10

The Stars' job was to try to avoid a tie for first place in the West at the end of the season with the Tennessee Smokies. The Smokies had already won their last game,  and were waiting for the conclusion of this one at Pringles Park. A loss to the Diamond Jaxx meant they would be involved in a one-game playoff sometime in the second half. It's something they couldn't avoid in 1999, and lost to a Diamond Jaxx team then.

A bit overworked, Brian Mallette had made three appearances in a five-game span, and five of the Stars' last nine games. To his credit, he did well, saving two games and giving up just one earned run in five innings. But how much was left in the Stars' No. 1 closer? He had already cost the Stars a chance to clinch the night before when his throwing error and wild pitch gave the Diamond Jaxx a 5-4 victory.

Manager Ed Romero wanted to rest him, but Mallette wanted redemption. When the time came to make a decision, pitching coach Mike Caldwell said, "You don't like guys to sit on that too long."

Romero was hoping his fourth pitcher, Jack Krawczyk, could get the last two outs of the 9th, and the victory, but a double by Ryan Gripp, who two years later would join the Stars, forced Romero to make a call on Mallette. He came in and retired Ryan Jorgensen. One more to go.

Before he could be a hero, he would have to endure one more character test. One strike away from a playoff berth, he gave up a triple to one of the toughest outs of the night, Dennis Abreu. Pinch-runner Tydus Meadows scored. With the winning run on third, Mallette was able to compose himself and strikeout Nate Frese. This game and the Stars' shot at a playoff berth, would go to extra innings.

In the 11th, Jeff Pickler led off the inning with a single, his first hit of the night. Bucky Jacobsen, with two outs, singled him over to third.

Josh Klimek had nearly won it for the Stars with a solo HR in the 7th, tying a club record with his career 37th. This time, he went to the opposite field, surprising Abreu at third. While Abreu tried in vain to field the ball, Pickler scoring the go-ahead run.

Meanwhile, Romero, and Stars fans tuned in on the radio to the most important game of the year, were hoping Mallette had the grit to keep the Stars in the game. The most consistent closer the Stars had had in years got down to business, striking out the side in the 10th. Down went Chris Haas and Tydus Meadows in the 11th. Two more strikeout victims. Now we're one away and the tension is so thick it rolls off your palms. Ryan Jorgensen, called up the day before and 0-for-4 to this point is at the plate. But waiting on deck is Dennis Abreu, 3-for-4 on the night.

Jorgensen hit a grounder that eluded Jacobsen at first for a single. Now here comes Mr. Abreu. Can this get any harder to listen to? Voice of the Stars Steve Kornya, master of dramatic effect, is in torture and he's bringing in his listeners to join him. Every pitch becomes an event in this game.

One, two, three strikes you're out. The drama is over. Cut. That's a wrap.

Seconds later, Jared Mathis led a charge into Mike Caldwell's office, dousing the coach with beer. The poison pen of the Huntsville Stars, led by Brian Mallette, were the heroes of the first half. In the last 10 games of the first half, Mallette had pitched in six of them, winning two and saving two others, while logging a 1.17 ERA in 7 2/3 innings. Mallette would have 17 saves before his promotion to Indianapolis at the end of July. But his performance in the first half of the season was enough for me to make him a 20-year All-Star in my book and Mr. Kornya's, who had his own All-Time All-Star list.

He returned in time for the playoffs, along with Josh Klimek, who had been promoted a week before Mallette. Both players were brought back for the playoffs vs. Birmingham, but both had minimal impact in the Western Division Playoff Series, that was won by the Stars in five games.

But who knows what they might have done vs. Jacksonville for the League Championship? The first game was scheduled for September 11.

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