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PORTLAND, ME -- Ray "Voodoo" Davila, Fernando Hernandez, Steve Suarez, and Ignacio "Twinkle Toes" Alvarez have been here before.
Their heyday might have seemed a distant memory to some.
A relic of the past.
Talk of misplaced sentimentality in keeping the group together lingered and grew in recent years.
Indeed, the championship flame of 2006 appeared to have gone out in the past dozen years -- gone like the graying and vanishing hairs of its team's veteran leaders.
But make no mistake: that flame never went out.
And now it burns at Old Port Park again with a brightness the whole baseball world can see.
Boosted by more recently acquired veterans such as Antonio "Doughnut" Banuelos, Andy Garcia, and William Eddy, this gang knocked out division rival Hartford, the reigning champion Dallas Sharks, and Ale champion Pawtucket, taking only one loss in each series.
Complementary youngsters have done their part too. 24 year old third baseman Izzy Rivera has batted .318 in the first three rounds of the postseason, including a home run in the pennant-clinching victory over the Patriots. 25 year old second baseman Jarrod Rowles chipped in three homers in these playoffs as well. And even 20 year old center fielder Dave Sliney, who skipped the minor leagues completely to join the club this year, has contributed multiple multi-hit performances in these playoffs.
Now the Guides await their next opponent with a championship on the line.
And while this trip to the Brewmaster's Cup may appear to be this core's last shot at a ring together, they've shown that such appearances can be misleading.
Their heyday might have seemed a distant memory to some.
A relic of the past.
Talk of misplaced sentimentality in keeping the group together lingered and grew in recent years.
Indeed, the championship flame of 2006 appeared to have gone out in the past dozen years -- gone like the graying and vanishing hairs of its team's veteran leaders.
But make no mistake: that flame never went out.
And now it burns at Old Port Park again with a brightness the whole baseball world can see.
Boosted by more recently acquired veterans such as Antonio "Doughnut" Banuelos, Andy Garcia, and William Eddy, this gang knocked out division rival Hartford, the reigning champion Dallas Sharks, and Ale champion Pawtucket, taking only one loss in each series.
Complementary youngsters have done their part too. 24 year old third baseman Izzy Rivera has batted .318 in the first three rounds of the postseason, including a home run in the pennant-clinching victory over the Patriots. 25 year old second baseman Jarrod Rowles chipped in three homers in these playoffs as well. And even 20 year old center fielder Dave Sliney, who skipped the minor leagues completely to join the club this year, has contributed multiple multi-hit performances in these playoffs.
Now the Guides await their next opponent with a championship on the line.
And while this trip to the Brewmaster's Cup may appear to be this core's last shot at a ring together, they've shown that such appearances can be misleading.
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