YIP CLUB CAPTURES SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

By Author Unknown
Date of publication: 9/20/1979
For the second straight year the YIP Club has taken the M Street Softball title. Led by strong pitching from Edso Foley and a tenacious defense, coupled with timely hitting, the YIP's battled three different opponent's to gain this year's championship.

In the semi-finals of the National League, the YIP's swept by arch rival Rabbit Inn, in two straight. The highlite of this series was a clinching 6-0 shutout posted by Edso Foley. 'Big Ed' received all the offense he needed from Nino Sances with a bases clearing double in the sixth to win it.

The Triple O's Club was next for the YIP's. This match-up was the classic Cinderella team, Triple O's versus the veteran laiden YIP Club.

The YIP's got off to a quick start and walked away with a 10-2 opening victory. The Evans brothers, John and Tommy, led the hit parade in this one by whacking out two hits a piece to account for 6 RBI's.

The YIP's had Greeko take the mound in the second game an dhe limited The O's to just four runs while his offense supplied him with fourteen. Once again Jonh Evans with help from Bob Doherty supplied the YIP's with two key hits each while on their way to a second consecutive rout.

In the third and final game it was Kenny O'Brien's turn at the plate with a 4-4 showing and John Evans came through again with three more bingos to help spark the offense. This game saw the O's battle to the end but they finally went down 10-6. The victory gave the YIP's a sweep of the National League playoffs and the championship in their division.

The YIP Club then had to face the American League champs, McGrail Club next for the M Street crown. A hot McGrail Club came out swinging in the opener and blasted the YIP's 15-8. Jack Farrell and Bob Lerro had two homeruns each to lead the rout.

In the second game, the YIP's got out to a quick four run lead and never looked back as they tied the series at one game a piece with an 8-2 victory. Shortey Conley led the offensive attack in this game with three hard hits and 3 RBI's in addition to scoring two runs.

The third game was a great one to watch with good pitching backed up by some great defensive plays by the YIP's as they squeaked out a 5-3 win. Shorty Conley made two dazzling plays in center to snuff out a couple of rallies by McGrail while Bob Doherty's bat supplied the power for the YIP's with a come from behind three run homer in the last of the sixth.

Another tight game followed which saw the McGrail Club bounce back from a 6-2 deficit to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth. The YIP's didn't quit though and quickly answered back with two runs in the top of the sixth as Kenny O'Brien and Edso Foley deleivered the key hits. The YIP Club hung on to take an 8- victory which gave them a commanding 3-1 series lead in the finals.

The YIP's were now looking for the four game sweep after suffering their only playoff loss in the opening game of the series.

The next game was a classic pitcher's duel between Edso Foley and Paul Mylett. These two men battled each other for seven innings with the YIP's getting four hits and McGrail held to just three hits. The key blow came in the bottom of the third when McGrail decided to intentionally walk Bob Doherty to set up a force play after John McNiff led off with a triple. Carl Dimaggio then sent Mylett's first offering to deep left center for a bases clearing 3-run homer and a 3-0 lead that they would never relinquish.

McGrail battled all the way down to their last out and it would take two great defensive pays to finally put them away for good.