ERIC SCHMOLDT Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Thursday, July 24, 2008 12:00 am
Kane Simmons wasn't going to leave without a going-away party.
Including rain delays, the Casper Ghosts' game against Helena on Tuesday took nearly five hours to complete, lasting into the early minutes of Wednesday morning. And after spending almost the entire duration on the bench, he learned he'd be leaving his teammates immediately after the game.
With that in mind, he knocked the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 10th inning, sparking a frenzied celebration and ending perhaps the wackiest game in the young history of the Ghosts.
"It was like another night, just help the team out as much as I can from the dugout," Simmons said after emerging from the clubhouse with his bags already packed and a plane ticket tucked away. "(Then after hearing the news) I was hoping I'd get in, and I couldn't have asked for a better thing to happen, getting the game-winning hit.
"It was great to help all these guys out before I left. I'm on cloud nine right now."
It was a fitting end to a wild evening.
Tied 2-2, the game was halted due to rain and lightning in the seventh inning. Once the weather passed, it took the Ghosts' staff about an hour to return the field to playable conditions.
Team officials and umpires likely would have called the game, but Helena and Casper are both in the playoff hunt with less than a week left in the first half of the Pioneer League season. And it was the last meeting between the two teams this year so scheduling a make-up game would have been virtually impossible.
"Our passion and energy was there during the rain delay and it showed," Casper manager Tony Diaz said. "(Helena) really didn't want to play, and we wanted to. And I think that gave us the edge."
The Ghosts thought they had won the game in the bottom of the ninth inning.
A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases with two outs when Eliezer Mesa smacked a ground ball destined for right field. But instead of a game-winning hit, the ball glanced off baserunner Zack Murry, who was called out to send the game to extra innings.
That paved the way for Simmons' heroics and Diaz' risky decision.
Usually if a player is on the way out of town, a manager will sit that player to avoid injuries or mishaps. But with runners on first and second base and one out in the 10th frame, Diaz called for Simmons to pinch hit.
With two strikes, Simmons hit a bloop single to right field, scoring Alex Feinberg from second.
"It's one of those decisions that's a gut feeling," Diaz said. "I easily could have got in trouble with the organization. Usually, when a player's going up, you shouldn't play him. But I went with the gut feeling and I'm glad it worked out. It's a beautiful ending.
"I'm going to leave our farm director a message and explain the situation. I'm sure, seeing as things worked out the way they did, they won't give me a hard time. But obviously that's a risky proposition."
But not one that Simmons was thinking about when he stepped up to the plate.
"People that think about that don't really, truly enjoy the game," Simmons said. "These are my brothers out here and I wanted to help them out as much as I can. I'm glad he put me in.
"I couldn't ask for a better night."
Now Simmons, who was relegated to the independent Golden Baseball League last year when he couldn't find a job in a Major League farm system, will take another step in his professional career.
He was to join the Colorado Rockies' Class A affiliate, the Tri-City Dust Devils, on Wednesday.
"This is definitely the best way I think I could go out," Simmons said. "To be able to move up and your last game, help them win the game, is the best feeling I could have.
"It's very gratifying to be called up. I've had to take the rocky road the whole way."
Simmons may be gone, but Casper is still working to make a playoff push.
After a day off on Wednesday, it opens a two-game set at Orem today. The Ghosts trail the Owlz by 1.5 games in the South Division, so they'll be looking to make up that ground before a three-game set - which includes the conclusion of a suspended game in Casper on July 6 - at Ogden.
Sunday's game will be the last contest of the first half, with the winners of each division securing a playoff spot.
"(I told them) to hold on to this feeling," Diaz said. "That was awesome to see. It was electric."
Contact sports reporter Eric Schmoldt at (307) 266-0578 or eric.schmoldt@trib.com
GHOSTS TRACKER
TUESDAY: Casper 3, Helena 2 (10 innings).
SOME SENDOFF: Ghosts first baseman Kane Simmons, who learned during the game that he had been called up and was leaving the team, delivered the game-winning, pinch-hit single in the bottom of the 10th inning.
HE SAID IT: "It was great to help all these guys out before I left. I'm on cloud nine right now." - Simmons.
UP NEXT: After a day off on Wednesday, the Ghosts open a two-game series at Orem - which could decide the first-half winner of the Pioneer League South Division - tonight at 7:05 p.m.