Cyclones 9, Jammers 8: 'Clones still alive!  Sensational!

On the most perfect late summer night in memory, the Brooklyn 9 treated their die-hard fans to one hell of a post-season ballgame.  Here are the highlights.

Darrell.

Bottom 1

Darrell Ceciliani! It is unlikely that any Brooklyn resident will soon forget that name. Darrell, a cow-herder by trade, grips a fearsome bat with his gloveless hands and watches four bad pitches land him on base. In a wink, Darrell breaks for second and steals it outright, and though he fails to get his run, Lord knows he might have.

2

Brooklyn's diminutive left-hander, Angel Cuan, puts two ducks a-pond and a chopped ground ball sends one on home.

Brooklyn takes it back!  Jeff Flagg pounds the two bagger and a couple of selfless outs dribble him home.  "Salute the Flagg!" cry the young people at MCU park, and it's a 1-1 game.

Bottom 3

Shreddin Schroeder bunts aboard and the left-handed Ceciliani nearly doubles.  Only "nearly" because Darrell, discontented with the 1st base, ran heartily to try to make the 2nd.  He nearly had it it, but alas! and the Cyclones fail to score.  Still 1-1.

Top 5

A man named Dallas Poulk pops one up to the Brooklyn third baseman.  The next batter, Dallas Hord -- also bearing "Dallas" as his Christian name -- erases the shame of it all with a double. "Brent" Keys chases him home and it's 2-1 Jammers, midway through regulation.

Bottom 5

Juan Centeno, the Cyclops' catcher, gaps it to left.  Schroeder brings him 'round -- tie game -- and the 9-hitter bunts the Shredder over in turn.  Then, the great Ceciliani rips one, steals, and soon both men score!  'Clones fans have learned to expect no less from Darrell, and yet it's ever thanksgiving in Brooklyn.  Cory Vaughn picks up the RBI and scores on a Jammer blunder.  It was a big inning, and it's 5-2 'Clones.

Top 6 

Marcell "Yok" Ozuna sends one into the Atlantic Ocean. Is Cuan done? 5-3 'Clones.

Bottom 6

On a walk, Darrell Ceciliani pays his respects to One Bee for the fourth time this game.  Still 5-3.

Bottom 7

Joe Bonfe, the designated Bonfire, gets things going with a two-out single and swipes another bag in short order.  Wild Cherry hacks one into center, and that ball drops, rolls, and makes it 6-3 'Clones.

Top 8

Johan Figuereo enters the game, and Met fans discuss his name.  Backman's fresh right arm gives up three straight singles and the crowd screams for the bum to go.  He doesn't, and for that reason another single drops.  The most consistent quantity in baseball is taken out of the game.  Four runs eventually score, and at the end of the half-inning it's 7-6 Jammers.

Bottom 8

Darrell Ceciliani walks, steals one, and scores from second on a ground ball to the shortstop (there was no error on the play).  Sensational!  5 times aboard, 3 steals, 7-7.

Top 9

It's a tie game in the last.  With nobody out, "Brent" drops a looper in front of the left-fielder Cherry, who misplays the ball and Brent goes two.  With still nobody out, a Staten Island native named Brantley drops a looper in front of the left-fielder Cherry, who misplays the ball and Brantley goes two.  Damn it all, Wild Cherry!  The Jamestown Jammers recapture the lead, 8-7.

Bottom 9

It's the Cylones' last stand.  Lose now and they're out, done, cut, promoted.  With one away, Bonfire singles and who should step to the plate next but Wild Cherry.  "BOO!" says the crowd, to motivate the lad.  The ploy works, and Cherry digs out an infield single and piles on the heart by stealing a base.  Bonfire SCORES on a sac fly, and with the stadium rocking we're headed to free baseball.

Bottom 12

Kolarek, Fraser, Pinera, Cravey, and Hodges all put in fine relief work for their respective clubs, and if you're interested in learning more write to the New York Penn League Commissioner.  The salient thing is that it's bottom 12 and we're knotted at 8 with no offense in sight.  That is until Juan "in a hundred" Centeno knocks one out to center field! A double!  Holy shit, you know what this means! There's a man in scoring position, and Darrell Ceciliani will bat.  

Schroeder bunts him over to third.  Third base, one out!  Some guy named Tovar is up, and then... Darrell.  

Strike one goes the count, I think.  I wasn't paying attention. This guy's going to get out.  Then... Darrell.  

Ball one, or maybe strike two.  Anyway, why isn't Wally pinch hitting for this little runt? Oh well, Darrell.

And just as the crowd turns to its friend to discuss Darrell, a pitched ball runs past the catcher all the way to the backstop.  "Huh? wha? really?"  Centeno goes...  The run scores on the error...  Cyclones win.  Of course! I should have known! There's only one thing more characteristic of Cyclones baseball than a Darrell Ceciliani hit, and we just saw it.  The E2 walkoff.

Hell of a fine contest. The deciding game of the first round is tonight at MCU.