WESTPORT — The Rose Alley Isotopes put up a great effort Monday buy failed in their bid to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Isotopes lost 6-3, and combined with last week’s 11-2 loss, were eliminated from the Sandlot Softball League playoffs by the Misfits.
“We just couldn’t muster enough hits when we needed them,” coach Jon Darling said. “We were upbeat the whole game. We were cheering and supporting one another. We were really into this game but just couldn’t hit the ball enough to win.”
Matt Biltcliffe drove in both runs in last-week’s loss with a first-inning single. Pat Long platted two runs Monday evening on a double to center. Kurt Homer accounted for Rose Alley’s other run with a hard ball up the middle that got by the outfielders for a home run. The Misfits will start their best-of-five finals series against the three-time defensing champion Bulldogs on Wednesday.
2009 marked the third season in the last four that the Isotopes have had the best record in the regular season but failed to win the championship. Not helping Rose Alley’s offensive struggles in the playoffs was the loss of Yim, who had surgery recently to repair a ruptured Achilles’ tendon.
Darling said that despite the early playoff exit, the season is not a failure by any means.
“It’s fun coming out a few times a week and having some brews. It was a blast and it made the summer of crappy weather that much better,” he said.
Before hanging up his cleats for on the 2009 season, his last as coach, Darling wanted to thank his teammates and the Ale House for their support, as well as express gratitude to all the Decent Community readers.
“A lot of the guys were a delight to play with. I’ll never forget some of the great things that happened on and off the field with the Isotopes. The thousands who visit Decent Community every day helped take the Topes beyond SouthCoast, and the Rose Alley Ale House was just awesome in sponsoring the team,” he said, adding that he felt “honored” to be coach of the team for three seasons.
Although no one has stepped up and said they would take over the team next season, Darling said that assistant coach Dave Gags, Long and newcomer Kenny Jacobsen would all make great coaches if they would like to lead the squad in 2010. “They’re all responsible and have great people skills. Any of them would make an outstanding leader next year.”
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