By CLIFF CONNERS
PLATTSBURGH "" It's do-or-die this weekend in the Champlain Valley Baseball League.
The Hockey Plus Padres will travel to the friendly confines of Lefty Wilson Field to try to complete an upset of the second-seeded Plattsburgh Cardinals and take home their first championship in their short history.
The Cardinals, on the other hand, will be looking to avenge a 4-3 loss in Game 1 of the series and try to come away with a two-game sweep of the Padres to capture their second-straight CVBL championship.
The Padres and Cardinals will meet today at noon for Game 2 of the series, with Game 3 to immediately follow if necessary.
Last week the Cardinals and Padres received excellent pitching performances from Tom Neale and Craig Bujold, respectively, but some ninth-inning drama stole the spotlight.
With the score knotted at 2-2, the Cardinals took advantage of a mental mistake to force an error that put them ahead 3-2.
But the Padres, who started the inning with a fly out and a strikeout, took advantage of a two defensive mistakes and added two hits to rally for an exciting walk-off win.
"We are going to have to play better defense Sunday and not make as many mistakes if we're going to win," Cardinals manager Gary Duquette said.
Bujold, who has recorded two of the Padres' victories in the playoffs, struck out 10 in last week's win and will once again have to shut down a potent Cardinals' offense.
The only difference this week, however, is that the Cardinals will have their full squad at the diamond, something that Duquette is not used to.
"We haven't had every player on our team there at once this year, but today we will have a long bench because everyone will be there," he said. "It's nice to have some options and getting our No. 4, 5 and 6 batters back in the lineup should help out a little."
Neale was impressive as well last week on the mound with six strikeouts over seven innings before giving way to Duquette in the eighth inning.
"Tom (Neale) always gives us a chance to win," Duquette said. "He has been great for us, but we haven't scored enough runs.
"Our pitching is never an issue because we are deep in that regard, but our lack of hitting and defense of late has been a problem. We're hoping to turn that around today."
The Cardinals, who have a potentially explosive lineup, will be beneficiaries of the return of Tim and Brandon Barcomb. Neale, who is recovering from an injury that kept him from hitting last week, should be back in the lineup today as well.
Matt Duquette, Jason Perry and Rob Malloy have been the Cardinals' hottest hitters of late.
The Padres, who no one expected to get this far, have been the CVBL's most pleasant surprise this year. They are a team that brings excitement and emotion to the field, which has brought them to this point.
The Padres have been the winners of the two most exciting games in the 2007 CVBL playoffs. They defeated the Adirondack Timberjaxx in an extra-inning contest on a RBI double from Mike Siskavich and received an RBI single from Shane Perrotte that sealed the deal last week.
Bujold and Mike Bergman have been steady all season on the hill for the Padres.
The Padres have been led offensively by Kyle Rock who, because of an injury, has been hitting from the left side of the plate for the last two months, which hasn't slowed him down a bit.
Bujold and Bergman surround Rock in the middle of the order to give the Padres a formidable trio of run producers.
Other players, such as Zack Welch, Jeff Norton, Joel Siskavich, Mike Siskavich, Kyle Siskavich and Mark Passino have also done damage for the Padres in the post-season.
When all is said and done, however, the Padres will either be celebrating a first-ever championship, or the Cardinals will be celebrating a second-straight title and eight championship overall.
Note: Plattsburgh Cardinal player Jason Perry and his girlfriend Jess Bedore gave birth to a baby girl, Ava, on August 9.
Perry is the second Cardinal player to become a father in two weeks, after Nick Walker and his girlfriend Jenny Manabat gave birth to their daughter, Sadi.
CVBL Champions
2006
Plattsburgh Cardinals def. C.R Tunes Mudhens, 2-0.
2005
Lyon Mountain Miners def. C.R. Tunes Mudhens, 2-1.
2004
Plattsburgh Cardinals def. C.R. Tunes Mudhens, 2-0.
2003
Altona Hornets def. Plattsburgh Cardinals, 2-1.
2002
Lyon Mountain Miners def. Altona Hornets, 2-1.
2001
Altona Hornets def. C.R. Tunes Mudhens, 2-0.
2000
C.R. Tunes Mudhens def. Lyon Mountain Miners, 2-0.
1999
Lyon Mountain Miners def. C.R. Tunes Mudhens, 2-0.
1998
Altona Hornets def. Clinton Lakers, 2-0.
1997
Plattsburgh Cardinals def. Altona Hornets, 2-0.
1996
Altona Hornets def. Plattsburgh Cardinals, 2-0.
1995
Clinton Lakers def. Midas Mudhens, 2-0.
1994
Plattsburgh Cardinals def. Midas Mudhens, 2-0.
1993
Plattsburgh Cardinals def. Midas Mudhens, 2-0.
1992
Plattsburgh Cardindals def. Midas Mudhens, 2-1.
1991
Altona Hornets def. Peru/Al's Patchwork, 2-0.
1990
Redford River Rats def. Peru/Al's Patchwork, 2-1.
1989
Peru/Al's Patchwork def. Redford River Rats, 2-0.
1988
Plattsburgh Cardinals def. Altona Hornets, 2-0.
1987
Peru/Al's Patchwork def. Plattsburgh Cardinals, 2-1.
1986
AuSable Forks Spirits def. Plattsburgh Cardinals, 2-0.
1985
Peru/Ormsby's Well Drillers def. McGee's Mudhens, 2-0.
1984
AuSable Forks Spirits def. Peru/Ormsby's Well Drillers, 2-1.
1983
Peru/Ormsby's Well Drillers def. AuSable Forks Spirits, 2-0.
1982
Peru/Ormsby's Well Drillers def. AuSable Forks Spirits, 2-0.
1981
AuSable Forks Spirits def. Lyon Mountain Miners, 2-0.
1980
Peru Rustic def. Lyon Mountain Miners, 2-0.
1979
Burlington Expos def. AuSable Forks Spirits, 2-0.
1978
Burlington Expos def. Peru Rustic, 2-1.
1977
AuSable Forks Spirits def. Lyon Mountain Lions, 2-1.
1976
Peru def. Lyon Mountain Lions, 2-1.
1975
Lyon Mountain Miners def. Peru, 2-1.
1974
Peru def. Dannemora Falcons, 2-0.
1973
Ellenburg Eagles def. Lyon Mountain Miners, 2-1.
1972
Peru def. Lyon Mountain Miners, 2-1.
1971
Lyon Mountain Miners def. Peru, 2-0.
1951
Lyon Mountain Miners def AuSable Forks Fireman, 1-0.
1948
AuSable Forks Fireman win.
1940 & 1941
Lyon Mountain Miners win.
Player of the Week
Craig Bujold
Hockey Plus
Bujold tossed a five-hitter in going the distance for the pitching win and helped himself at the plate with a base hit and run scored. He also reached base another time on an error.
Pitcher of the Week
Tom Neale
Plattsburgh Cardinals
Neale, pitching despite an injury, went seven strong innings, striking out six and surrendering three hits, in getting a no decision.
