Every now and then moments come up in our lives where we either seize them, embrace them, treasure them or let them get away. In my wildest dreams I could have never imagined that this magical run would end so...well...magical. In all my athletic and professional endeavors I have never seen what I saw out there in Maryvale Stadium....and I have never been so proud to be associated with a group of men than I am with the men of Network. Their "never give up," "never say die" attitude was evident yesterday on that field. When all around us doubted us, we bonded together and became even stronger. We would not lose on this day-- G-d, our bats and our arms were sure of that.

Below is a blow-by-blow account of our miracle.

FIRST INNING:

With both teams coming in at 7-0, the Titans allowed less runs than the Network and thus they were declared the home team. This was actually something we embraced. We talked amongst ourselves beforehand. If we could get a jump on this dangerous team, maybe we could take the wind out of their sails early. Well, jump we did, right into the fire. The game could almost be summed up in my (Rick's) first at bat-- A full count walk to start the team rolling. Knowing full well I was going to steal, the pitcher tried to pick me off and threw it wildly into the dugout, giving me second base. With one out, Brain Schaefer, just as he had all week long, drove one into the gap and we had our first run. But it didn't stop there. The umpire's extremely tight strike zone got to the Titans starter. He walked the next three batters (Davis, Wasmund and Bailey) scoring Schaefer for run #2. Pat Armstrong hit a deep fly ball to get our third run in with a SAC, and then Network received some power from an unusual source. Gritty Bobby Atwater's triple into the right centerfield gap cleared the bases and Network went up 5-0.

With Big Mike Roesler on the mound, an air of confidence built around the team. We'd been pretty flawless in the field all week and with the combination of pitching and defense we might have gotten a bit too sure of ourselves. Nonetheless, Big Mike set the mighty Titans down in the first, striking out the dangerous Jose Sierra to close the inning.

NETWORK 5 TITANS 0

SECOND INNING:

Speedy KC Kasin led off with a double in the gap. Rick sacrificed him over to third and Terry Loe, as clutch as he's been all week, hit a sacrfice fly to score KC and give us a 6-0 lead.

Big Mike went 1-2-3 in the 2nd.

NETWORK 6 TITANS 0

THIRD INNING:

No highlights for Network.

Big Mike K's two in the bottom of the inning.

NETWORK 6 TITANS 0

FOURTH INNING

No highlights for Network

Big Mike shows first signs of vulnerability as the Titans string together three hits to score their first two runs. Two deep fly balls to Schaefer in left field ends the threat.

NETWORK 6 TITANS 2

FIFTH INNING

Network strikes right back with two more runs. After a walk to Rick. Jimmy D put on the hit and run and it worked perfectly. Terry Loe hit the ball right where the 2nd baseman would have been had he not gone to cover the steal and the ball went through for a base hit. With Rick rounding second and easily making it to third, the Titan 2nd baseman botched the relay throw and Rick scampered home for the first run of the inning. After a walk to Josh Davis, Robert Wasmund hit in one of his two ribbies on the day and Network took back their 6 run lead. However, that lead would be short-lived.

In the bottom of the inning, the Titans showed why they were 7-0 and favored to win the title. A hit, a fly out, another hit, a walk, a hit and a walk made it 8-3 with the bases loaded. Up to the plate stepped one of the most dangerous hitters in the tournament, Jose Sierra. The lefthanded hitting Sierra hit a deep fly ball to left center that just kept carrying. The next thing you know, it's sitting on the grassy knoll and the Titans have made it a one run game. Mike got out of the inning when Terry Loe made one of his standard catches from around the backstop and Network still was on top, barely.

NETWORK 8 TITANS 7

SIXTH INNING

A pitching change brings in a right-handed sidewinder for the Titans. No Network highlights. 1-2-3.

Two hits to start the inning put Big Mike in trouble once again. A key defensive play would stop the bleeding when Schaefer's throw to the plate on a SAC fly would be cut off short of home plate by T-Loe and thrown to Bruno at third, catching the runner coming from second. It was a key play in stopping the Titans from having a potentially big inning. We had a new ball game.

NETWORK 8 TITANS 8

SEVENTH INNING

No Network highlights.

After the opening two hitters on the Titans got hits, Rick pulled Mike Roesler for veteran Mikey Moore. Mike pitched the day before's quarterfinal game which ended early due to the mercy rule. He was still somewhat fresh. The first batter Mike faced dribbled an infield grounder in between home and the pitcher's mound. Mike tried to get the batter at home and he threw it too quickly as he came charging in. The throw got by T-Loe and when Terry went to throw it back to Mike, he threw it past him. No one from the infield was backing up the play and it sat there on the infield grass while the guy from first came all the way around to score on an infield hit. It was a very bizzare play that lead to three runs scoring. Network was starting to fade.

NETWORK 8 TITANS 11

EIGHT INNING

Network goes quietly, 1-2-3.

After giving up a hit, Network works a 3-6-1 double play to perfection, leaving the inning unscathed.

NETWORK 8 TITANS 11

With their backs against the wall, Network needed three runs to tie. The Titans pitcher was shutting down the mighty offense and it looked very bleak. Here's a play-by-play of the miracle ninth to the eleventh.

TOP OF THE NINTH

Wasmund leads off with a massive double to the wall. Josh Davis is the curtousy runner.

Scott Bailey strikes out. ONE OUT.

Josh takes third on a wild pitch.

Army walks on a 3-2 pitch. First and third. Filippone comes in to pinch run for Army.

Another wild pitch sends Davis home for the ninth run and "Flip" to second base.

Atwater singles to center. Flip is held at third as his run doesn't mean anything yet. First and third. One out.

Bobby Atwater steals 2nd. Second and third. Still one out.

Chris Bruno's clutch single ties the score! Amazing comeback. Network still has only one out.

Jim Davidson gets hit by the pitch. First and Second. One out.

A Balk call on the pitcher sends the runners to 2nd and 3rd.

The Titans decide to load the bases by walking KC Kasin intentionally. This brings Rick to the plate with the potential winning run.

Rick hits a high chopper up the middle. The Titans make the play at 2nd but are unable to throw Rick out at first. Network takes the lead...however...

Jim Davidson tries to score from 2nd on the play and is tagged out in a very close play at home base. Although he is the 3rd out the run still counts.

NETWORK 12 TITANS 11

BOTTOM OF THE NINTH

Jose Sierra leads off with a massive fly ball to the deepest part of the ballpark. KC goes back to the wall and at the base of the 400 foot marker reaches up and catches the ball! It was a fantastic play and we all truly believed we were destined to win at that moment. Until...

Two singles in a row made it two on and one out. A ground ball to Josh gets only one out at second base. First and third, two outs. Network is one out away from the championship.

Mike Moore goes 2-2 on the batter. A sharp slider is hit off the end of the bat and....bloops into left field for a single to tie the score and make it first and second, two outs.

Another grounder to Josh Davis and he throws it to Rick for the force at 2nd to end the inning.

NETWORK 12 TITANS 12

TOP OF THE TENTH

Terry Loe grounds out to second.

Schaefer hits a routine grounder to third and the Titans third baseman bobbles the ball. As Schaefer beats out the throw he trips over the base. What looks like a serious injury turns into just a bone bruise and Schaefer decides to stay in the game.

A deep fly ball to center by Josh Davis is caught. TWO OUTS.

Schaefer, feigning an injury earlier, surprise steals and it works. This forces the Titans to intentionally walk the dangerous Wasmund for the 2nd time in the game. First and second.

Scott Bailey hits a grounder right to the third baseman. An easy tag at third, except he flubs the play again! Network now has the bases loaded!

With Army removed for pinch runner Flip, Rick looked to the bench and put in our pitcher Mikey Moore to win it for himself. Mike got to a 2-2 count and then was called out on a third strike to end the inning.

NETWORK 12 TITANS 12

BOTTOM OF THE TENTH

With one strike on the first batter, Mikey Moore threw a fastball that was cocked down the line. Everyone in the stadium held their collective breaths as leftfielder Jim Davidson watched it go over his head. At the very last second, the ball hooked foul and missed being a game ending home run by two feet. No exaggeration. TWO FEET.

On the next pitch, Mike struck out the batter. That's grittiness for you!

A grounder to the pitcher and a grounder to first ends the inning.

NETWORK 12 TITANS 12

TOP OF THE ELEVENTH

Bobby Atwater pops up to first. ONE OUT

Clutch Chris Bruno singles through the short-third hole. It's Bruno's second hit through that hole in three innings.

Atwater, curtousy running for Bruno, steals 2nd.

Jim Davidson, in his defining moment in the tournament, singles to left, scoring Atwater and giving Network the lead!

KC Flies out to centerfield.

NETWORK 13 TITANS 12

BOTTOM OF THE ELEVENTH

Groundball to Josh Davis. Routine. ONE OUT.

A walk to the Titans batter. Man on first. One out.

A pop up to Josh Davis. One on, TWO OUT.

A rocket shot to Chris Bruno hits him in the chest. He gathers his wits, picks up the ball and throws a pea to first for the final out and the championship!

Rick and Bruno are the first to greet Mike Moore at the mound as the two pile on top of Mike as the whole team rushes in. It's pandemonium!

FINAL SCORE

NETWORK 13 TITANS 12 in 11 innings.

And that's all she wrote, folks...

RC OUT!

7-0 Network faces the 7-0 So Cal Titans for the NABA 35+ WS NATIONAL TITLE on Sunday at 1:00 PM in Maryvale Stadium (home of the Milwaukee Brewers).

Many of our Southern California players know the So Cal Titan players and there seems to be a bit of edginess going into the game. This is the first time two 7-0 teams faced off in any final in the last 18 years. History will be made tomorrow.

Former Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates picther Mike Roesler takes the mound for Network. We Big Mike leading the team we feel we have the means to compete and BEAT THE TITANS TOMORROW!

RC

I know you're all expecting a great piece of literature after TWO WINS in the quarters and semis but with a sore shoulder, a pulled hip flexor, two blackened toes and a bruised ego after taking my first ofer of the series in the semis I have very little to offer...but I'll muster up what I can that goes beyond the box scores.

Quarter-finals: Network 16 Oklahoma City Dodgers 1

After OKD gave us the best game in pool play they had the misfortune of finishing with the #7th seed and drawing a determined Network squad. We just plain and simply annihilated them. Mike Moore, who pitched against them in pool play and gave up 5 earned runs gave up just one in 5 innings of work with 5 strike outs. He struck out the side in the first inning. Everyone contributed. Nuff said.

Semi-finals: Network 7 Colorado Bulls 3

Colorado gave Network its best game of the NABA WS. Bill "Flip" Flippone gutted out 9 innings, scattering 13 hits and earning 5 strikeouts. Network defense was stellar as usual as we turned 4 double plays. The highlight of the game was Josh Davis's inside-the-park home run. Josh hit an IPHR in last year's semi-finals and repeated the performance when the Bulls leftfielder tried to make a diving catch on a ball in the gap. Bobby Atwater had a huge base hit in the 2nd inning to put us up 2-0. Brian Schaefer continued to abuse the base of the wall with a triple and Terry Loe had two base hits. Overall, a solid game by the Network men and certainly a great way to go into the finals.

RC

Network finished pool play as strong as they started it. With nothing really to play for and all their teammates and friends finally arriving, everyone got into the game. We all got to hit, pitch, field at various positions and just have plan old fun out there in Tempe Diablo Stadium. Even with Texas trying to win and get a #3 seed, they were no match for our "2nd team" so to speak. A combination of 5 pitchers (2 of which never pitched in competition before) "held" the hard-hitting Texas team to a mere 14 runs. I joke about that, but with the amount of power we have in this "murderers row" line-up it isn't stretch to say you better put up 15 to compete with us.

Scott Bailey hit his 2nd home run of the tournament and Robert Wasmund hit a MAJOR LEAGUE home run that traveled about 420 feet up the grassy knoll in Tempe Daiblo.

The biggest thrill of the day was getting Darien Smith on the mound to pitch the 7th inning. In two weeks, Darien will undergo an experimental procedure to try and cure his Parkinson's disease. Of all the wonderful moments we've had in this tournament, Darien pitching and enjoying himself was the best. The exuberance and energy that he brings to this club will carry over in the playoffs.

Although we've walked through pool play, the road will get tougher. Teams will put their #1/#2 pitchers on the mound in hopes of avoiding elimination and the best players will be out on the field and in the line-ups at all times. The So Cal Titans also went 5-0 and earned the #1 seed over us due to the "runs allowed" rule. The #2 seed puts us up against a #7 seed in the quarter-finals. With Bill "Flip" Fillipone on the mound and Mikey Moore and Mike Roesler waiting in the wings we are set up to take it all the way.

RC

The definition of a team is being personified each day by the Network men. Our steady performance over a gritty Denver Rebels who were 2-1 is proof that we are what a complete team is all about. When your 3-4-5 batters go 0-9 and you still get 17 hits and 13 runs and win 13-6 easily, that's domination.

Brian Schaefer gave Network 9 complete innings of solid pitching and Terry Loe continued to lead the team in hits, going 4 for 4, as the Network team kept on rolling. Brien Blakely and Josh Davis made their debut after flying in last night with Blakely getting 2 RBIs in his first two ABs. Chris "Fache" Bruno hit TWO TRIPLES on two wobbling knees. They were absolute bombs. And you know you're good when you go 2-4 and your average goes down, as is the case of Schaefer. We have 7 guys hitting over .500 and we haven't even used two of our best pitchers yet. The collision course is set to meet the So Cal Titans in the Finals on Sunday. Anything less will be a grave disappointment.

RC

Upon further review, the Network team is awesome. We stand atop the pool play standings at 3-0 with a dominant performance in the blazing Arizona heat after doubleheader day. I could sit here and write a blow-by-blow account of our annihilation of two amateur baseball teams but that would be redundant as well as cruel and unusual punishment. The box scores say it all.

Two of our veteran pitchers, Scottie Bailey and Jeff Wells pitched outstanding inning-shortened games. As Network has been wont to do, we "mercyed" TWO teams today. "The mercy rule" was put into place so that one team couldn't completely embarrass another team. If one team is up by more than 15 runs after 5 innings or 10 runs after 7 innings, the game is called. Last year, Network "mercyed" three teams in five days. We're on our way to repeating that performance.

With The Denver Rebels and Top of Texas Cats up next, Thursday and Friday respectively, and Josh Davis arriving in Phoenix to add MORE power to our line-up, there is fear in our future opponents eyes. Pitchers Bill Filippone and Mike Roseler arrive on Friday just in time for the play-offs. Stay tuned for another dominating performance tomorrow.

Rick

In the last five years of playing tournament ball with the Network, The So Cal Storm and the Atlanta Bulls, we've always had to reach up from the depths of losing on Day One and pull out big victories in games 2-5. Winning Game One was such a relief...and the way we won tells me that this team is ready to win a national championship.

With only eleven players in Phoenix (we have seven more arriving in the next three days) I had to manage a line-up where some of my players are out of their natural positions. With the increased team speed I felt I could use the courtesy runner rule to our advantage (we are allowed to run for 3 batters without substitution-- the last batter out gets to run for that batter). One of my strategies was to place our hard hitting slow runners around the speedy ones. We'd steal bases, hit and run a plenty, and give our big bombers some R & R time. We've got six days out here and the wear and tear on our bodies becomes evident by day three. And with doubleheader day looming tomorrow/today I need all the help I can get to keep players on the field.

The game started out on a bad note. Once again, another controversial call came to play, just as it did last year. Down 1-0 with two outs and one on in the first, Mike Moore left one high and the Dodger hitter hit one deep. Jimmy Davidson went back to the wall and watched it hit off the top of the fence. The umpire called it a home run and completely missed the call. (after the game, he admitted the gaff). When we got the next out, a 3-0 game could have been just 1-0.

Network bats were slow to start. One hit in the first two innings. Then in the third the Dodgrer pitcher walked the bases loaded and we hit two consecutive SAC flies by Armstrong and Schaefer. A two out RBI double by Terry Loe gave us a 3-3 tie.

Mike Moore settled down and was dominant in the next three innings. 1-2-3 in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th. His mix of speeds confused the gritty Oklahoma hitters. We knew we had our workhorse on the mound and this made us relax. But it wasn't easy...

In the top of the 5th, RBI doubles by Schaefer and T-Loe scored two more runs for Network and gave us a 5-3 lead...

...But in the bottom of the inning, Oklahoma put together some Texas leaguers and loaded the bases. With two outs, a fly ball went to our sure-handed centerfielder, Craig "KC" Kasin. The sun was brutal at Surprise Stadium and KC had trouble staying with the ball. It went in his glove and just as he squeezed it closed...it fell out. 2 runs scored and Oklahoma took a 6-5 lead.

Instead of panicking, Network picked it up a notch. We tied the game in the 6th on a RBI single by Jim Davidson scoring KC, and in the 7th scored three more from our big boppers, Schaefer, Bailey and Loe. Making it 9-6. Mike Moore regained his touch and shut OKD down in the bottom of the 7th to end his day on the mound. Eight hits, five earned runs, 4 Ks and only one walk.

In the eighth, I led off with a double, stole third and scored on pinch hitter Jeff Well's fielder's choice. We thought it was an insurance run and with T-Loe coming in to save the game on the mound we were sure it was in the bag.

Terry gave up hits to the first two batters. A hard hit grounder went to Bruno at third and he immediately threw it home. Unfortunately, the runner was not far enough down the line to be caught in a rundown and I was not able to get over to third quick enough to nail him on Bailey's throw. It was now bases loaded and 0 outs. A high chopper was hit to 2nd base where Schaefer, normally an outfielder, fielded the ball and threw wildly to home. It got past Bailey and three runs scored making it 10-9. Luckily, T-Loe settled down and got the next three batters to fly out, thus ending the inning.

In the 9th, Network blew it open. Six consecutive hits and then three more clutch hits with 2 outs sealed the OKD's fate. We scored 6 runs and let T-Loe's arm do the talking. He went 1-2-3 in the 9th and the game was over.

Our 16-9 win was big for a number of reasons. One, we go into doubleheader day 1-0, only needing a split to assure us of making the playoffs. Two, we won with an abbreviated line-up and still scored 16 runs. Three, we got a strong outing from Mikey Moore and now have him ready for the weekend playoffs. Four, and most importantly, NO ONE GOT HURT! And last, we didn't even play our best ball yet still won convincingly.

Tomorrow is another day. Stay tuned as we go for a doubleheader sweep against the Ventura Cubs and the Montana Warriors.

RC

Everyone arrived safely and Network is ready for our first game in Surprise Stadium vs. the Oklahoma City Dodgers. We know absolutely nothing about our first day pool play opponent but we're all confident we have the team to beat. Mike Moore, our veteran workhorse, is on the mound and we have a tight roster (10) until the reinforcements come in tonight and tomorrow night.

Check later tonight for the box scores and the game breakdown.

RC

We are five days out from our first game and finally our team is complete! With the return of my ace righthander, Mike Roesler, Network has one of the best pitchers in the tournament. Mike's family has given him their blessing to be a part of the Network experience and help win us a championship. Mike was influential last year when he pitched a 14 K, 6 hit, one earned run complete game win vs. San Diego. Then, in the playoffs, Mike pitched 7 and 2/3 innings in the quarters and semis to help us compete at the highest level, almost knocking off the perennial champs, the Denver Bears in a gutsy 10-8 semis loss.

With Big Mike, I now have a pitching staff that is hard to beat. Mikey Moore lead the Atlanta Bulls to a MSBL 35+ Championship last year in Tampa with five solid innings in the finals against Puerto Rico. Bill Filippone has come in from DC to play with Network for the first time. Bill actually saved that aforementioned MSBL Championship Game and was the winner of the Bulls quarter-final game vs. Venezuela. "Flip" and "Mikey Moore" are just two of the three major additions to a staff that should enhance our chances of winning a championship. With the addition of durable righthander Brian Schaefer and our veteran staff of Scottie Bailey, Jeff Wells and Robert Wasmund returning, our 5 game pool play rotation is set: Moore, Bailey, Wells, Schaefer and Wasmund. In the playoffs-- Flip, Moore and Roesler. And don't forget T-Loe healthy once again to be our stopper in the late innings! And maybe we can get Darien Smith an inning on the mound come Friday at Tempe Diablo. Wouldn't that be the thrill of a lifetime. I'm confident we have the deepest staff in the tournament.

In the field, our outfield has improved tenfold. Our team leader and co-founder of Network has returned! Jim Davidson is back this year after a shoulder injury and a stint on "Guiding Light" kept him out of last year's tourney. We also have ex-So Cal Storm teammate, the speedy Ayatollah of Rock-n-Rolla, Craig "KC" Drummer Kasin, manning centerfield once again. The scrappy Bob Atwater returns to play right. Brian Scheafer is also a great addition to the outfield and will get considerable playing time there as well as...

...in the infield. With Chris "Fache" Bruno, Josh Davis, myself and the tandem of Robert Wasmund/Pat "Army" Armstrong at first base, we are as solid as they come. Once we went to this line-up after our first game fiasco last year we made very little errors and turned several key double plays. With Mikey Moore added to give us innings at third and rest Bruno's knees for the playoffs, and Wellsie to give us a few innings at first, we should be steady.

Our bench and DH situation is especially strong. Schaefer brings us tremendous power this year in the three/four hole. Pat Armstrong and Wasmund are solid bats who can go deep. If Brien Blakely shows on Thursday, his 9 hits from last year will put the team batting prowess in overload. Okay, Miles Whitlock, you too! Mr. Who returns to get that one hit that alluded him in 2006!

Our team speed is unprecedented this year. JD, myself, KC, Bobby A, Josh D, and T-Loe can all steal bases with the best of them. With the overall low strikeout ratio of our batters we will hit-and-run teams to death and make pitchers pay for every base-on-balls. With the 4 curtousy runner rule in 35+ (you can pinch run for up to 4 batters) it will be almost impossible for teams to stop us from taking extra bases. Unless they have a T-Loe behind the plate-- AND THEY DON'T!

Which leads me to catcher. Terry Loe and Scottie Bailey are probably the best catcher tandem in country. Period.

Oh, and don't forget our expert pinch runner, the Herb Washington of the Network team, ALAN GOLDMAN! AG can go from first to third like no other 145 pounder-when-wet!

Let's hope that my managerial skills haven't waned considerably and I don't mess this gem of a team up!

Rick

One week out and I can't wait. Hope everyone feels the same way.

I want to share a very inspirational story with you guys.

One of my teammates on the Atlanta 51s is a guy by the name of Darien Smith. Darien has Parkinson's disease. You would never know it by watching him play. He's intense, cheerful, positive and just a great guy to be around. He also has one of the liveliest arms I've ever seen. I know I'm exaggerating but it seems like he can throw 99 mph. Occasionally, Darien pitches an inning or two for us. Sometimes it feast, and sometimes it famine, but it's always adventurous (right, T-Loe?) Darien also plays some outfield for us as well.

On October 20th of this year, Darien is having major surgery for his Parkinson's disease. I don't know if you guys ever saw the special on 20/20 when they go through the patient's skull while he's awake and try to correct the problem through a probe? That is about the kind of surgery he's having. Basically, this year was/is his last year of baseball. He's already informed the team that he is done and won't be back I 2009.

I heard through the grapevine that Darien was looking to play in one last tournament out in Phoenix or Tampa. Tampa is in November, so that is out. I also know he put his name in the pool of players who wants to be picked up by someone that needs players. To this day, he hasn't been picked up yet by any team. I offered Darien a spot on our team with no promise of playing time. I said that if you can't get on a team by Thursday, we'd take you on ours. He accepted. He just wants to be around the guys one last time. The smell of the grass, sitting in the dugout, warming up in a major league stadium. It's not official that he's on this team yet, but he is if he wants to be.