Saturday/Sunday August 2 & 3, 2008
“Old Gold finish 2nd at World Tourney”
The Saginaw Old Golds fine run in the sixth annual World Tournament of Historic Base Ball at Greenfield Village ended with a 11-7 loss in the championship game to the defending champions, The Lah De Dahs. Saginaw scored in the first inning for a 1-0 lead but allowed four unearned runs in the bottom half of the inning and never regained the lead during the title game. Trailing 9-1 in the sixth inning, the Golds rallied for five runs to close the gap, but their mental errors early in the game proved too costly to overcome against the talented hometown club. Club manager Harold Campau spoke about his team’s fine showing at Greenfield Village. “The Lah De Dahs are a fine base ball club with skilled players at every position. The Old Golds are the only first year club to play in the finals of this historic tournament. We had an extremely difficult task by facing the best teams in the tournament in our bracket. The team played exceptionally well. We look forward to playing in future tournaments.” Chris Holly led the Old Golds with four hits in the title game and Captain Adam McCauley added three. Holly also won first place during the skills competition in the fastest base runner contest while Saginaw shortstop Toby Larkin placed third in the farthest thrown ball competition. Saginaw’s outfield trio of Holly, John Piersall, and Ryan Dost were outstanding during the entire tournament, catching several fly balls hit to the longfield. The Old Golds had to win three games to reach the finals. Right out of the gate they faced off against the three time world champions from Dayton, Ohio, the Clodbusters. James Fisher, captain of the Port Huron Ball Club said, “Everyone guns for the Clodbusters. They usually are the team to beat.” Saginaw hurlers Don Deford and Don Cox shared pitching duties and frustrated the Coldbusters by mixing their pitches to keep the skilled Dayton strikers off balance in the 17-12 win. Dennis Konusewski was 4-4 with 4 RBI. Ryan Dost was 4-4 with 2 doubles. John Piersall added 2 doubles. Cox said, “We had to win this game or drop into the reserve bracket. One loss and you are out of contention for the championship. We neat the three time world champions and had the tying run at the plate in the final game. We will be back.” The quarterfinal game with arch rival Bay City was an exciting 8-7 extra inning affair. Trailing 6-3 during their final at bat, the Old Gold scored three runs with two outs to force an extra frame. Bay City then scored once to retake the lead 7-6. Saginaw was down to their final out following a ground out and pop out when McCauley doubled and went to third on a single by Piersall who then stole second base. Konusewski ended the suspense right then and there with a walk-off smash double to right-center field. The Old Golds went on hitting barrage in the semi-final game, a 23-3 route against the Capitals Base Ball Club of Columbus, Ohio. Saginaw scored 11 runs in the third inning and eight more in the fourth. The hit parade was led by Piersall’s four hits. McCauley, Dost, Holly, Nick Hammond, Brandon Daig, and Rick Spitz, had three each. Saginaw finished with 27 hits for the game.