News and Announcements
2003
Underdogs Have Their Day Amid Opponents Overconfidence
Be careful what you wish for. The Somers Orioles did not heed that advice and paid the price. The second-place O’s were giddy about playing the seventh-seeded Clippers in the first round of the playoffs on Sept 7, 2003. But the Clips got the last laugh after the 14-4 upset at Somers High School.
In the first-base dugout before the game, the Orioles players said it would be easy to defeat the Clips. In fact, the O’s also talked about who they would prefer to play in the semi-final round.
These comments came despite the fact that the Clips won the final six games of the regular season to qualify for the upper-division playoffs for the first time in team history. Besides, Somers only defeated a shorthanded Clips team 6-4 at Horace Greeley High School on Father’s Day.
The Clips were fired up after a rousing pep talk by player-manager Tom Dixon. “These guys already think they have won the game,” he said. “They are planning for the next round. Remember. The pressure is all on them. No one expects us to win. So just go out their and take it to them.”
The underdogs certainly did. The Clips banged out 20 hits and four extra-base hits, including two homers that provided a 4-0 lead in the top of the 4th. The Clips then exploded for six in the 6th and tacked on two runs in both the 7th and 8th innings in route to the rout.
The Orioles were reminded of a valuable lesson. Never count a victory until it is won. That is why they play the games.
