Series Preview
The Roland Stags won the regular season title again this year with a record of 64-36, earning them a bye to the Windsor Cup Finals for the second time. The Stags will face the Deerborn White Sox, this year’s wild card team. The White Sox finished 3 games behind the Stags in the East division at 61-39, then swept the Brothers in the SemiFinal Series to reach the Finals. It is fitting that the top two teams in the regular season will meet to play for the Cup.
The White Sox handily won the regular season series between these teams, 7 games to 2. The Stars were the only other team to win the regular season series against the Stags, who were the league’s clear top team for most of the season. The Stags were particularly dominant at home, losing only 14 games at Gateway Park.
Leading the White Sox lineup is slugger Rygh Ogg, who hit 2 home runs in game 1 of the SemiFinal and was named MVP of the series. Ogg had 30 HR and 91 RBI during the regular season. Deerborn’s lineup is strong from top to bottom. Curt Sawyer had the lowest average in the starting lineup during the year at .236, but he contributed 59 RBI, the third most on the team. LF Bob Hove also had a great year for the White Sox, with 26 HR and 70 RBI.
The White Sox’ pitching is arguably even more impressive than their offense. Jorge Takato is likely to win UA Pitcher of the Year, capturing the Triple Crown during the regular season. He led the league with a UA-record 15 wins, along with a league-best 154 Ks and 2.21 ERA. Mathew Huertata, Roberto Tokorres, and Jacob Hudson fill out the tough starting rotation.
The Stags were the UA’s dominant team this season. They led the league in both runs scored and runs against. They scored 521 runs this year, with Deerborn behind them at 491. The Stags held opposing teams to 371 runs this year. Deerborn was 3rd in the league, allowing 397.
Roland’s pitching was phenomenal, led by 1928’s Pitcher of the Year Rich Smith, and his fellow lefty starter Salim Mujer. The Stags acquired Edward Mercier from the touring circuit in the offseason, but he has been out most of the year with a torn rotator cuff. Despite this key injury, the team thrived from the mound and allowed the fewest runs in the UA. Left-handed reliever Greg Gardner achieved a 0.99 ERA in 36.1 innings out of the pen.
On offense, Roland crushed more home runs than any other team with 164 in the regular season. The Miners finished behind them with 26 fewer long balls. Deerborn was third with 133. Ramon Zuniga and Albert Pentana led the team with 34 HR each, and 77 and 78 RBI respectively. Pentana also had the 2nd highest batting average in the league, hitting .342. Jose Lia Tinta, Carlos Katamori, Carlos Martinezto, and Antonio Said all had over 30 RBI for the Stags this season, as well.
Roland is favored to win this series and take home the Windsor Cup, but if anyone has their number this season, it’s Deerborn. May the best team win!
Top WCF Players in 1929:
Game 1: Gateway Park, Roland, Afton
9/26/1929
We expected to see plenty of great pitching in this series, and game 1 lives up to the billing. RHP Mathew Huertata starts for the White Sox, and LHP Salim Mujer starts for the Stags.
Albert Pentana starts the scoring in the 2nd with a solo shot off of Huertata, the first hit of the game, giving the Stags a 1-0 lead. Mujer is perfect on the mound for the Stags through 3 innings, but gives up a leadoff double to White Sox 2B Luke Lia Puedris in the 4th. Lia Puedris moves over to third with 1 out, but Mujer induces a groundout and pop fly to get out of the inning.
The score remains 1-0 until the top of the 6th when White Sox pitcher Mathew Huertata helps himself out with Deerborn’s second hit of the game. Luke Lia Puedris comes up next and hits a triple to drive in Huertata and tie the game, 1-1.
In the top of the 7th, with Mujer still on for the Stags, White Sox RF Curt Sawyer hits a solo shot to left-center to give Deerborn a 2-1 lead. Mujer stays in the game until a 2-out Jimmy Hamm single chases him in the 8th. Huertata goes 7 innings for the White Sox and strikes out 8. Great performances by both starters.
Carlos Garcika comes on in the 8th to attempt the 6-out save, but stumbles in the bottom of the 9th. Garcika walks Francisco Kosgei and Jose Lia Tinta to start the inning. He then strikes out heavy hitters Pentana and Zuniga. With 2 outs, Antonio Said delivers a single that scores Kosgei from second to send the game to extra innings.
In the bottom of the 10th, with 1 out, Gurr Engh pinch hits for Stags reliever Arturo Buyoya and delivers a solo shot off of Joao Thery, just inside the right field foul pole, to give the Stags a 3-2 walk-off win in game 1. Interestingly, Engh was the first player to score in game 1 of the inaugural Windsor Cup Finals in 1928. Now he is the last to score in 1929’s game 1. Roland leads Deerborn, 1 game to 0.
Game 2: Gateway Park, Roland, Afton
9/27/1929 | ROL leads 1-0
RHP Jose Verdier gets the nod for Roland in game 2. He gives up a run early with a single to Rygh Ogg followed by an RBI double to Bob Hove. RHP Roberto Tokorres starts for the visiting White Sox. He works well through the first 2 innings, giving up just a pair of singles.
In the top of the 3rd, Luke Lia Puedris leads off with a double for the White Sox. Jimmy Hamm hits another double to make the score 2-0, Deerborn. After striking out Ogg, Verdier gives up a towering 445 ft, 2-run home run to Bob Hove to make it 4-0.
Jose Verdier stays in the game for Roland and pitches through 5.2 innings without giving up any more runs.
White Sox SP Roberto Tokorres pitches without much incident until the 6th inning. He gives up a single to Francisco Kosgei, followed by a double to Jose Lia Tinta. Kosgei holds up at third. Albert Pentana is the next batter. He hits a deep fly ball to right field for the 2nd out. Kosgei tags up but is gunned down by 3 steps by Curt Sawyer’s throw to catcher Franco Garcika to end the inning.
Tokorres stays in the game for the bottom of the 7th for Deerborn. He strikes out Zuniga but then gives up 3 singles in a row. Gurr Engh, the walk-off hero of game 1, pinch hits for RP Greg Gardner and delivers a single to score Antonio Said from third, making it 4-1 Deerborn. Tokorres then strikes out pinch hitter Vage Lek before giving up another single to Francisco Kosgei to score Ronald Pass from third. RHP Michael Green comes on in relief and induces a groundout to end the inning, but Roland has cut the lead in half, 4-2, White Sox. Critics might question the decision to leave Tokorres in the game for so long with a 4-run lead. He ends up throwing 111 pitches, but comes out of the game with a 4-2 lead.
RHP Alonso Rokodriguez comes in to pitch for Roland in the top of the 8th. Leadoff batter Curt Sawyer reaches on an an error when 3B Antonio Said bobbles the ground ball and can’t make a throw to first. Rokodriguez then hits Daniel Lia Yorino with a pitch. Rokodriguez walks Garcika to load the bases with 1 out. His first pitch to the next batter sails over the catcher’s head to backstop. Sawyer scores and the other runners move up to second and third, making it 5-2, White Sox.
Roland comes up to bat, down by 3, in the bottom of the 9th. With 2 outs, Vage Lek strokes a single into center field to keep the game alive. Next up is Kosgei. The speedy Lek leads off at first and is checked with a throw over from the mound. With a 1-1 count, Thery throws over to first again, but this time catches Lek leaning. He dives into first base, but Thery picks him off to end game 2. Deerborn beats Roland, 5-2.
The series now heads to Deerborn for games 3 and 4, tied 1-1.
Game 3: Kostinsky Park, Deerborn, Woodlyn
9/29/1929 | series tied 1-1
Game 3 features another marquee pitching matchup with Roland’s LHP Rich Smith, 1928’s UA Pitcher of the Year, and Deerborn’s RHP Jorge Takato, this year’s Triple Crown winner starting the game. Both teams are looking sharp in their Sunday tops, Deerborn in bright red, and visiting Roland in dark brown.
Rich Smith gets in trouble early, giving up a pair of triples to Jimmy Hamm and Curt Sawyer. Rygh Ogg hits a deep sac fly for a run and Bob Hove has an RBI single, putting the White Sox up 2-0 at the end of the 1st. Smith’s woes continue in the 2nd inning with a double to Franco Garcika and an RBI single to Luke Lia Puedris, making it 3-0.
The Stags get on the scoreboard on a Francisco Kosgei RBI double with 2 outs in the top of the 3rd, but Smith serves up doubles in the bottom of the inning to Rygh Ogg and Bob Hove to make it 4-1, White Sox, after 3 innings.
A Jimmy Hamm single in the bottom of the 4th brings home Kastillo to make it 5-1 and chases Roland starter Rich Smith from the game.
Jorge Takato pitches through the 6th, allowing just the 1 run on 5 hits and 9 Ks. He gets his 2nd win of the playoffs and keeps his unbeaten streak going. The last time he lost a decision was June 11th, a game in which he partook in a brawl that led to a suspension. LHP Pedro Pultudos makes his first appearance of the postseason for Deerborn, striking out the side in the 7th, and RHP Carlos Garcika closes out the last 2 innings with 0 hits and 4 Ks. The White Sox pitchers combine for 16 total strikeouts.
With the 5-1 win, Deerborn takes a 2-1 lead in the series. Game 4 is back here tomorrow.
Game 4: Kostinsky Park, Deerborn, Woodlyn
9/30/1929 | DEE leads 2-1
RHP Gabe Kefentse gets the start for Roland in game 4. He came out of the bullpen for the Stags for most of the year until he re-joined the starting rotation in late August. Kefentse’s start in game 4 begins well, but quickly turns nightmarish. He opens the bottom of the 1st by striking out Luke Lia Puedris and Jimmy Hamm. However, the strike 3 pitch to Hamm gets past catcher Carlos Martinezto and Hamm reaches on the passed ball. Rygh Ogg then crushes a 457 ft home run to left-center to put the White Sox up 2-0. Then, with 2 outs, Kefentse walks Curt Sawyer and then gives up another 2-run shot to Daniel Lia Yorino. He gives up another walk and a single before finally striking out opposing pitcher Jacob Hudson to get out of the 1st inning after 32 pitches, Stags trailing 4-0.
The Stags threaten in the top of the 3rd. Carlos Martinezto singles, then White Sox starter RHP Jacob Hudson walks Katamori and Lia Tinta to load the bases, but gets out of it with a groundout to Pentana.
Gabe Kefentse tightens up his performance after the disastrous 1st inning, allowing only 1 more hit until the bottom of the 5th. Jimmy Hamm knocks a double into left field to start the inning for the White Sox. Kefentse then hits Rygh Ogg with a 1-2 pitch. Later, with 2 outs, he hits Daniel Lia Yorino with an 0-2 pitch. With the bases loaded, catcher Martinezto lets another pitch past him at the worst possible time. Hamm scores and the other runners move up. To end the same at-bat, Luis Kastillo strokes a single into right field, bringing Ogg in to score. Kefentse’s rough day ends in the 5th, down 6-0.
Jacob Hudson keeps a 1-hitter going through the 7th inning for Deerborn. Carlos Martinezto hits his 2nd single of the game on the first pitch of the 8th. Then, with 2 outs, Francisco Kosgei singles and Jose Lia Tinta crushes a 463 ft home run to straight-away center to cut Deerborn’s lead in half. Hudson is replaced by RHP Joao Thery, and the score is 6-3, White Sox.
In the bottom of the 8th, the Sox get a run back when Luke Lia Puedris singles to bring Franco Garcika home from second. Heading into the 9th, the Stags are down to their final 3 outs, trailing 7-3. Thery stays on for Deerborn in the 9th and denies Roland’s chances at a comeback, allowing just a single.
The White Sox take game 4 in convincing fashion and are a win away from a Windsor Cup championship. They lead the Stags 3 games to 1. Game 5 is Wednesday in Roland.
Game 5: Gateway Park, Roland, Afton
10/2/1929 | DEE leads 3-1
Game 5 features a rematch of the stellar pitching matchup from game 1 between Deerborn’s RHP Mathew Huertata and Roland’s LHP Salim Mujer. Both pitchers bring their best stuff once again, and neither team records a hit through 3 and a half innings.
Things get dicey for Mathew Huertata in the bottom of the 4th, when Roland left fielder Jose Lia Tinta leads off with a massive home run to right-centerfield to break the scoreless tie. Huertata then hits Albert Pentana in the hand. A team trainer comes onto the field to examine him, but Pentana stays in the game. Huertata’s next three pitches are all over the place, with the third flying about three feet over catcher Garcika’s head, allowing Pentana to advance to second. In the same at-bat, on a full count, Ramon Zuniga hits a single through the infield. Pentana rounds third and comes home to beat Lia Tinta’s throw to the plate, making it 2-0, Roland. After moving to second on a groundout, Zuniga scores from second on a Ronald Pass single, beating Sawyer’s throw to the plate. After 4 innings, the Stags have a 3-0 lead.
Salim Mujer is perfect on the mound through 4 innings for the Stags before giving up a pair of singles in the 5th. In the top of the 6th, White Sox pitcher Huertata hits a single to center field, the ball gets behind Zuniga, and Huertata advances to second on the error. Hamm’s single then moves Huertata with third with just 1 out. Rygh Ogg is up next. He hits a fly ball to right field. Pentana fields it cleanly and executes a perfect throw home to nail Huertata at the plate and keep the score 3-0, Stags.
The White Sox threaten again in the 7th with Mujer still on the mound for Roland. He walks Sawyer and Lia Yorino, then gives up a base hit to Garcika and the bases are loaded with 1 out. Hernankez lines out to left field, but the catch is too shallow for Sawyer to tag up. Jorge Oko pinch hits for Huertata, striking out to end the inning. Mujer finishes with 7 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, and 6 Ks.
Stags reliever LHP Arturo Buyoya gives up a pair of doubles in the 9th to Hove and Lia Yorino for a run, but finishes the 6-out save with 3 Ks. Roland wins, 3-1, staying alive in the series. The teams will head back to Deerborn for game 6. The White Sox lead 3 games to 2, with a chance to lift the Cup on their home field this Friday.
Game 6: Kostinsky Park, Deerborn, Woodlyn
10/4/1929 | DEE leads 3-2
1929’s Triple Crown winner and winner of WCF game 3, RHP Jorge Takato, gets the start in game 6 for the home team. They’re hoping he can help finish off the series for Deerborn without having to travel back to Roland for a game 7. His counterpart is RHP Jose Verdier, who lost game 2 of the Finals for the Stags, allowing 4 runs on 7 hits.
Jorge Takato comes up limping after his 7th pitch to Roland leadoff hitter Carlos Katamori. He tries to walk the pain off and attempts to throw a practice pitch, but he and team trainers decide he cannot continue. His diagnosis is pending. The crowd of 25,808 in Deerborn sits in stunned silence.
RHP Henry Brown comes on in relief for his first appearance of the entire year for Deerborn. It does not go well. His first pitch of the game is a Francisco Kosgei double. His next pitch is a home run ball to Jose Lia Tinta. Just like that it’s 2-0, and the silence in Kostinsky Park is replaced by a distasteful murmur. Brown serves up a single to Albert Pentana, but he is caught stealing. Brown then gives up a double to Zuniga, and he scores on a single by Antonio Said. After a half inning, the White Sox are suddenly missing their best player and trailing 3-0.
LHP Pedro Pultudos comes on in the 2nd for the White Sox. He gets 2 quick ground ball outs, but then walks two batters and leaves the game. RHP Emery Jackson is Deerborn’s fourth pitcher and it’s only the 2nd inning. Jackson gives up an RBI single to Pentana, then another to Zuniga, then a third to Said. The score is now 6-0. Ronald pass hits a blooper single over third base and it’s 7-0. Starter Jacob Hudson comes on in relief and retires Martinezto to end the inning, but Roland now leads the game, 8-0.
At this point, Deerborn manager Jim Holt’s strategic focus has to be just getting through innings with his pitchers. With game 7 now a near certainty, keeping a strong enough bullpen to win the next game becomes crucial. Hudson stays in the game to eat up some outs, but has to leave after just one batter in the 3rd with a twisted ankle. It’s bad news for the Sox, who must turn to their sixth pitcher of the game, RHP Kevin Gomez. Gomez gets through the 3rd, and manager Jim Holt goes to RHP Roy Darnell for the 4th, the White Sox’ seventh pitcher of the game.
Deerborn does manage to get on the board in the 3rd inning with a pinch hit home run from Ryad Hanguille. Later, in the 7th, with starter Jose Verdier still on the mound for Roland, Lia Yorino and PH Jorge Oko hit solo bombs to cut the Stags’ lead to 8-3. Verdier’s day ends with 8 IP, 3 runs on 8 hits.
Roy Darnell eats up 3.1 innings for the White Sox, but they are forced to turn to the presumed starter for game 7, RHP Roberto Tokorres, for 2 outs of relief, before tapping RHP Michael Green to finish the final 2 innings.
The final is Roland 8, Deerborn 3. They move to a winner-take-all game 7 in Roland on Sunday, with the momentum now back firmly on the Stags’ side. White Sox pitchers Hudson and Takato’s injuries are minor, but they are both very unlikely to play in game 7.
Game 7: Gateway Park, Roland, Afton
10/6/1929 | series tied 3-3
A Windsor Cup Champion will be crowned today! RHP Mathew Huertata gets his third start of this series for the White Sox, on short rest, as Deerborn’s pitching staff is beat up and worn out after their game 6 loss. LHP Rich Smith starts game 7 for the Stags, who are in a prime position to take home their first Windsor Cup.
The White Sox get things going right away with a leadoff double by Luke Lia Puedris to start the game. Rich Smith then walks Rygh Ogg. A Curt Sawyer double past a diving Said at third base brings home Lia Puedris and makes it 1-0, Deerborn. Bob Hove then brings home Ogg with a sacrifice groundout, and Daniel Lia Yorino cracks a double down the third base line to bring Sawyer home and makes it 3-0, White Sox, after a half inning.
Mathew Huertata allows a single in the 1st, but then shuts down the Stags for 0 hits through the next 3 innings. With 2 outs in the bottom of the 5th, Carlos Martinezo hits a double. Gurr Engh, the pinch hit hero, does it again with a 2-run shot to left. The score is now 3-2, Deerborn.
Rich Smith’s day ends with 3 runs on 5 hits in 5 innings. Mathew Huertata pitches through the 6th for Deerborn in a courageous performance on short rest, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits in 6 innings. RHP Michael Green pitches again after throwing 2 innings on Friday, and gives Deerborn an inning for the hold. White Sox closer Carlos Garcika enters the game in the 8th to attempt the 6-out save. The game ends on an Antonio Said fly ball to shallow center field, caught by Lia Yorino.
The White Sox players storm the field, gloves and hats flying into the air with jubilant abandon as disappointed Stags fans make their way to the exits. It’s another bitter WCF loss for the Stags and their fans. A small contingent of Sox fans make their way to the front of the stands to witness the presentation of the Windsor Cup while the press documents every joyous moment. Jorge Takato and Rygh Ogg lift the Cup together, much to the delight of their fans and families.
White Sox SS Daniel Lia Yorino is is awarded Windsor Cup Finals MVP. He hit .292 with 2 HR and 5 RBI in the series, and put away the iconic final out.
Until next fall, the Deerborn White Sox will cherish their possession of the Windsor Cup. They are 1929 Windsor Cup champs!
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