Illowa APBA League

Here is the Naperville Holiday Inn- Friendly Home of IAL Conventions

IAL 2005 Postseason

My first task was to take on Marcus Bunch and his Moline Upperdeckers in the playoffs.  We started out hot with Kevin Brown pitching a shutout but it all downhill from there as the Upperdeckers won the next 3 to win the series.  Here's Marcus with Eric Hinske, the Playoff Series MVP.

Then it was World Series time.  Marcus took on Rob whose Highlanders defeated the first place Hitmen in the playoffs.  Things didn't bode well for Mark's Upperdeckers at first.  He lost the first 3 games.

Then the Upperdeckers started winning.  They won Games 4, 5 and 6.  I was in my hotel room at the time when Tedd called and all he said was "Game 7!".

Game 7 was quite a masterpiece.  The Upperdeckers were down a run or two and had runners on base and really needed a big hit from Todd Helton.  Mark placed the dice with both ones facing up on top of Helton's card saying he wanted him to "bless the dice".  Mike said something about "why not ask for a 66?".  I remember thinking to myself, "Don't ask for more than you need". 

Mark proceeded to roll the dice and got an...

ELEVEN!

Upperdeckers hold on to win Game 7 and the World Series!

League Meeting

Commissioner and Proud Dad hands Marcus Bunch his well-earned IAL championship trophy

...and does his best to keep order during the typically rowdy league meeting.

Here's me accepting the IAL Manager of the Year award.  Mike's smiling because he has photographic proof of me in a Cardinals jersey (the joke's on him...  another off-season's gone by and he still hasn't gotten Pujols from me).

Hmm... either the Chicago boys are paying rapt attention to Mike at the league meeting...

... or they're trying their best not too laugh at the stain on his shirt.

Looks like the meeting has been disbanded for the usual reasons.

See what happens when you put Nick in front of the camera?

Tedd is looking at Marcus with those bedroom eyes of his.

Saturday Morning

As usual, we ate at IHOP for breakfast Saturday morning.  Boy, being commissioner must boost that appetite!

2005 IAL Draft

The Draft is about to begin and managers are looking over the rookie cards.  Rob wants to know where the A* relievers are.

Tedd makes his 3rd pick of the draft... Justin Morneau.  He had the first three picks in the draft and couldn't help shooting his wad by announcing his first two picks the night before... Zack Greinke and B.J. Upton.

Here's John, the grizzled veteran with Dan Bunch, the green rookie.  Dan, in his first year in the IAL, is co-managing the Beanos with John.  John had so much confidence in Dan that he let him pick the first round pick for the Beanos.  I have to say I was impressed as he picked Bobby Madritsch who I had my eye on all year.

Boy, the tension of the draft is reflected in these faces, eh?

2005 IAL Season

The Bamm Beanos and Sluggers begin their season against their respective opponents

Former IAL manager Rob Taylor showed up for a while as promised.  He even took over the helm of the Champions for a few games.  From the look on Tedd's face, he must be winning.

Nick realizes the year his team has in store and begins to panic.

Don and Chuck facing off for the first time in 05.  Don has that "playing the Hitmen" look on his face.

Before Rob T. left, Todd had a "Rob Taylor Appreciation Day" at a Gambler ballgame in honor of their former manager.

Nick won this Anna Benson calendar from Don.  He has Kris Benson on his pitching staff.  See Nick?  Having Kris *IS* paying off dividends.

More Photos from the Weekend without Snappy Captions