will not be held up any longer and he tags and just gets in under the tag – Manhattan back on top 3-2. Paul O’Neill then lines a double off Clemens scoring Jacoby to give Manhattan, and Tim Burke, a 2 run lead, 4-2.  Home crowd beginning to sense things can be going their way!
Well in the Chicago 7th with 1 out, Gregg Gross comes in to PH for Clemens and he greets Burke with liner toward LF. Kenny Williams (defensive sub this inning for O’Neill) comes in hard, but can’t get it. He tried to make the sliding catch. By the time Yount catches up with it and gets it in, Gross is into 3b with a triple (and his 6th hit of the series – batting .750).  Boggs follows – Gas Hornets looking for the out, get it on 6-3 groundout, but Gross scores to tighten the game to 4-3. Burke then returns to form.
Minton comes in to pitch the 7th and he faces the 1-2-3 hitters and retires them in order, then he does the same thing in the 8th against the 4-5-6 hitters so he has done his job keeping Chicago within reach as the 9th inning starts.
Burke still pitching, Von Hayes leads off and grounds out 3rd to 1st, 1 away – 2 outs needed for Manhattan to begin the celebration. Ozzie Guillen up and he works hard for a walk, 1 on, 1 out. 1st walk for Guillen in the series.  Dave Collins then comes up to PH for Minton and he punches one to the left side that Jacoby cuts off and throws to 2nd – out, the pivot and throw to 1st ……………………. safe, Collins beats the throw, 2 outs.  So that brings up Boggs with 2 out and Collins on 1st.  Joyner is holding him, the pitch, the runner breaks and Boggs lines it toward 3rd, base hit, Williams races for it, speedy Collins digs around 3rd, he’s waved home and he scores – GAME TIED – Boggs doubles! (His 7th hit and 3rd double of the series).  Bill Doran up, hitting over .300 for the series, chance to put Chicago into the lead in the 9th, Burke still on the mound, somewhat ruffed up, but still strong. The pitch, high fly to LF, but playable, Williams takes it in, but Chicago has tied it up and still has life.
Chicago now calls on John Davis to pitch, hoping he can be as effective as Minton. And he certainly is.  He pitches a perfect 9th and 10th fanning 2 of the 6 batters he faced before he’s lifted for a pinch hitter in the 11th. Likewise, Manhattan pulls Burke for a PH in the 9th and calls on Dwayne Buice, their bullpen ace before Burke arrived, to pitch the 10th. And when no one scores in the 10th, he also pitches the 11th. In the 11th he gives up a lead-off single to Hayes, but then gets Guillen to hit into a DP. Then he gets PH Chet Lemon to strike out to end the top of the 11th.
Chicago calls on Goose Gossage to come in from the pen to pitch the 11th. His stuff is looking pretty good. He fans the first batter, Andre Dawson. Brook Jacoby then comes into the batters box. Gossage works him hard but on a 1-2 count, Jacoby decides to end things blasting one deep over the CF wall into downtown Manhattan for a game winning, series winning walk-off HR (3) and the celebration started. Definitely new turf needed in the Gas Hornets park for next year.

Manhattan  5 – Chicago 4  (11 innings)
Win:  De Wayne Buice (1-1  5.40)
Loss: Goose Gossage (0-1  6.75)
Save:  None
Home Runs – Brook Jacoby (3)

Drama in this series right down to the end – AND THEN SOME! It’s fitting that Jacoby be the one to end it. He batted .407 in the series (11 for 27) with 4 doubles, 2 triples and 3 HRs and 11 rbis. Slugging percentage was 1.037! (OPS 1.485) and is the series MVP!
Overall Manhattan hit .229 and scored 28 runs while Chicago hit .233 and scored 26 runs. The series was that close. Has to be tough way to go for Chicago – but they certainly never gave up taking games 5 and 6 on the brink of elimination and then tying game 7 in the 9th. Gas Hornet fans were really going nuts until Jacoby woke up the whole city.

Can the 1988 Mid-West Winter League Season bring as much excitement?