1911 Division Playoffs
The Northern League
Prescott Antelopes beat Flagstaff Lumberjacks, 4-1
On paper, this looks like a blowout of a series. But three of Prescott's four wins came by one run.
The Antelopes needed 15 innings to get past the Lumberjacks in the opener, 3-2. Flag led 2-1 after five innings, then Prescott tied it in the bottom of the eighth. Finally, in the 15th inning Prescott won the marathon game on one of the most boring plays in baseball -- the sac fly.
Danny Green had the honors, completing a nice day for him (3-for-5 at the plate).
Pitcher
Russ Ford got game MVP honors but didn't get the win, even though he pitched 14.2 innings. Reliever
Mike O'Neill got the "W" by throwing just two pitches in relief for the final out in the top of the 15th. Ford had thrown 196 pitches but coaches didn't think had 197 in him. That's baseball!
Prescott also won Games Two and Three (10-6 and 6-5). Flagstaff exploded for a 12-3 win in Game Four, but the 'Lopes closed things out with a 7-6 decision in Game Five. Flag led 6-5 going into the ninth inning, but the Antelopes scored twice to close out the series. Leftfielder
George "Hickory" Jackson notched the clutch hit of the night — a two-out triple with two men on in the top of the ninth.
It was definitely a series for the offensive-minded. Flagstaff OF
Sam Crawford batted .333 in the five games (8 of 24). 3B
Harry Steinfeldt and RF
Harry "Deer Foot" Bay both batted .409 for the 'Jacks.
Hickory Jackson was hot the entire series, finishing with a .455 average and nine RBIs. A nice line for a leadoff hitter. He had four hits in Game Two. Wow!
Prescott, making its fifth appearance in the Cactus Champions Cup, has never lost once reaching the AZL's pinnacle series...
The Southern League
Bisbee outlasts Tucson, 4-3
Of course, Bisbee has never lost in the Cactus Champions Cup series either. The Prospectors have made only one trip to the AZL finals but won it all in 1905.
The 1911 SL Division championship was a back-and-forth slugfest. Bisbee finally won Game Seven by a 3-2 score, plating the clinching run in the top of the 10th on an RBI single by catcher
Bill "Rough" Carrigan.
Ty Cobb kept Tucson in contention with three hits, but in the end it wasn't enough.
Cobb had a great series, though, batting .536 with seven RBIs. He was Mr. Smooth at the plate -- and clutch. Of his 15 hits, six were doubles. His last hit of the series set a new Southern League record for hits in a season at 229.
Vin Campbell, a 23-year-old centerfielder, was Bisbee's top offensive player. He batted .393 in the seven-game set, with 10 RBIs and two home runs.
Doc Hoblitzel, a 22-year-old first baseman, was another young gun -- batting .370 with seven RBIs. The future looks bright for the Prospectors.
Other scores from the series: Bisbee wins Game One (3-0), Game Four (9-2) and Game Five (6-5 — rallying from 5-3 deficit in the bottom of the ninth). Tucson took Games Two (5-4), Three (14-10 — four runs in the top of the ninth) and Six (8-5).
The stage is set for the 1911 Cactus Champions Cup. Prescott vs. Bisbee.