It was in an uphill battle from the outset of the 1996 season as AWA dropped its first two games of the year. But the guys went on a tear after that, winning six of their next seven games, to give the team a chance for the playoffs.
Coming into that final week of the regular season, three of the four playoff spots had been determined. The last spot was still up for grabs, but AWA trailed its friendly rival Second Wind by one game in the standings. As fate would have it, the schedule called for AWA and Second Wind to play each other on the final day of the schedule. If Second Wind won the game, they would make that final playoff spot. But if AWA won, with the teams now tied, a progression of tie-breakers would kick in. The head-to-head and divisional records would be identical. Next was net runs scored, in which Second Wind held the edge led by a scant three runs. So, for AWA to make the playoffs, the team had to win by no less than four runs.
It looked like AWA had it in the bag as the team jumped out to an early 10-3 lead. But the team had to withstand a seventh inning rally to hang on for an 11-7 victory. By the narrowest of margins, AWA made the playoffs.
AWA drew the Brewers in the playoff opener. Owners of a league-best 9-1 record, the Brewers had easily whipped AWA 18-8 during the regular season. But AWA got its revenge this night. Despite falling behind 10-3 early in the game, the guys never quit, and the team rallied late to pull off a dramatic 11-10 upset win. This improbable run still alive, AWA prepared to meet the powerful Badgers in the championship game.
The Badgers had won our division with an 8-2 record, and they also owned a 21-11 win over AWA back on Opening Day. But down the stretch, when the team was still fighting for a playoff berth, AWA beat the Badgers 9-8, not only keeping AWA's playoff hopes alive, but also knocking the Badgers from the ranks of the undefeated. We knew the Badgers were tough, but not unbeatable.
In search of its seventh league championship, AWA put a run on the scoreboard in the top of the first with a couple of walks and Steve Wilson's RBI single to right. In the second inning, with the Badger pitcher still trying to find his control, AWA loaded the bases with only one out. But Mike Tharenos bailed the pitcher out of the jam, rapping into a 6-4-3 double play. To compound things, Dave, running from second base, injured his already gimpy hamstring and had to come out of the game.
AWA did not squander its chance in the third, however, scoring three times to take a 4-0 lead. Bruce Christie opened with a walk and then scored when Brian Christie ripped a double over the left fielder's head. Greg Brown flied out and Dan Wheeler grounded out, but Steve came through with a single to right. As Brian scored, the wild relay home rattled around the backstop, allowing Steve to move up to second. Joe Sammut then rapped a hit through the middle to drive home AWA's third run of the inning.
The Badgers appeared to have nothing going in the home half of the third as the first two batters flied out. But Steve walked the next guy, and a following pair of singles had a run in with the Badgers' cleanup hitter coming up. And he came through with a booming triple off the right field fence. AWA's lead had been cut to 4-3.
After both teams played through a scoreless fourth, Bruce opened the top of the fifth with a single, moving to second on Brian's hit to center. Both runners moved up a base on Greg's long fly to right, and Bruce scored on Dan's sacrifice fly to left. But that was it for AWA, who took the 5-3 lead into the bottom of the fifth.
Steve retired the first two hitters, but that elusive third out came way too late for AWA fans. A double to right and a following single to left plated a run. That brought up the Badgers' lefty slugger, who shot one back up the middle. Steve gloved it, bobbled it, and then couldn't get a handle on the ball in time to get the out at first. It was a costly error as another hit to left tied the game.
Part of AWA's defensive strategy all game long was to position Dan in fairly shallow right center field to take away the Badgers' tendency to go for hits in that area. Up to this point the strategy had worked well, but the next hitter found a pitch he liked and drove it deep over Dan's head. As the ball rolled to the fence, the batter circled the bases for a home run. Everyone on AWA's side was stunned. The Badgers had taken an 8-5 lead.
Six outs away from defeat, it was time for AWA to stage a rally of its own. Joe started the sixth with a roller wide of third that he beat out for a hit. Tom Sukup then sliced a hit to right. The ball got past the right fielder, and Joe was able to come all the way around to score while Tom took second. After a fly out, Randy Carter walked. Gary then bounced into a force play at third. With two men out, Neil Christie was summoned off the bench to hit for the struggling Tharenos.
Ice water running through his veins, Neil coolly stroked a hit to left. Randy scored from second to make it an 8-7 game, and as the throw home got past the catcher, the runners moved up to second and third. Bruce then worked out a walk to load the bases.
Brian, taking aim at the hole between first and second, poked one wide of first. Bruce hesitated breaking off the base, shielding the ball from the first baseman, who booted it for an error. Gary scored the tying run and all hands were safe. Greg then stepped up and brought the AWA faithful to their feet with a solid two-run single to right. AWA took back the lead at 10-8.
A pair of doubles closed the gap to 10-9, but that was all for the Badgers as a deep drive to center was hauled in by Tom on the warning track for the final out of the inning. AWA failed to score in the top of the seventh, and so the game was turned over to Steve and the defense to preserve a one-run lead with the Badger 3-4-5 hitters due up.
The first hitter grounded one to third, but Gary's throw was in the dirt, and first sacker Mike Applegate could not dig it out. The Badgers' lefty slugger then singled sharply to center. No outs, and the tying and winning runs were on base.
With the tension dripping with every pitch, the next hitter lifted a short fly out to right center, where Dan was positioned perfectly, and he corralled the fly for the out, with the runners holding their bases. The next batter tapped a one-hopper right back to the mound. There was some confusion around second base between Bruce and Randy, which forced Steve to delay his throw. We got the force out at second, but the double play that would have ended the game was missed.
The whole place was electric with anticipation as Steve faced the next Badger hitter with the tying run now at third. The batter tapped a slow roller to third. Gary quickly pounced on the ball, and this time rifled a perfect throw to first to end the game. After a round of celebratory high fives and back slaps, a relieved and ebullient AWA team left the field. Brian could only shake his head. "It's never easy for this team."