Gehrig homers in bottom of ninth to win World Series title for Seaview

Two-run blast off Trevor Hoffman beats Fremont 5-4

Seaview, Wash. — Lou Gehrig hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth off ace Fremont closer Trevor Hoffman to give Seaview a 5-4 victory in game six, and the Century League World Series title.

Gehrig was named the series MVP. The series-clinching homer clinched the award, but Gehrig had a great series, batting .435 (10-for-23) with three homers, seven RBI, and seven runs in the six games. Fremont's Mike Piazza was brilliant as well and nearly snatched the award from Gehrig in a close vote. Piazza was 11-for-23 (.478) with five homers and 10 RBI.

Gehrig's blast ended a see-saw affair in which both clubs battled to come from behind, and in which the lead changed hands three times.

The shot also pinned the goat's horns sqarely on Hoffman, the National Century League saves leader with 30 on the regular year for the Rockets. Though he saved one win for Fremont, he lost twice, also serving up a ninth-inning homer to Babe Ruth to sqander the series opener. Hoffman had a 9.82 ERA in four series appearances.

For a while it looked like Fremont manager Bobby Cox would have little need for his bullpen. Starter Greg Maddux was stellar after a shaky first, in which he uncharacteristically walked three batters but was bailed out by a double play. Maddux allowed just four singles through six innings and Fremont led 2-0 on the strength of back-to-back homers by Barry Bonds and Mike Piazza in the fourth off Seaview starter Carl Mays.

But Maddux faltered and lost the lead in the seventh. Tony Lazzeri led off the inning with an infield single that Craig Biggio was just able to smother before it bounced into center field. Joe Sewell, on a perfectly executed hit-and-run play, grounded a single into right to send Lazzeri to third. George Sisler, batting for pitcher Red Faber, grounded out to short to plate Lazzeri and send Sewell to second. Max Bishop worked Maddux for a walk. After Harry Heilmann popped to short, Ruth laced one into the right field corner, and by the time Gary Sheffield could corral the ball both runs were in, Ruth was standing on third with a triple, and Seaview led 3-2. Maddux walked Gehrig intentionally, and Al Simmons bounced into a force play to end the inning.

Fremont came right back in the top of the eighth against Ed Rommell, who could get nobody out. Biggio was hit by a pitch leading off, the third time he was plunked in the series, then raced to third on a base hit by Barry Larkin. Bonds walked to load the bases. Piazza followed with a single to right; Biggio scored to tie the game at 3-3, but Ruth's throw to the plate nailed Larkin as Bonds went to third. A base hit by Jeff Bagwell plated Bonds to make it 4-3 Fremont and chase Rommell. Firpo Marberry came on to notch the final two outs.

Maddux was back in charge but couldn't get out of the eighth. Mickey Cochrane and Sewell singled around a strikeout by Lazzeri, and with lefty Goose Goslin coming up to bat for Marberry, Cox called on the pen and southpaw John Franco. Goslin bounced into a double play.

Herb Pennock retired the Rockets in the ninth, though he allowed a couple of walks. That set up the ninth for Hoffman, as Cox had Jeff Kent bat -- and whiff -- for Franco in the top of the inning.

Hoffman fanned Bishop leading off, but then Heilmann blooped a single into left center to put the tying run on for Ruth and Gehrig. Hoffman fanned the Babe, but the Iron Horse blasted one into the right field stands to win it for the home crowd. Left on deck was Al Simmons: 0-for-19 in the World Series, but way overdue.

Pitching won the series for Seaview, which outscored Fremont 28-21 in the six-game series. Neither team tore the cover off the ball; the Artisans batted just .226 in victory, while the Rockets batted .241. Fremont also held the slightest of edges in slugging (.412-402) and on-base percentage (.338-335). Both clubs had eight home runs. Seaview's just came when it counted most.

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