It was Tucker Bougie who allowed the game-winning home run to the Lincoln Potters on Monday night, as described in this previous article, but there he was on the mound in the top of the ninth of the series final. Instead of facing two men on with two outs, now he had an 11-run lead to defend. The first batter got on base due to an error, Bougie then he got the next three batters out to close out the game, and deliver a fourth consecutive league championship to the Healdsburg Prune Packers.
In post-game interviews, coach Joey Gomes called Bougie’s appearance his “redemption inning,” demonstrating why the Petaluma resident and former MLB player is so popular as a coach.
“He’s an awesome guy,” said shortstop Maddox Molony, of Springfield, Oregon, and sophomore at the University there. “He is blunt with his words, gets his points across and just has great things to say. He never over-complicates anything, and his word always means a lot.”
Molony himself not once, but twice showed pro-ball skill, laying out flat like Brandon Crawford to stop a hot grounder to his right then rising to fire across the diamond in time to get the runner. He also had a hot night at the plate, getting on base four times and driving in two.
While “Celebration” by Kool & The Gang played on the loudspeakers and the players congratulated one another and the crowd flowed onto the field, Gomes gave his final words to the team’s YouTube announcer, Griffin Snider.
“Unbelievable,” Gomes said more than once. “Every year, it feels like the guys come together. We start out having a talented team, then we become tough.”
After giving a shout-out to the new Pacific Empire League’s president, Natalie Norman, Gomes broke the news that the new league was going to expand next year. “The league is looking to expand next year,” he said, “but it’s almost like you can’t even wrap your head around how successful the Pacific Empire was in year one. It’s incredible.”
