Monday, May 26th, 2025

by Lindale Wiggins

It was an obvious cry for help. I wasn’t really in the mood, but at the same time, couldn’t turn the kid down.

“You want to write the recap/sports report this coming Monday,” the text began. “I’ll be out of town. Perfect time for a guest writer. Plus I just miss reading your WSBL sports reports!”

Translation: Having fun, can you cover my Memorial Day shift?

Like I said, I couldn’t say no, and with that, we embark on our saga with results for Week 8 of the 2025 PCI campaign…

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. And in the case of New Mexico and Gallagher Gulch, it was just like old times as the Roadrunners delivered a steady diet of speed and defense to the Fat Boys in a 7-3 final. Putting the Roadrunners over the top was a Friday night performance by Rafael Devers, who clubbed a pair of homers and drove in 8 runs to loom large in those two categories.

This is the 40th year of the rivalry between the Roadrunners and Fat Boys, a rivalry that has long been dominated by the New Mexico side. The Roadrunners maintained their hold on first place with the triumph while Gallagher Gulch slid a spot into a tie for fifth.

It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness in the series between the Indy Integrals and Michiana Cavemen. So lopsided was the Integrals’ 9-1 triumph, it is indeed impossible to proclaim any one facet of their game key to victory. It is difficult, however, not to recognize the labors of one Trea Turner (.400, 3 HR, 4 SB).

With the win, Indy took over the top spot of the East Division, 6½ behind front-running New Mexico; with the loss, Michiana plunged to eighth and, we can assume in the bleakness of such a defeat, has been sentenced to extra KP or similar duty.

From a spousal conflict to a grandmother and grandchild reunion between Doña Ana and Oahu. Oh, little darlings of mine, this was a struggle all the way before the Chihuahuas secured a 5-4 decision after trailing the Rocketeers entering the final day of action. Twisting it in Doña Ana’s direction was a Jake Burger blast and a couple of saves by the relief corps on Sunday.

The Chihuahuas lost a little ground in the West, but still maintain third place overall. Despite the setback, Oahu gained a little ground in its effort to climb out of the PCI cellar.

It is the spring of hope for Boerne and the winter of despair for Denver following the Mutts’ 8-2 glazing of the Donuts. Sorta’ Dickens meets Dunkin’, if you will. Kyle Schwarber did the heavy lifting for the Mutts by cracking 3 HR and scoring 9 times. Jhoan Duran’s 2 dubyas out of the bullpen also played large in the outcome.

As a result, Boerne sits comfortably in fourth place as Denver plopped into 10th, 5 games further behind New Mexico.

The wind was rushing and the baseballs flying in the shoreline showdown between Rockport and Coastal Bend. Offense was behind the 7-4 final favoring the Redfish. Aaron Judge poked 3 HR to fuel Rockport, batting .364 along the way with a 6 in both the R and RBI columns.

Rockport escaped the East basement and rose to ninth with the win, Coastal Bend slipping to a tie for fifth in defeat.

Great expectations followed Sinton’s Week 7 upset, but it was not to be for the Mullets in a clash with Austin. The Armadillos enjoyed a 7-4 win mostly by the effort of one I Sock Paredes. Of the 11 hits Paredes added to his ledger, 4 were bound for the bleachers.

Austin is only a half-game back of the current 5th-place tie between Coastal Bend and Gallagher Gulch. Sinton remained 11th.

Week 9 on the PCI fixture can best be titled A Tale of Two Series, topped on the marquee by the league’s only top 6 collision – No. 4 Boerne vs. No. 5 Coastal Bend. The Mutts lead the PCI with 80 HR, Schwarber (18) owning almost a quarter of them. Pressure is on Oilers pitchers, with ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto (5-0, 1.86) possibly making two starts in the matchup.

Just behind that 4-5 series is the 5-7 battle between Gallagher Gulch and Austin. The Fat Boys have been getting it done on the mound where they rank first or second in all five pitching totals, plus recently got Ronald Acuña Jr. back on the field. That red-hot I Sock guy we were talking about earlier is poised to show ‘em all up.

The Week 9 card also includes No. 1 New Mexico in a crucial matchup against No. 8 Michiana. The Roadrunners have only lost one series so far, while the Cavemen desperately need a bounce-back effort.  No. 2 Indy takes on No. 12 Oahu. Can the Integrals avoid the proverbial hangover against the upset-minded Rocketeers?

No. 3 Doña Ana is set for an encounter with No. 9 Rockport. The Chihuahuas seek a 4th-straight win while the Redfish aim to build off their Week 8 triumph. The final interdivision skirmish finds No. 10 Denver going at it against No. 11 Sinton. Fernado Tatis Jr. and the Donuts are hopeful of getting the better of the Mullets’ strong pitchers in this holiday romance. 

* Chuck Dickens contributed to this article.