After much ado, the 2008 Kyle Hunlock Series awaits its dramatic conclusion on Saturday, as the Black Widows look to three-peat with another win over their co-finalist Red Roosters.
Last Sunday's showdown was postponed due to inclement weather, but the Hunlock Commissioner has given the green light to Saturday's Final come rain or shine. Manager Marty Cullen hopes to lead his Black Widows onto the field of battle and clinch the 2008 Hunlock trophy. The Widows have twice beaten the Red Roosters and fellow-Manager Hunter Devine. Will Saturday yield more roast-chicken, or will Devine herd his henhouse to greatness and steal the title from the over-confident Widows?
The Hunlock Final has twice seen a shift in format this year. Following last Sunday's postponement, fickle Commissioner Jason Greenberg pushed for a three-team round-robin style climax to this year's dramatic three team tie. However, limited player availability for Saturday's rescheduled match has forced a recourse to the original gameplan: the bested Blue Dogs have been carved up and redrafted by Cullen and Devine, and will join their new teammates on the diamond for a two-team-only knockout round.
The redraft – conducted Thursday night in a closed-door session in the Commissioner's Office – lasted only 7 minutes and proved easy-pickings for the finalist managers. The result is a 31 player extravaganza. Devine and Cullen will have nearly the entire Herts Baseball Club to draw on over nine dramatic innings.
Blue Dogs Manager Tim Elkins was unavailable for comment following Thursday's redraft. However, sources confide that Elkins was chagrined to learn that his team was – after all – destined for the carving board following last week's strange developments. The Blue Dogs, of course, have suffered a roller-coaster ride in this Series… the last loopty-loops coming as Commissioner Greenberg first rewarded all three teams for their nearly identical play in the Hunlock qualifying matches by reformatting the Championship Game, but then reversing course and reverting to a two-team face-off… and the abolition of the 2008 Blue Dogs.
Saturday's game begins sharply at 10am. All players are reporting at 9am, allowing only a quick warm-up before play gets underway. A coin will be tossed for home field advantage.
Following the Hunlock finale is the 2008 Herts Little League Home Run Derby and Awards Ceremony… and a Herts Family and Friends Softball Game and Picnic. Local residents are welcomed to the field and – with a little luck – the sunshine will reign over Grovehill for one final day in 2008.
THE 2008 HUNLOCK SERIES FINALISTS
| RED ROOSTERS |
| ANDY CORNISH (SS/CF) |
| ROB CROUCH (RF/LF) |
| HUNTER DEVINE (2B/LF) |
| ILYA DIMITROV (SS/LF) |
| HUMBERTO GONCALVES (2B/P) |
| JASON GREENBERG (C/IF) |
| MARK HOFFMANN (P/1B) |
| PETE KIKEL (3B/P) |
| JOHN OLIVER (P/1B) |
| ANDREW SLATER (3B/LF) |
| DARRIN WARD (P/DH) |
| STEVE NIPPRESS (CF/LF) |
| PAUL AUCHTERLOUNIE (C/CF) |
| DAN KERRY (CF/LF) |
| JAMES ROBERTS (IF/OF) |
| ROB JONES (CF/LF) |
| STUART BOAST (P/IF) |
| DAVID HAMILTON (OF/IF) |
| JAKE KIKEL (C/P) |
| PETE COX (SS/2B) |
| LUKE ASHMEAD (IF/OF) |
| JACK MOON (/) |
| NICK RUSSELL (OF/IF) |
| BLACK WIDOWS |
| MARTY CULLEN (1B/3B) |
| ASPI DIMITROV (CF/P) |
| TIM ELKINS (OF/2B) |
| LUIS GONCALVES (SS/P) |
| LEE MANNING (LF/2B) |
| CARLOS CASAL (3B/P) |
| KAL DIMITROV (C/RF) |
| DAVE WESTFALLEN (C/SS) |
| JAMIE MUNN (IF/OF) |
| ROD NAGHAR (RF/LF) |
| GREG BOCHAN (LF/RF) |
| RODERIC ARISS (IF/OF) |
| ALEX CASEY (IF/OF) |
| LOUIS HARE (1B/P) |
| MARK HOUCHIN (IF/OF) |
| NICOLAS GOETZ (P/3B) |
| PAUL HAWES (1B/3B) |
| JIM HYDE (LF/CF) |
| KIMIYOSHI SAIONJI (2B/DH) |
| CHRIS BARNES (OF/2B) |
| EBOW HALM-QUASHIE (/) |
| REAGAN WOOD (/) |