Drago Saves Title for Fleas

McCall – In a league known for its staggering offensive statistics, pitchers can often be overlooked, especially those that work out of the bullpen.  What Dick Drago did for the Westport Fleas in the I-70 Classic simply cannot be ignored, however.  Buck O’Neil leaned heavily on the new closer and Drago delivered.  Five straight times.  Drago closed out all five of the Fleas’ victories, including two clutch performances on Wednesday night facing elimination in front of a delirious McCall crowd.   In his five appearances, Drago only allowed 2 runs in 9.2 innings.

Of course, the Fleas had other heroes too.  Ted Williams and Mel Ott finally provided some power, Max Bishop continued his steady production, and lifetime Flea Joe Cronin came up with key hits from the bottom of the lineup.  At the end of the night, though, the Fleas knew who they had to thank for their first championship.  In the Fleas locker room deep in the bowels of new McCall Memorial, even Buck O’Neil seemed at a loss for words, “Dick was big.  Dick was really big”.  That pretty much sums it up for the Fleas.