The ’90s Chicago Bulls. The late-’90s Yankees. The ’70s Oakland A’s.
The most championships they ever won in a row? Three.
The Fish Heads set out to do something not even Michael Jordan had done: winning four straight championships.
The Chautauqua Softball Championship game between the Fish Heads and the Slugs kicked off Friday with some finally cooler weather. The Fish Heads looked to make history and win four straight championships, which had never been done before in the league. The Slugs looked to add the 18th championship to their trophy case.
The Fish Heads batted first. They had a keen eye, exposing the Slugs’ weakly-controlled right field. The game opened up for them instantly, with a quick 10-run inning. It was as if someone had poured salt on the Slugs.
In the bottom of the first, the Slugs earned two tough and gritty runs, unable to hammer home enough to match the tonnage of the Fish Heads.
In the second inning, the Fish Heads hard-hitting playstyle slowed, only getting one player home, for a score of 11–2 heading into the bottom of the second, where the Slugs went scoreless.
The Fish Heads continued to stay above water, not scoring — or needing — any runs in the third. The Slugs continued to whittle down the lead, adding another run.
In the fourth, the Fish Heads snuck three runs in methodical fashion. They played thus far for short gains after their first inning run-explosion, which had netted them great season results thus far.
The Slugs’ action picked up, knocking out six runs, and they looked like the undefeated team they once were. The score was 14–9 heading into the fifth.
The Fish Heads got one run, extending their lead. The bottom of the fifth saw no runs for the Slugs in the quickest inning of the game, where flyouts were popular.
In the sixth inning, the Fish Heads went scoreless. The teams had essentially figured each other out. Their patterns were recognized by one another, slowing the game. The Slugs also had zero runs in the sixth.
Heading into the final three innings of the season, the game could be torn off its hinges with ease, though neither team scored in the seventh. With neither team scoring, it could easily become anyone’s game.
At this point, it’s as if the game had become more of a social gathering than a sporting event.
In the top of the eighth, the Fish Heads hammered home two runs. It was their first time getting to home plate since the fifth inning.
The Slugs were able to add a run, heading into the final inning, 16–10.
The Fish Heads weren’t able to score. Down six runs, the Slugs may have had a chance to take the crown — they promptly struck out. The Slugs had no miracle.
“The first four-peat in team history. The first in league history. It’s amazing,” said Fish Head pitcher Will Chubb.
He reflected on the struggles of the year before the biggest win of their season.
“We had a two-week span where we didn’t win a game,” he said. “But we really fight. I told the team, ‘We’re going to bring it back.’ And we did.”
