For the 80th BABA Championship game, I trekked up to Gresham to see the Gophers take on the Little Falls Loggers. Seating behind home plate and extending down the basepaths was filled with people cheering on both ballclubs. Cars and fans were lined down the outfield lines and around the outfield. Several hundred people were in attendance for what would become an excellent game with a dramatic finish.

Little Falls jumped out to a first inning lead without a hit. A leadoff walk, followed by a strikeout and two more walks loaded the bases. Another walk plated the first run. A wild pitch brought in the second, and a fielder’s choice staked the Loggers to a 3-0 lead before the Gophers first at bat.

In the bottom of the 1st, a one-out bunt single gave the Gophers their first baserunner. After a second out, the cleanup hitter clubbed a fly to the right center field fence, but it was napped by the centerfielder to end the inning.

In the top of the 2nd and one out, lefty pitcher Carter Kurki dropped an opposite field double down the left field line. A single and stolen base put runners on second and third. A sac fly advanced both baserunners, which resulted in another run. Another walk put runners on the corners but nothing more came of it.

A leadoff walk and single put runners on first and second with nobody out, but a liner to third led to a 5-4-3 triple play. That certainly doesn’t happen often – first time I’ve seen it.

After two innings, Loggers 4 – Gophers 0.

In the top of the 3rd, the Loggers threatened again with a leadoff single, stolen base on an attempted pickoff, and a walk put runners on first and second and no outs. a pitching change followed and proved to be a good move. The next batters struck out, flied out, and grounded out to end the inning.

The Gophers got things started with a leadoff single to right. A second deep fly to right center briefly dashed the hopes of the Gresham faithful, but leadoff hitter, Treyvon Granquist, clubbed the third pitch of his at bat over the left field fence to cut the deficit in half. A flyout, single, and deep fly to the right center field fence ended the inning. Loggers 4 – Gophers 2.

In the 4th, the Loggers went down in order, but not before the #2 hitter clubbed a very loud foul ball down the left field line. In the bottom half, Gresham got a two out walk, but nothing more.

In the 5th, the Loggers went down in order. The same would not be true for the Gophers. A pair of solid singles and a bunt on the infield loaded the bases with nobody out. A fielder’s choice resulted in the first run of the inning. After a strikeout, a Ray White double to right scored two more runs and gave the Gophers their first lead of the game. Another single scored the fourth run and extended Gresham’s lead to 6-4.

In the top of the 6th, a single to right with one out was the only offense Little Falls could muster. The Gophers followed suit by getting a leadoff single, and other than a stolen base, nothing more came of it.

In the 7th, Little Falls added excitement to an already great game when a homer tun to left by Connor Kurki trimmed Gresham’s lead to 6-5. In the bottom half, a single, double play and strikeout finished the inning.

In the 8th the excitement continued. With two outs, a single, walk, and Connor Kurki jack to left gave the Loggers an 8-6 lead.

The Gophers attempted to counter with some scoring of their own in the bottom of the 8th. A leadoff double by Ray White, a pair of outs, and a walk put runners on first and second. But a pitching change and K ended the inning.

In the top of the 9th, Little Falls went down in order. The same would not be true for the Gophers. A single and HBP with one out put runners on first and second. On the next play, Crew Weisnicht snuck a single past the shortstop. With the third base coach sending the runner from second, the Logger’s leftfielder threw a strike to home and threw out the baserunner at home for the second out. With the runner at first trying to advance to third, an incredibly alert catcher rifled the ball to third for a 7-2-5 double play to end the game. Absolutely incredible finish!!

For the BABA Champion Little Falls Loggers, Connor Kurki was the MVP with 2 HRs, 5 RBIs, and 2 run scored. Carter Kurki added two hits including a double, and Kal Fischer and Carter Melum each scored a pair of runs. Connor also tossed got the save and recorded the final four outs.

The Gresham Gophers were busy at the plate. Leadoff hitter had a single and homer run with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Nate Ejnik had a pair of hits and a run scored. Mequon Frechette had three singles, and Ray White also had a single and two doubles and 2 RBIs. Mike Pecore also had two singles and a run scored.