Flacons, Owls Square Off For KCBL 2011 Title

Fogelberg – Macintosh Stadium in Fogelberg has been cleaned, polished, primed and primped for what the media is calling the “Clash of The Titans.”

When the Falcons take the field tonight against the Yellow Division Champion Merrimack Owls for the Championship of the Kansas City Baseball League something very rare will happen; unfamiliarity. Having faced each other in one other series in ASB history, the two teams have a limited history of head-to-head play.

“Obviously we have a history against the other teams in the league, so it’s going to be really different to see green and gold in the opposing dog-out,” Falcons lifetimer Carlton Fisk said during Tuesday’s scheduled practice session. “The bottom line is that we are not going to worry about how they have been playing, how little we know about their pitchers and who they are. We are going to play good, fundamental baseball and take care of business.”

The Falcons feature a balanced lineup that can strike, or fail, at any point. Featuring solid seasons from Joe Morgan, Mickey Mantle, Ralph Kiner, Mel Ott and Fisk, they rode the most consistent lineup in the league to a number one seed and the Championship Series.

“We like to sprinkle the power throughout the lineup,” Manager Don Zimmer said. “We always seem to be a bloop-and-a-blast away from either knocking someone out or getting ourselves back into a game.”

The Owls, relying more heavily on super-star Ted Williams throughout the regular season, were excited to have found the rest of their lineup in the first round of the playoffs, setting records in nearly every offensive category.

“Ted had a lot to prove this season, and you have to hand it to him, he has been the quiet leader of this team since day one,” Owls manager Ryne Sandberg said. “Did we have a moment of inconsistency late in the season? Yes… We righted the ship at the right moment and walking into this series we are the best team… I believe that the best team should be called Champions.”

Who the best team is will be decided in the best of 5 series tonight.

Starting Lineups –

FALCONS:
J. Morgan
J. Joyce
M. Mantle
L. Gehrig
R. Kiner
C. Fisk
M. Ott
H. Wagner
J. Podres

OWLS:
E. Stanky
T. Williams
T. Cobb
D. Murphy
M. Cochrine
E. Yost
T. Phillips
R. Cullenbine
C. Hunter