May 29, 2012

(Spoiler Alert)… B1G Tournament Champs

School is in the books, and the regular season is over with the Dreamteam claiming their first B1G title since 1909.

This could mean only one thing: Let the postseason competition begin.

For the top six teams of the B1G, Columbus, Ohio plays host to the B1G Baseball Tournament. One of the best times of the year, Columbus does a superb job of accommodating the best of the B1G. For 2012, #1 Purdue and #2 Indiana earned first-round byes and would await the games between #3 Penn State v. #6 Ohio State and #4 Michigan State v. #5 Nebraska. With the brackets set, let’s see how it all shook out.

The top-seeded Boilers arrived a day early to get accustomed to the field conditions of Huntington Park as well as take in live action of the day’s first games. We mention the “field conditions” as for some, they are the best we play on all year, while for others they are never good enough.

In our free time, we witnessed a Purdue-like comeback by the Cornhuskers as they tallied seven runs in the ninth inning, but unfortunately came up short in a 10-9 defeat to Michigan State.

After a short batting practice session on the field, we headed to BD’s Mongolian Grill and enjoyed the best Columbus has to offer: Fried Oreos. This delicious, heart-attack friendly dessert combines two American favorites in the Oreo and a deep fryer. Some wonder if anything could make this combination better, and the answer is “yes” as a side of hot fudge and vanilla ice-cream completed God’s greatest creation. An unofficial BD’s record of 23 orders was placed, leaving a group of double-stuffed players ready to take on the hometown Buckeyes the following day.

Earlier in the week, Kevin “the Great Hambino” Plawecki and “Diamond” Joe Haase were named B1G players of the year for their respective positions, and they lived up to their titles in the opener of the B1G tournament that featured the largest crowd of the weekend (2,500+). Haase threw eight strong innings, allowing only three runs while the “Hambino” hit perhaps his biggest home run of the season in the bottom of the seventh. Trailing by one, Plawecki hooked the first pitch he saw inside the foul pole, driving home Perkins in the process and giving the Boilers a 4-3 lead. Each team would pick up a scratch run but yours truly, the Dreamteam, came out on top with a 5-4 victory.

Friday’s matchup would prove to have championship implications in two ways with us facing off against the Hoosiers of Indiana, a team that we had yet to face during the regular season. As usual, “there was nothing to fear as, “King” Lance Breedlove was there” to go 7.1 strong setting up the shutout that Blake “You don’t gotta go home but you gotta get the heck up outta here” Mascarello would finish out. Offensively it was the return of small ball for us that would scratch across three runs, two more than was needed to hold on to the victory and the opportunity to clinch our first ever B1G Tournament Title.

Saturday saw us in primetime for the third night in a row awaiting the winner of the Hoosiers v. Spartans, who would come out of the losers’ bracket to challenge us for B1G Tournament supremacy.

Extra innings would be needed in the early game and would see the Hoosiers edge the Spartans to face the Dreamteam for the second time in 24 hours. A Boilermaker/Hoosier championship game, you couldn’t write a better storyline. 

Fast forward to the middle of the fifth and things were looking good as we enjoyed a three-run lead. However, after a squandered opportunity and questionable call, the Hoosiers took the momentum and were able to score two runs in consecutive innings, knotting the score at four apiece heading into the eighth. Kevin “Daddy” Plawecki struck again for a leadoff home run in the eighth, solidifying his B1G Tournament MVP title.

Before we could clinch our second championship of the season, the age-old rivalry that can only be compared to Dodgers/Giants; Cardinals/Cubs; Army/Navy; and Purdue Football/Middle Tennessee State Football added another chapter. With the score tied in the top of the ninth, runners at first and third, Eric “Angry Eyes” Charles chopped to third. In a series of throws David Miller was tagged out in a rundown, and the ensuing errant throw would score Andrew Dixon. Frustration would see both benches clear only to have cooler heads prevail in the end with a 6-5 victory. With the great team accomplishment came individual accolades in Lance Breedlove, David Miller, Cameron Perkins, Barrett Serrato and Kevin Plawecki representing on the All-Tournament Team.

Two championships are in the books already for the Dreamteam and after Memorial Day’s selection show, the road is now set for the third championship of the Dreamteam’s season.

A 44-12 season has earned us the right to host “the Region” regional (or is that the “Chicago” regional for all you region rats) featuring Valparaiso, Kent State and Kentucky. Practice will begin on Thursday with yours truly playing in primetime Friday evening against Valparaiso. As everyone knows, anything can happen in the NCAA tournament and the Dreamteam looks to cap off our season with continued success.

Thanks for Reading,

Cal Gunter and David Miller 

(photos courtesy of Purdue Media Relations Office)