Great South League

On Friday July 25, 2008 Augusta played their first playoff game against the Macon Giants.

Game time was 10 AM but Macon's team had not arrived.  In the interest of all the players and the league, the Nationals waited until shortly before 11 to start the game rather than force a forfeit.  Macon scored 5 in the 4th and 5 in the 5th.   Mike Armstrong came in for Augusta and pitched 4 scoreless innings with 9 strikeouts in relief.   Macon enjoyed outstanding pitching shutting out the Nationals 10-0.

At 1 PM on July 26 Augusta faced defending champion Athens in an elimination game.  The Pirates jumped out to an early lead with a two run homer in the second inning.  In the fourth with the score 2-1 and the bases loaded John Hennecken hit a base clearing double to put Augusta up 4-2.  Pitching dominated from then on with excellent performances from both teams.  J.C. Huffman tripled and Josh Vining had a double.  Steve Godawa pitched an outstanding complete game and Augusta won 4-2 eliminating the Pirates from the playoffs.

At 7 PM on July 26 the Nationals played the Mentium Athletics.  Mentium jumped out to a 3-0 lead but Augusta answered in the bottom of the first with 5 runs.  Trent Veleker settled down after the first and pitched very well for the Nationals.  Mike Armstrong singled and homered.  Chris Banker and Josh Vining had multi hit games.  Paul Bordon doubled.  Damon McCormick and Derek Herron singled and Aaron Garcia played outstanding defense in the outfield.  Augusta won 14-4 and Trent Veleker picked up the victory.   

On Sunday, July 27 at 10 AM the Nationals took on the very strong Winward Braves.  Augusta had dropped three straight games from the Braves during the regular season.

Pitching dominated for both teams.  Jon Hansen, a veteran lefty, pitched an outstanding game and was ahead on the count throughout.  Jon demonstrated his excellent pick off move.  Winward also pitched well allowing few base runners.  In the 4th inning Damon McCormick walked and Mike Armstrong doubled him in.  Chris Banker then drove in Armstrong and that was all the scoring for Augusta.  Armstrong had 3 hits.  In the ninth it looked like the Braves might come back when they got a runner on and scored one unearned run but Jon Hansen closed the door finishing the complete game with his twelfth strikeout.  Augusta won 2-1 eliminating Winward from the playoffs.

At 1 PM, Augusta had the task of taking on the only undefeated team left in the playoffs.  The Conyers Miracle had impressively defeated Athens, Mentium and Winward and looked very tough.  During the regular season Augusta had defeated Conyers three times at home and lost one away.  On this day, Augusta was able to put up 6 runs in the first three innings.   Kyle Johansen pitched well for Augusta and got the win.  J.C. Huffman came in to pitch two scoreless innings in relief.  Josh Vining had three hits.  McCormick, Bordon, Armstrong, Herron, and Hennecken hit safely.  J.C. Huffman had three hits.  Aaron Garcia had his first double of the playoffs.  Augusta won 7-2 giving them a 4-1 playoff record.  Conyers now had a 3-1 playoff record.  In double elimination it would take one more game between Conyers and Augusta to decide on a champion.

The Augusta Nationals had no role in creating the Northern Playoff schedule and never approved it.  All season, the entire league played no more than two 7 inning games in one day.  The Southern Division playoff schedule did not require teams to play more than two games in one day.  There is no other league that schedules three consecutive nine inning games in one day.  After the first game against Winward,  Augusta had one player who could no longer participate because of heat exhaustion.  Prior to the first game against Conyers, the Augusta Nationals made it known to the league president, commissioner, and the Conyers Miracle that it was felt unsafe to play 3 consecutive nine inning games in excessive heat (99 degrees) with no rest.  Three options for Augusta and Conyers were offered and discussed.

1.  Playing two 7 inning games 

2.  Playing a nine inning game and a second nine inning game the following day if necessary 

3.  Playing the 4 PM 9 inning game later the same day after allowing a couple of hours rest  

The league president encouraged Conyers to make a change in the interest of the players and the league.  Neither the league commissioner nor Conyers would make any changes. 

The Augusta Nationals decided that playing three consecutive nine inning games in excessive heat (99 degrees) and no rest was unsafe.  Conyers would not agree to any alteration of the schedule and accepted the Northern Division Championship by forfeit.

Who would not agree that it would have been more satisfying to the players and everyone if the Northern Division Playoffs had been decided on the field ?  The Augusta Nationals team wishes the Conyers and Tallahassee teams good luck in the Championship Playoffs.

John Hennecken, M.D.

General Manager

Augusta Nationals