Game Five
Bob Nealon (4.69, 3-11)
vs.
Mays
September 3 - Davis Crawford had strained his back in his last start, so Bethel turned to Bob Nealon for the start. Some Mushers fans thought this might be a blessing in disguise: despite his terrible record, Nealon had excellent control, had gone 10-5 with a 3.47 ERA in 2007, and might have extra incentive to beat the Senators: he'd pitched for them for two years before joining Bethel over the last offseason.
The wind was whipping in from rightfield, and the thermometer read a chilly 39 degrees as the first pitch was thrown. The weather portended another difficult game for the hitters. If anyone might benefit, it could be the Mushers, as the Senators player might not be as inured to the hostile conditions (Juneau's climate was rainy but comparatively mild).
However, Nealon had a tough time of it right from the start. He loaded the bases in the first, uncharacteristically yielding two walks, before getting out of it without any damage.
In the top of the fourth, the Senators finally made him pay. After a double and a walk, Dunsmore tripled in two runs, then scored when pitcher Louis Mays helped himself with a deep flyout to right.
Meanwhile, Pitcher-of-the-Year-apparent Mays dominated the Mushers hitters, with some help from his defense. At one point he set down 15 straight Bethel hitters. In the end, he went the distance, giving up just three hits, a walk, and no errors. The Senators themselves left 14 men on base, but regardless, their effort was good enough to whitewash the Mushers, 4-0. The Mushers had gone scoreless in the last two games of the series, and the Juneau Senators were Alaskan champions.
Louis Mays was voted Alaskan Championship Series MVP for winning both his starts and putting up a 2.12 ERA in 17 innings.