Several bus loads of Oshawa General fans made the long trek to Sioux Falls this month to watch a two game series between the Generals and the Uber Giraffes.

After the commissioners(Also the GM of Sioux Falls) decision to support a league rule which voided a trade by Oshawa for ace Dave Henderson, General fans made CBU commissioner Jordan Gillis public enemy number one.  The hope was that the visitors could show that even without Henderson the team could still do some damage to Sioux Falls.  While Oshawa was over 10 games behind in the standings and with little hope of catching their divisional rivals, a couple of wins would at least be a moral victory.

Before the first game even started, one could feel the tension out in the bleachers where the Oshawa fans were located.  Some of the banners raised seemed to get the ire of the Sioux Falls fans.  “Gyped by Jordan” and “Homer Gillis” (a not so discreet reference to the commissioner favouring his own team) forced security to step in and keep fans from both teams at bay.  However, order was restored and the first game did get underway.

 In effect this game was over in the first inning when Dax Williams hit his 30th of the season with Hill aboard and the Generals went on for a 4-1 win.  Jeffrey Robinson scattered 8 hits over 7 innings for his league leading 15th win of the season.

Sioux Falls lef fielder Santiago became the butt of the fans when he trotted to his position after having struck out.  The greeted him with about a dozen K signs.  Taking it all in good stride, Santiage tipped his cap to the fans.

Game 2 saw Oshawa send their number 2 starte, Eric Carter, to the mound.  After falling behind 2-1 after one inning, the Generals used the long ball in the third to take back the lead.  Suarez hit a solo shot while Straub followed that up with a 3 run dinger and Oshawa went ahead 6-2.  Oshawa would repeat the feat by hitting a pair of solo shots in the 8th off the bats of Galindo and Regush.  The 9-3 win gave the Generals the sweep of the mini series.

The 3 bus parade down the main street of Sioux Falls was barely noticed except for the chant of “Gillis needs Henderson more than we do.”

 Meanwhile Oshawa’s Wes Regush made team history when he became the first player for Oshawa to hit for the cycle.  The feat came against West Tennesse on August 6th at Generals Field.  The hits came in the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 7th.  After the game Regush commented that the ball looked like a beachball as it came in.  He got 1 RBI and 2 runs scored as Oshawa went on to win the game 10-3.

Right now Oshawa have a very respectable 67-50 record.  Unfortuantely, they are in the same division as the best team in the league, Sioux Falls Uber Giraffes.  In two other divisions, they would be in first place.  But such is the luck of the draw.  And having rivals such as the Giraffes is good for the fans of both teams.