For the week of August 14 - 20, 2002

Three straight for Wicked Spud

Spud outscores Bud 17-7 in Hailey

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They played a bunch of close games this season—Wicked Spud/Tune-Up Express and Budweiser battling in a 10-inning game, a 3-2 decision and a 13-12 extra-inning potboiler in their first tourney clash.

So it was no surprise when the outcome of the Hailey Coed Softball League tournament boiled down to an "if necessary" game Friday at Lions Park between #1-seeded Wicked Spud and #2-seeded Budweiser.

Budweiser’s Benjy Walker delivers a pitch during last week’s Hailey Coed Softball League tournament at Lions Park. Express photo by David N. Seelig

And it was no real surprise when Wicked Spud (18-3 season, 72-12 four years) made it a threepeat—claiming its third consecutive Hailey tournament title with a 17-7 win over Budweiser (17-5, 32-11 two years).

Tournament Most Valuable Player Mike Kluge (5 RBI) grunted out a three-run homer in Spud’s five-run third as the champions jumped ahead 10-4. Then Kluge added a two-run double in Spud’s three-run seventh that all but sealed the final outcome.

Spud out-hit Bud 22-12 in the championship game led by its two veterans—second baseman and leadoff hitter Buddy Isom (6-for-8, 5 runs in the two title games) and pitcher Mike Watson (7-for-8)—and clean-up hitter Brigette Gross (5-for-9, 4 RBI).

Bobbi Edwards, Budweiser left fielder and #2 hitter, earned the women’s MVP honor in the Hailey Coed Softball League city tournament. Express photo by David N. Seelig

Women’s MVP was Bobbi Edwards, the scrappy Budweiser left fielder who caught everything in sight and ripped three hits in Bud’s 22-18 triumph over Spud Thursday that set up Friday’s deciding game of the nine-team double elimination meet.

Defense was a big factor in the finale. Spud shortstop Brian Nelson made all the plays and started a 6-4-3 twin killing with second sacker Isom. Isom climbed the ladder to spear a liner. Left fielder Kluge made six catches and got a huge outfield assist.

Bud (8 errors) was a little sloppier and gave up five unearned runs.

Wicked Spud, an 18-game winner each of the last four summers, has now won four straight regular-season Hailey league titles in addition to three straight city tournament titles.

That means the Spudsters are proven frontrunners. And their last two titles that needed an extra game, both coming over the Budweiser squad, also signify Wicked Spud is rock-solid with its back to the wall.

Kim McAtee was one of Wicked Spud’s best hitters all season in Hailey Coed Softball League play. Express photo by David N. Seelig

Budweiser forced the extra game with a 25-hit attack in a 22-18 triumph Thursday—its first win of the season over Wicked Spud. Lefty T.J. Peterson belted a grand slam in the second and Bud (10 unearned runs) capitalized on spotty Spud defense.

But Wicked Spud (23 hits) showed its championship spunk by sending up 14 batters in a 10-run seventh-inning rally that turned a 22-8 rout into a 22-18 nailbiter. "I love this game," said Spud pitcher Watson to umpire Ken Uhrig as Watson came to the plate during the comeback.

The Spudsters loved it even more Friday, picking up where they left off by scoring 10 runs in the first three innings. Jim Bradley’s two-run homer got the champs off the mark in the first. Kluge’s three-run blast sparked the five-run third for a 10-4 lead.

Nelson’s two-run single and Watson’s RBI single upped the ante to 14-4 in the fourth.

Wicked Spud was on its way.

More details about the tournament in the Scoreboard (of the print edition of the Wednesday, August 2002 Idaho Mountain Express).

 

 

 

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