Day 67 -- Martinez v. Vazquez
The Pelican tradition of falling apart on the brink of .500 remains intact. The linescore is about as self-explanatory as it can get.

Collin County leads series 1-0.

CCC 002 001 000 -- 3 6 0
NOP 000 000 000 -- 0 3 1

Cavemen info:
Pitching -- Martinez (W) 9 IP; no walks allowed, 3 hits, all singles, never allowed more than one hit in any inning
Catching -- Hernandez 9
HR -- Green (1 on, 2 out in 3rd)
Injuries/Suspensions/Ejections -- None
Limits -- Lane %

Pelicans info:
Pitching -- Vazquez (L) 6 IP, Jensen 2, Lyon 1
Catching -- Blanco 9
HR -- None
Injuries/Suspensions/Ejections -- None
Limits -- Merloni 1 AB v. R

.

Day 68 -- Miller v. Rueter
Cavemen get out to an 8-0 lead, the Pellies fight back to 8-6 before a couple of insurance runs clinch the division title for Mike Utley and crew.

Congratulations to them.

CCC 400 400 002 -- 10 14 0
NOP 000 420 000 -- 6 9 0

Cavemen info:
Pitching -- Miller (W) 5 IP, Rincon 1.1, Crudale 2.2
Catching -- Stinnett 4, Hernandez 5
HR -- Edmonds (leadoff in 9th)
Injuries/Suspensions/Ejections -- Nine
Limits -- Lane %, 2 AB v. L

Pelicans info:
Pitching -- Rueter 3 IP, Mecir .1, Hasegawa .2, Lyon 1, Mulholland 2, Kim 2
Catching -- Zaun 9
HR -- None
Injuries/Suspensions/Ejections -- None
Limits -- Merloni 1 AB v. R

.

Day 69 -- Davis v. Ortiz
The Cavemen were hungover and playing scrubs, so the Pelicans took an early 6-0 lead.

But, if you're going to blow 650 opportunities to win this very very very winnable division in the first 59 games of the season, why not blow a big lead in game #60? So they did.

At least someone from this division will finish over .500 though; how's that for silver lining?

CCC 000 061 010 02 -- 10 12 0
NOP 051 000 020 00 -- 8 12 0

Cavemen info:
Pitching -- Davis 4 IP, Zerbe 2, Batista 2, Crudale (W) 2, Sasaki (Sv) 1
Catching -- Walbeck 11
HR -- Stairs (1 on, 2 out in 5th), Ochoa (leadoff in 6th)
Injuries/Suspensions/Ejections -- None
Limits -- Lane %

Pelicans info:
Pitching -- Ortiz 5 IP, Yan 1, Jensen 2, Kim 2, Hasegawa (L) 1
Catching -- Zaun 11
HR -- Jeter (1 on, 2 out in 2nd), Zaun (solo, 1 out in 8th)
Injuries/Suspensions/Ejections -- None
Limits -- Merloni 2 AB v. L

And thus ends the Pelicans season and Notch's obligation to the FEBC.

I have twin boys arriving on 12/26 at the latest, and with three small children I will be able to provide at best very little commitment in regards to time and money for the 2004 FEBC season. So I will be forced to bask in the glow being swept in my final series as I retire from fantasy baseball.

It has been enjoyable for me, and I hope that I will be able to keep in touch with many of you individually. Look for me either on AOL screennames "notch17" or "notchfam", as "pelicansno" is disabled, or by e-mail (same netscape address).

Thank you all.