Fleas Reign Supreme

McCall – On a morning so sweet you could almost drink it, the Westport Fleas poured down Bunker Street on Friday to celebrate their 2-1 victory over the McCall Mudhens in the Championship of the I-70 Baseball Classic. Surrounded by fans that were seduced by weeks of torment, chutzpah and miracle finishes the Fleas were all smiles as they walked down victory lane.

“BUCK!” they screamed, as if a savior had arrived… “BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!”

They came by car. They came by train. They watched from rooftops and atop bus-stop shelters. In a lousy economy, they ditched work. A town in desperate need of a happy ending exploded with pride.

“I’ve had this day planned in my head since last season,” says Chuck Morgan of Westport. “Ever since the Fleas lost out on the playoffs of the KCBL.”

“MVP! MVP!” shouts the crowd when Ted Williams face lights up a big screen.

For a few perfect hours Friday, Westport celebrated Mardi Gras. Air horns fractured the air… At the corner of Dylan and Wyoming, a crowd 40 deep watched the big screen at local television show “Westport Live”… Fans held up “BUCK DIEM” signs.

Gentle crowds, they were, at least by Westport standards. There were beer bottles rolling around the floors of WTA buses but little drinking in evidence along the parade route. Warm in the sun, ideal in the shade. Rock bands. Cheerleaders. The faint smell of pot. Maybe that’s why they were so mellow. More likely, they were just glad to be there, on a day when the whole city seemed to be playing hooky and making jokes.

Lord, we can always use a happy ending around here, and at last we’ve found one in these improbable Fleas.

Titletown USA? Why not?

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I-70 Baseball Classic 2009 ::
Final Standings: 1. Fleas: 5-2 2. Mudhens: 3-5 3. Bears: 4-2 4. Owls: 2-4	Championship Series: Game 1: Fleas 8, Mudhens 20 Game 2: Mudhens 10, Fleas 15 (MVP- Ott – 4-5, 1 BB, 1HR, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 4 Runs) Game 3: Fleas 13, Mudhens 9 (MVP – Bonds – 3-4, 2 BB, 5 RBI)	Consolation Game: Bears 13, Owls 12