By Adam Przeslak, staff reporter.
The Great Lakes Loons battled back to win the Midwest League Title 9-8 against the Clinton LumberKings at Dow Diamond on Sunday Sept. 18. After ten years of heartbreak and disappointment the Loons have finally accomplished what was at one time thought to be impossible, a Midwest League title.
Just ten years ago the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays became affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers and announced a large scale movement of the entire franchise and a rebranding. The Devil Rays transitioned into the Great Lakes Loons and relocated to Midland, where they called the Dow Diamond their new home.
Seasons have come and gone since that change in scenery for the Class-A minor league team. Some years looked promising while others seemed to be a never ending purgatory of being mediocre. Players have made their names known with Loons, even gaining attention from professional level teams, and some have remained in the minors still pursuing their dreams of making it to the big leagues. The Loons have seen a fair deal of success but always come up dry with nothing to show for their efforts in the postseason.
This title did not come easy to the Loons who struggled throughout the first two rounds of play when playing away from the Dow Diamond. But they played best when it counted the most, coming out on top of two separate win or be eliminated game 3 situations. But the team dominated when at home establishing a 4-0 record when playing in Midland throughout the entire postseason including the final game where they were crowned with the title.
The championship, a best of five games series, was captured by the Loons in a 3-1 games fashion. The series started on a bad note for the Loons with a loss right off the bat to the LumberKings in game 1. Yet the Loons marched on to get three straight
winsto clinch the series and the title.
The final game was definitely one for
the record books as it kept the Great Lakes faithful on the edge of their seats. The lead changed four times throughout the game with an exciting single hit by Loons first baseman Matt Jones that let two Loons score allowing the game to become tied. They overcame a five run deficit in the sixth thanks to LumberKings reliever Matt Walker who gave up four walks in the inning. Center fielder, and rightful center of attention, Logan Landon batted .351 in the postseason for the Loons and really shined in the final game of the post season with two hits, featuring a two run double in the sixth inning, a walk, and 2 RBIs. While Jones ended up going 4 for 4 with two doubles in the final game of the series.
The Loons celebrated postgame as the traditional champagne was splashed around and the players met on the pitcher’s mound for a celebratory dog pile. The 2016 season has now come to a close with the Great Lakes Loons sitting atop the Midwest League hoping to be in the same position around this time again next year.
