I've been playing men's baseball around here for a long time, more than 25 years...I do not remember a game ending on a walk-off home run. Much less an elimination game in the playoffs, much less a game in which the losing side led by as much as 9-2 entering the bottom of the 7th, and one where there was nobody on and 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th, but that's exactly what happened Sunday.

The Old Reds blasted out 18 hits off frustrated Hall of Famer Joe Greene in the cozy confines of Minneola Athletic Complex, making a return as a venue after a five year hiatus. But going into the 9th, only 2 balls had left the yard, by Craig Feeney and Guy Robinson, and the field played fairly fairly, if that's not a gross malaprop. Mark Pacich held the venerable lineup of the A's in check for the better part of 7 innings, allowing only 4 hits, but tired in the 7th, and gave way to Jeff Shebovsky in the 8th, with a 9-6 lead. Uncharacteristically wild, Shebovsky gave up a couple of runs in the 8th, but looked to have things well in hand after retiring the first two hitters in the bottom of the 9th. When alast hope Adam Bransfield dribbled a roller between the mound and 1st, it looked to be a first-time playoff win for the OR's, but the toss was mishandled. Then, as luck, the baseball Gods or providence would have it, MArk Maznicki, who is universally acclaimed as the nicest player in the league, and one helluva hitter I might add, line a two run shot down the right field line, well fair, and it was officially all over but the crying for 2015.

I guess it was so shocking, that I really didn't get my head around it until today. We had some great individual performances on this day, including Craig Feeney, who had 4 hits, including a double and a home run, the aforementioned Guy Robinson with a homer, and Tim ALbertson who was 3-3 with a walk. With 18 hits, everybody chipped in, and the defense was stellar, with only the fatal bobble which was a tough play, and one other 1st to pitcher muff, which also resulted in 2 unearned run in the 7th. SO a little PFP next spring may be in order, but we have nothing to hang our heads about. The A's are a great team, but I had the sneaking suspicion that we were better, at least on this day, and everything but the score proved me right.

I'll send out and posat another update for the season in general, but great job everyone, walk tall, nothing to be ashamed of. BTW, a truly great game to go down in annals of the MSBL history, without a doubt.