Published: September 17, 2008 10:34 pm      

COMMENTARY: From the outhouse to the throne room

DOUG SMITH: “Base Paths”

That’s the story of the summer of 2008 in Batavia, whose Muckdogs, fresh from the endangered species list, seized the New York-Penn League championship Sunday night before 1,379 fans. This was not one of those inflated “ballpark figures.”

Under the tight accounting of playoff baseball, every one of them, even the “owners” from Rochester, had put down from $4 to $6 each for a ticket to watch the “Dogs” iron out a win over the Jamestown Jammers 9-3.

“And we know they’ll be back,” one fan beamed while rushing to his car to beat an impending storm. “That’s the best thing of all.”

Tell us about it. Niagara Falls won the 1993 NY-P title on the road and never came home. Two months later the franchise fled to Jamestown.

Batavia baseball was hanging by a stitch in March when the Rochester Red Wings, in an amazing gesture of civic responsibility, stepped up and took over the operations of the community-owned team. The Dogs stumbled out of the starting gate into last place, then hot-footed it into a playoff spot with 48 hours remaining.

There followed a roller-coaster ride that would be the envy of Darien Lake:

Monday: Lowell homers in its final at-bat to beat the Dogs 3-2.

Tuesday: Lowell leads 8-2 in the bottom of the sixth and has a major-leaguer on the mound, “rehabbing.” Base Paths calls it a night; Red Wing President Naomi Silver says “see ya’ next year.” Base Paths responds “Now that I’m going, you’ll probably score 13 runs and win.” Final: Batavia 13, Lowell 9.

Wednesday: Lowell leads 1-0 but the Dogs win the game 4-3, and the series 2-1.

Thursday: Off day. Naomi Silver asks Base Paths to pick her lottery numbers.

Friday: After its potential tying run is nullified when a runner is hit by a batted ball, Batavia gets a two-out, ninth-inning homer and wins at Jamestown, 4-3.

Saturday: Rained out.

Sunday: A storm pending, the atmosphere is absolutely electric in Dwyer Stadium, a crafty crowd getting its refreshments before the game and roaring on every pitch when not rocking to “Sweet Caroline.” Smart, disciplined Batavia wins 9-3 with solid pitching, Class AAA fielding — 12 of the first 18 outs were on grounders, all tough chances — and savvy situational hitting. One-third of its runs score on sacrifice flies.

The Red Wings sure know how to run a ballclub, but not all their efficiencies were fan-friendly. A pressbox regular sighed and handed in his notice after a dispute over capital letters on the message board. Concessions had a late-season slump; the pulled pork sandwich was a grand slam, but the hot dogs and hamburgs went cold. Once hot and fresh, they now tasted like Dunn Tire Park.

But the taste of victory prevailed. At least until June, Batavia rules.