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Photos by Tim Greenway/Staff Photographer
PORTLAND — In the clubhouse before Monday's game, Portland Sea Dogs Manager Arnie Beyeler did his best impersonation of a wired football coach, screaming for his team to "give it your all," as his players laughed.
And when starting pitcher Blake Maxwell did his trademark sprint from the bullpen before the first inning, catcher Juan Apodaca joined him, dashing down the first-base line and sliding into home.
It was all fun for the final Eastern League game of the season for the Sea Dogs and New Hampshire Fisher Cats, who joined in the amusement. Not only did their bullpen pitchers soak Slugger the Mascot with water as he entered Hadlock Field, their batters all used the same bat for the entire game.
When it was all done, the Sea Dogs had the biggest smiles following a 12-4 win before 6,140 at Hadlock Field.
Jon Still homered twice and doubled, Ryan Kalish homered and scored two runs, Apodaca homered, Jorge Jimenez drove in three runs and Daniel Nava had three hits and scored three times.
"We came out swinging," Beyeler said after he made the rounds in the clubhouse, shaking hands and saying his goodbyes.
The Sea Dogs, who missed the playoffs for the first time since 2004, finished their season 67-74; the Fisher Cats were 64-78.
"(It was) one of those years where we never put it together consistently," Beyeler said.
"But they worked all year and hustled all year. A fun group."
There were individual success stories such as Still, who led the team with 17 home runs and 89 RBI.
"Obviously I'm happy with the way the season ended," Still said.
"There were some growing pains. I'd like to cut down on the strikeouts (148) and get more walks.
"I think my biggest jump was my defense at first base. I worked my tail off to improve at that, and it paid off."
Still worked every day with Beyeler on his defense. In the eighth inning, Still handled a hot grounder and began a 3-6-1 double play.
"Great play," Beyeler said. "You see things like that, do that work all year long, and that's what makes it worthwhile."
Maxwell (7-8) picked up the victory, allowing four runs on eight hits and a walk in six innings. Maxwell, who finished with a 5.32 ERA, went 7-3 with a 3.74 ERA since June 1.
"I started to get more consistent and found my arm slot," Maxwell said.
Portland took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on Kalish's two-run homer and Still's solo shot, both to center field, and cruised from there.
The Fisher Cats did manage 10 hits, even though they all used one bat.
"Just a tradition we always do on the last day of the season," outfielder Todd Donovan said.
After Donovan made the last out of the game, a fly ball to Kalish in center field, the fans stood to applaud, "Auld Lang Syne" played from the loudspeakers and the lighthouse popped up beyond the center-field fence one last time.
Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at: kthomas@pressherald.com
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