Utah vs New York, Game 7

Utah has come all the way back to force a winner take all game. New York has one more chance to avoid blowing a 3-0 series lead. Both teams will have their best pitchers available, as hard throwing Jaret Benser takes the hill for Utah, against 19 game winner Mike Carpenter.

Top of the first: Utah starts fast. Kermit Crawford drops down a bunt hit to start the game, and Doug Dodson works a walk. Frank Lewis gets into a slider and drives it out to center field. Utah 3, New York 0.

Bottom 3rd. With one out, Mike Perry bloops a single to right. Stuart Johnson lifts a popup towards the New York dugout. Catcher Gil and 1B Lewis chase after it. Perhaps not able to hear the calls over the crowd, they collide and the ball drops foul. Both players lay on the ground. Gil is replaced by Jim "Dirty" Sanchez. Lewis wakes up 2 minutes later to see Vince Zarat putting on a first baseman's mitt. Battletrap holds up a baseball and asks Frank "How many baseballs am I holding" "Three" is the response. Battletrap says to get Frank into the an exam room, taking his best hitter out of the lineup. As Frank is carried away, he is heard yelling "I'm OK! I just need to hit the one in the middle!". But it is no use, the game will go on without him. To make it hurt even more, Stuart Johnson homers on the next pitch. 3-2 Utah.

Bottom 7th. Mike Perry singles to start the inning and Stuart Johnson follows with a double, sending Perry to third. Vernon Coles lifts a fly to left and both runners tag. Utah cuts the ball off, allowing the tying run to score, but throwing Johnson out at third. Ho Chi Fat follows with a single that would have otherwise put New York into the lead. Utah's Tom Fasten relieves Scott Klippenstein, and strikes out Mick McAndrews to end the inning.

Top 9th. With 2 out, Kermit Crawford singles. He tries to get into scoring position, but is thrown out by Bob Brady to end the inning.

Bottom 9th. Chris Grimes is in for Utah and New York is a run away from the World Series. Grimes pitches a 1-2-3 inning, and the game is going to overtime.

Top 10th. Doug Dodson leads off with a walk. It's Frank Lewis's spot up next, but Frank, having checked out OK by the trainer, is only a cheerleader. Weak hitting Jayson Thomas squares to bunt, something Battletrap hardly ever calls for, with good reason. Thomas can't bunt any better than he can hit, and bunts it hard right back to the pitcher, who turns a double play.

Bottom 10th. Vernon Coles hits a deep drive to left off Grimes, to the wall, and caught by Charlie Howard. Ho Chi Fat singles, and one out later Bob Brady lashes a double to right. Blaylock retrieves the ball, hits cutoff man Elvis Espinoza, who relays to the plate. Fat collides with Sanchez at the plate and he is...OUT! The game continues.

Bottom 11th. Fred Prinz now pitching for Utah. Travis Santos leads off with a single, and steals 2nd. One out later Darin Elam walks, and Mike Perry grounds out, moving the runners up. Battletrap usually hates the intentional walk, but doesn't want to face Stuart Johnson. Vernon Coles is up next. Needing only one run, Vernon swings for the seats...and misses. Inning over and the game continues.

Top 12th. Utah loads the bases with one out for Ryan Ballard. New York brings in Joe Dirte. Ballard strikes out, and Sanchez grounds to short.

Top 14th. Doug Dodson walks. Thomas doubles, Dodson to third. Charlie Howard pops up. Blaylock lines one to left center. Darin Elam runs it down, spins, and fires desperately to the plate. He makes the throw of his life, gets the runner, and ends the inning.

Bottom 14th. Ho Chi Fat and McAndrews start the inning with singles, sending Fat to third. Bob Brady is intentionally walked by Marc Morelock, setting up a force at home. Santos ground to second, and Utah gets the force. Tony Guerrero grounds sharply to second, and Utah gets a 4-2-3 double play to survive to the 15th.

Top 15th. Ballard walks, and Sanchez singles. Alberto Mitre fails to move the runners with a flyout. Espinoza grounds out, moving the runners up. Kermit Crawford delivers a 2 out, 2 run single to break a 13 inning scoreless streak and give Utah a 5-3 lead. Dodson flies out to end the inning.

Bottom 15th. Morelock is in his third inning of work, Utah has one pitcher, Nathan Rogers, left in the bullpen. Elam starts with a single. Perry grounds to second. Stuart Johnson lines one right to center fielder Crawford. Vernon Coles steps up for the Knights' final chance. He hits a lazy fly ball to left fielder Howard.

AND THE UTES HAVE WON THE PENNANT!