Guthrie became the first player in EWL history to throw a perfect game, capping a sweep of Pumice on Slow!
A week after throwing a 1-hit shutout in Game 1 of their series against Pumice on Slow!, Guthrie threw the first perfect game in the history of the EWL in Game 3 in the most dominant single-game pitching performance the league has ever seen. The win clinched a 3-0 sweep of Pumice! by the Caucasians, and sent them to the league’s first Wiffle Series.
Pumice! needed a win to continue their 2011 season, and their best hope was their ace Gaurav, who they sent to the mound to start Game 3. It didn’t even take one batter for Pumice! to fall into the trap that had tanked games for them time and time again during the regular season. Morrison, the game’s first batter, hit a catchable ball that could have resulted in the first out of the top of the first. Instead, Morrison was safe at first, and a series of fielding and throwing errors resulted in Morrison rounding the bases for a leadoff inside-the-park home run, immediately putting Pumice on Slow! in a 1-0 hole. The next batter, Guthrie, blasted a home run to deep left field, and the Caucasians had a 2-0 lead before the first out of the game had been recorded. Frosty followed with a single, and it looked as if the Caucasians would run away with the game and the series. But Gaurav settled down, retiring Higgins and Morrison, stranding Frosty at second base, and keeping the game within reach.
Guthrie continued to bewilder Pumice! batters, retiring Luke and Gaurav in order in the bottom of the first.
Gaurav had a more routine inning in the top of the second, as he retired Guthrie for the first out of the inning. Frosty followed with his second single of the game, but Gaurav stranded him at first, getting Higgins to ground out to left for the second out of the inning.
With the score 2-0, Guthrie retired John and Holly consecutively in the bottom of the second.
The Caucasians added to their lead in the top of the third when Morrison led off the inning with his second homer of the game, putting the Vaginas ahead 3-0. Gaurav then retired Guthrie and Les in order to keep the deficit at three runs.
Pumice! couldn’t answer in the bottom of the third, as Luke and Gaurav were sent down in order.
Pumice! hitters were frustrated by Guthrie's pitching all series
Gaurav got back on track in the top of the fourth, retiring Higgins and Morrison, both by groundouts to left field.
Guthrie continued to dominate in the bottom of the fourth, as he sent down Brad and Holly to keep the score at 3-0.
Guthrie singled to lead off the top of the fifth, but Gaurav retired Les for the first out of the inning when he flew out to left field. Frosty hit a one-out single, which moved Guthrie to third, putting runners on the corners with one out for Morrison. Morrison could have effectively ended the game with a big hit, but Gaurav got him to groundout to centerfield, stranding both runners and keeping hope alive for Pumice!
Pumice! couldn’t figure out Guthrie, however, as he continued to mow down hitters, retiring Luke and Gaurav in order to end the fifth.
Up 3-0 and down to their final at-bat, the Caucasians added insurance runs in the top of the sixth. Guthrie flew out to left for the first out of the inning, but Les and Frosty followed with back-to-back solo homers, giving the Caucasians a 5-0 lead. Gaurav retired Higgins for the second out of the inning, and Pumice! would need 5 runs in the bottom half of the sixth to keep their season alive.
Frosty was a perfect 4 for 4 with a home run in the Caucasians 5-0 victory
Heading into the bottom of the sixth, word has spread on the sidelines that Guthrie had a chance to throw the league’s first ever perfect game. At this point he had already gone the deepest into a game any pitcher had without giving up a hit. Brad grounded out to left for the first out of the inning, and Guthrie was one out away from perfection. The final batter was John, who took a series of pitches and fouled a few off. After several pitches, he finally hit a liner to left. Les had some trouble handling the ball at first, but eventually snagged it just in time to retire John. Guthrie had ended the series, sweeping Pumice on Slow! with a perfect game, retiring all 12 batters in order. He dominated Pumice! throughout the course of the game, frustrating them with his ClawBall as they repeatedly couldn’t make solid contact. The Caucasians had won 5-0, and advanced to the championship series, as they awaited the finale of the other series to see who they would play.
Guthrie displays the autographed game ball of his perfect game
Game Notes:
– Pumice! had three chances to break up the no-hitter, the closest call coming in the top of the fifth when Gaurav crushed a pitch to deep left, but it hit the tree and Morrison caught it for an out.
– Guthrie has now given up only 1 hit and no earned runs in 12 innings in the 2011 playoffs.
– Morrison went 2 for 5 with 2 HR and 2 RBI and Frosty went 4 for 4 with 3 singles, 1 HR, and 1 RBi to lead the Caucasians offensively.
– Pumice! ended their season in disappointing fashion, but they played hard until the final out and were great representatives of the EWL.
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