AWA Enterprises had developed into a pretty solid team, but the batting order never really offered much punch from the catcher's position. That all changed in 1978 when Dave Jackson brought brother-in-law Joe Sammut onto the team. The new lefty slugger added power and fiery leadership to the AWA lineup, and it proved to be a timely addition as Joe's might was the key to AWA's victory in the 1978 league championship game.
AWA opened the spring season like a runaway train, reeling off victories of 16-5, 12-0, 21-6, and 31-3 in the first four games of the year. The team's next opponent, Guardino Pump & Well, gave AWA all it could handle in a terrific seesaw game that the guys pulled out 19-18 by scoring twice in the bottom of the seventh.
The team was now poised to finish the first half undefeated, but the guys were derailed 6-5 by second place and once-beaten Ochoa Roofing in the first half finale. With both AWA and Ochoa Roofing tied for first, a special playoff to determine the first half champ was scheduled for the next week. The playoff spot that the guys had taken for granted was now at risk, and the team responded with a terrific effort, burying the Roofers 15-3. The boys of AWA had their reservation in the league finals for the third time in four years.
AWA was moved up to the "B" League for the second half, where the team tested well against superior competition, posting a 3-3 record. Meanwhile, the second half of the "CC" race was a muddled mess among four teams who were each still in contention for the top spot.
Five teams descended upon Roosevelt Park this night. The first game would be Guardino Pump & Well against Ochoa Roofing, who were replaying a tie game. If Guardino won the game, everyone else would go home, and AWA would meet Guardino for the championship. If Ochoa Roofing won the game, the second half would end up as a four way tie for first, with a couple of rounds of elimination games to be played to determine the champ. In this case AWA would be sent home and come back a week later to meet the survivor.
As we were dressed and ready play, we certainly did not want to wait out another week. But the drama ended early as Guardino blasted the Roofers, setting the stage for the next game of the night -- AWA versus Guardino Pump & Well for the ""CC" Championship.
In those days, Roosevelt Park was renowned for its short and inviting right field fence. The fence moved out in a straight line toward center field, parallel to the third base line, giving the field a rectangular look. The right field foul pole stood only 220 feet from home plate. Offsetting the short porch was the prevailing breeze, which typically blew straight in from that direction.
AWA lost the coin toss, which made us the visiting team. But the guys put down the hammer immediately with a dynamic outburst. With one out, Tony Franklin shot a bullet to left that sailed over the left fielder's head for a home run. After John Koeplin reached on an error, Tom Sukup promptly dropped a double down the right field line, with John holding at third. Steve Barrett whacked a hit to left to score John, and then Mike Applegate waited out a full count walk to load the bases.
That brought Joe to the plate. The AWA rookie took a couple of pitches before seeing one he liked, launching a towering fly to right. The ball hung in the late afternoon sky for what seemed an eternity as the right fielder backed up as far as he could against the fence. His head dropped and his body slumped as the ball easily cleared the fence for a grand slam homer. Joe was greeted at home plate as if he had won the game right then, and there was plenty of whooping and hollering to go around as the team took its 6-0 lead into the field.
The Guardino hitters nearly answered in kind as they loaded the bases with two out. The number six hitter in the lineup then took aim at the short right field porch, but the wind held up his bid for a grand slam just enough for Steve to haul in the soaring drive at the fence.
Gary Matsushita walked to open the second. Tony rolled a grounder to third in which the infielder slowly, which was just enough time for the speedy AWA hitter to leg it out for a hit. John then flied out to left, but both runners were able to move up a base when the outfielder threw wildly back to the infield. Tom then scorched a grounder through the middle. The second baseman made a nice backhanded stop, but his throw to first could not be dug out by the first baseman. Gary scored from third, and as the Guardian infielder scrambled for the loose ball, Tony never stopped, scoring all the way from second. AWA led 8-0.
But there was still a lot of game left, and the potent Guardino lineup jumped all over pitcher Earl Yagi in the bottom of the second, scoring four times and loading the bases with two out. The next hitter blasted a drive to deep right center. Steve sprinted along the fence line, finally stretching out to make a dazzling back-handed catch. That play saved AWA from what would have been a disastrously huge inning. As it turned out, that rally was Guardino Pump & Well's last hurrah. They never threatened to score again.
AWA upped the score to 9-4 in the fourth on Steve's two-out RBI single, but the opportunity for more ended when Tom was thrown out at home on Mike's single to left. From there the pitching took over, with the only remaining scoring threat from either side coming in the top of the seventh when Mike tried to stretch a triple into a homer and was gunned down at the plate.
Earl gave up only three hits over the last five innings and with the aid of two double plays, kept Guardino Pump & Well off the scoreboard. Only one Guardino player got as far as second base after the second inning.
The AWA faithful were already celebrating as the game entered the bottom of the seventh, and the team became increasingly giddy as the Guardino hitters quietly went down 1-2-3 to end the game. Fittingly, the last out was taken by Steve in right, who shined as the defensive hero of the game. And for the third time in four years AWA was crowned league champion.
