Classic Baseball Union

Denver Pines

SP Alex Moss

November 2, 2004 – The Denver Pines block the Brooklyn Blue Sox from repeating at CBU Champions! Continuing a trend that is common over the the last decade in the CBU, the CBU Championship is won in enemy territory. Yesterday the Denver Pines got on the back of their ace pitcher Alex Moss who pitched through 8 innings, only allowing on run in the 4th inning and struck out 3 Blue Sox.

The game wasn’t won however until the 9th inning when Ken Stanley got up with 2 men on base and crushed a 3-run game winning home run off of Aaron DeMowbray. DeMowbray had been matching Moss through the first 8 innings, but was left in just a bit to long and the Pines took advantage. Closer Ken Lindsey relieved Moss in the bottom of the ninth and shut down the Blue Sox in order, including one strikeout.

The Pines won the Frazee Division for their second time ever in 2004. They were matched up against Portland in the first round of the playoffs and won in six games. They faced the Dijon Moutarde in the Landis League Championsihp Series and after seven thrilling games they advanced for their second chance at a CBU Championship.

RF Tim Lee

The Pines were led my their ace Alex “Tracer” Moss who pitched in 35 starts during the regular season for 266.1 innings pitched, struck out 261 and scored a 16-13 record with a 3.38 ERA. Moss carried the workload into the playoffs where he pitched another 7 starts, 48.1 innings and recorded a 3.54 ERA with a 4-3 record. Run support was not always there for Moss, but Moss provided necessary breaks for the Pines bullpen, and wore down hitters from the opposition.

This Championship also marked the first for outfielder Tim Lee. Lee was originally the 8th overall selection in the 1994 inaugural draft. After spending two years in Denver, Lee was giving a 5 year contract offer worth 66 million dollars to play for Rapid City. That contract eventually led to another 3 year deal worth over 34 million dollars.

In late 2003 Tim Lee was traded by the Rapid City Outlaws to the Denver Pines in exchange for 1B Emílio Viruct, 2B Andrew Phillips. In Lee’s career he has so far totalted 1,824 hits, 300 home runs, 1,174 RBI and averaged .315 over the 11 seasons. Lee who got his start late in the CBU at 28 years old, may not have the counting numbers that anyone would like, but in any proposed Hall of Fame he has the consistent dominance to be worthy, and winning this championship only adds to the resume.

Denver is only the 3rd team in CBU history to win more than one championship. Also the Landis League now takes a 7-4 lead over the Giamatti League in championship wins.