By Rob Potter
MONGAUP VALLEY — August 19, 2003 – The Mr. Willy’s softball team won the Sullivan County Women’s Softball League B Division Playoff Championship against The Nugget on Thursday night at Collins Park.
But the Mr. Willy’s squad claimed the division playoff title in an unusual fashion.
Because of the electrical blackout that affected millions of people in several states and Canada, both teams struggled to have the required minimum of nine players at Collins Park by the scheduled game time of 6:15 p.m. The teams waited for some time for players to arrive.
With some players heading back to college and others planning vacations in the final two weeks of August, concerns arose over when the teams could reschedule the second game and play the possible third game in the best-of-three series.
The Nugget decided to forfeit the game, which, combined with Mr. Willy’s 15-0 victory the previous night in the first game of the series, gave the playoff championship to Mr. Willy’s.
“It’s a bummer that it has to end this way,” said Roe Steuber, a pitcher for The Nugget. “But we still had a great season and I’m proud of the team.”
The Nugget posted an 11-6 won-loss record to win the B division regular season title. In the first round of the B playoffs, the team defeated Irwin Siegel Agency.
“Our season was excellent,” The Nugget Coach Ed Wheat said. “I’m very proud of these ladies, we have a great team.”
Mr. Willy’s posted a 10-8 record to finish second to The Nugget in the regular season standings.
“I think we had a great season,” said Mr. Willy’s Player/Coach Chrissy Schiff. “We had our first playoff win in three years.”
In the first round of the B division playoffs, Mr. Willy’s defeated Bum and Kel’s.