AWA entered the 1976 season with reserved optimism. Fresh off the Championship that was won the year before, we were moved up into the more competitive "C-1" Division. The team was also facing its insecurity about how good it really was. AWA made a remarkable run to complete the '75 campaign, but there were many, including some of those in the AWA camp, who felt we were overrated and a bit lucky.
One thing was certain. AWA was going to get tested. And an analysis of the talent on the other teams in the league told us that we were going to have to be better than lucky just to compete. Among the teams in the league was Mohawk Packing, who we defeated in that memorable '75 championship game. We were sure that Mohawk Packing was itching for some pay back.
Despite the daunting opposition, AWA reeled off four straight victories to the start the '76 season. We needed every one of those wins, because sharing the top spot of the standings was a very determined Mohawk Packing team, also holding a 4-0 record. Both teams were looking to the spring season's final game, where the two squads were scheduled to meet.
But AWA hurt itself in its next game, losing a sloppy 9-4 decision to Original Sam's, while Mohawk Packing enjoyed a bye. Now, with sole possession of first place, the Mohawks were in the driver's seat. But a week later, as AWA sat out its own bye, Mohawk Packing overlooked lowly Forberg Engines, who dealt the Mohawks their first loss by a score of 15-4. AWA and Mohawk Packing were tied for first once again, which fittingly set the stage for the two rivals to meet in the game that would determine the winner of the first half. With everything on the line, the scrappy lads of AWA, on the strength of a five-run fifth inning and an outstanding pitching effort by Earl Yagi, rolled to an impressive 10-5 win. We could truly believe now. AWA had another reservation in the post-season playoffs. Defeated for a second time, Mohawk Packing had also, finally, become a believer.
Winning the division meant moving up again, this time to the "CC" Division, where AWA did little to distinguish itself. The team slumped badly at the plate, and posted a mediocre 2-4 record. Meanwhile, back in the "C-1" division, the Shady Oak Bombers were picking up steam. They had salvaged the first half by winning their last three games, then stayed hot throughout the second half to win the "C-1" Division with a perfect 6-0 record. So AWA had to prepare to face the Shady Oak Bombers and their nine-game winning streak in the 1976 championship game.
AWA and Shady Oak had met early in the spring, with AWA holding on to pull out a 6-5 decision. But that came at a time when AWA was playing well and the Bombers were not. Now the situation was reversed. The Bombers eerily resembled the red-hot AWA team of 1975 who shocked everyone with their run for the championship. After a great start to the year, AWA was now struggling.
The Bombers tallied a single run in the top of the first, but AWA answered that with a run of its own in the bottom of the inning. With two out, Tom Sukup lined a shot down the right field line. The AWA center fielder had an easy triple, but he tried to stretch it into a home run. The throw to the plate was in plenty of time, and the umpire emphatically rung Tom out. But on the tag the ball slipped out of the catcher's glove, and Tom was safe on the error.
Dave Jackson brought a full entourage of fans to the game, and with one out in the second, the AWA first baseman energized the crowd with a long home run to left, giving AWA a 2-1 lead. Earl Yagi followed with a single to right, and Pat Koeplin stepped up and roped a hit to center, which skipped past the charging outfielder. While the ball was being chased down, Earl scored all the way from first and Pat ended up at third. Ken Morse rolled out to short, but Pat was able to scamper home. AWA now led 4-1.
In the third inning Gary Matsushita stroked a one-out single and advanced to third on a two-bagger by Tom that kicked up the chalk on the left field line. Steve Barrett then slammed a long triple to center. That brought up John Koeplin, who delivered a soft single through the middle to score Steve. It was now 7-1, and AWA was cruising.
The Bombers scratched out a run in the top of the fourth with two singles around a long fly. In the home half of the fifth, Steve was robbed of a three-run homer on a spectacular catch by the right fielder. Instead, Steve had to settle for a sacrifice fly, and AWA's lead stretched to 8-2.
Earl was having an easy time of it working through the Shady Oak batting order, giving up only five hits and two runs through the first five innings. But AWA had to be very careful here. In that spring victory over Shady Oak, the Bombers rallied from a 6-1 deficit with four runs in the seventh inning, only to lose when the potential tying run was thrown out at the plate to end the game. Shady Oak had also made the playoffs by overcoming an 8-2 deficit in their last game of the regular season. AWA didn't want to go to sleep right then, and the guys certainly didn't want to see the kind of comeback that AWA had pulled on Mohawk Packing just a year before.
Sure enough, the Bomber bats started to rumble in the sixth, touching Earl for a pair of runs. With two outs and two runners on base, a line drive ticketed for right center field was snagged by second baseman Tony Franklin, who made an impossible leaping, twisting catch to kill the rally. To this day, it's still remembered as one of those epic plays that had to be seen to be believed. And only the cat-quick AWA infielder could have pulled it off.
AWA scratched out another run in the sixth, and took the 9-4 lead into the seventh. Earl surrendered a leadoff single but got the following hitter on a liner to left. The next Shady Oak batter bounced a one-hopper back to Earl, who started a nifty 1-6-3 game-ending double play. AWA had pulled off the repeat!
There were many doubters at the beginning of the season, among opponents and AWA players alike. But all were in agreement now. The boys of AWA were champs -- again!
