One thing was certain. With AWA getting moved up a level to the "C-1" league, we were in for a much tougher road. An appraisal of the talent on the other teams in the league indicated that AWA was going to have to be better than lucky if the team was going to repeat as champs. Each of the other teams looked very solid, and among them was our old nemesis, Mohawk Packing. And the boys of AWA could be sure that Mohawk Packing would be itching for some pay back.

AWA ended the '75 campaign with six straight wins, and despite the daunting opposition, the guys reeled off four straight victories to start the '76 season. AWA needed every one of those wins, because sharing the top of the standings was a very determined Mohawk Packing team, also holding a perfect 4-0 record. Both teams were pointing to the spring season's final day, where they were scheduled to meet.

But AWA hurt itself in its next game, losing a sloppy 9-4 decision to Original Sams while Mohawk Packing enjoyed a bye. Now, with sole possession of first place, the Mohawks were in the drivers' seat. But a week later, as AWA sat out its own bye, Mohawk Packing overlooked lowly Forberg Engines, and they lost their first game of the year by a surprising 15-4 count. AWA and Mohawk Packing were tied for first once again, which fittingly set the stage for the two rivals to meet in the game that would determine the winner of the first half. The hard-hitting Mohawks were looking to avenge their 1975 playoff loss, but AWA, on the strength of a five-run fifth inning and an outstanding pitching effort by Earl Yagi, rolled impressively to a 10-5 win. We could truly believe now. AWA had another reservation in the post-season playoffs. Mohawk Packing had also, finally, become a believer in the talent in the AWA dugout.

Both AWA and Mohawk Packing were moved up to the "CC" division for the second half, and neither team did much to distinguish themselves at this level. AWA slumped badly at the plate, and posted a 2-4 record. Meanwhile, back in the "C-1" division, the Shady Oak Bombers were picking up steam. They had won their last three games of the first half and then kept it up in the second half to win the second half with a perfect 6-0 record. So AWA prepared to face the Shady Oak Bombers and their nine-game winning streak in the 1976 championship game.

These two teams had met earlier in the year, with AWA holding on to pull out a 6-5 decision. But that came at a time when AWA was playing well and the Bombers were not. Now the situation was reversed. The Bombers eerily resembled the red-hot AWA team of 1975 who shocked everyone with their run for the championship.

The Bombers got things going in the top of the first on a two-out run-scoring triple. That advantaged lasted until two were out in the bottom of the first when Tom Sukup lined a shot down the right field line. The AWA center fielder had an easy triple, but he tried to stretch it into a home run. The throw to the plate was in plenty of time, and the umpire emphatically rung Tom out. But on the tag the ball slipped out of the catcher's glove, and Tom was safe on the error. The game was tied.

Dave Jackson brought his own personal cheering section to the game, which included brother-in-law and future AWA teammate Joe Sammut. And AWA's first sacker didn't disappoint the crowd as he slammed a long home run with one out in the second, giving AWA a 2-1 lead. Earl followed with a single to right, and Pat Koeplin stepped up and roped a hit to center, which skipped past the charging outfielder. While the ball was being chased down, Earl scored all the way from first and Pat ended up at third. Ken Morse rolled out to short, but Pat was able to score the third run of the inning. AWA now led 4-1.

In the third inning Gary Matsushita stroked a one-out single and advanced to third on a two-bagger by Tom that kicked up the chalk on the left field line. Steve Barrett then slammed a triple to center. That brought up John Koeplin, who delivered a soft single into center to plate the run. It was now 7-1, and AWA was cruising.

The Bombers scratched out a run in the top of the fourth with two singles around a long fly. But in the bottom of the fifth, an error by the Bomber shortstop and a single to right by Tom had runners at the corners. Steve then slugged a drive to right that appeared to be a sure home run. But the right fielder robbed the AWA slugger with a sensational headlong diving catch, and Steve had to settle for a sacrifice fly. AWA now led 8-2.

Earl was having an easy time of it working through the Shady Oak batting order, giving up only five hits and two runs through the first five innings. But AWA had to be very careful here. When AWA beat Shady Oak earlier in the season, the Bombers had rallied from a 6-1 deficit with four runs in the seventh inning, only to lose when the potential tying run was thrown out at the plate to end the game. Shady Oak had also made the playoffs by overcoming an 8-2 deficit in their last game of the regular season. AWA didn't want to go to sleep right then, and the guys certainly didn't want to see the kind of comeback that AWA had pulled on Mohawk Packing just a year before.

The Bombers started to make things rumble in the sixth, touching Earl for a pair of runs and having two runners on base when Tony Franklin's sensational leaping, twisting catch of a line drive at second base killed the rally. It was the type of play that only Tony could have pulled off, but it was the type of play he'd been making all year.

In the bottom of the sixth, with one out and runners at the corners, Jeff Applegate beat out a potential double play grounder to second, allowing AWA's ninth run of the game to score. So, heading to the seventh, if there was a rally left in the Bomber attack, it had to come now.

Earl surrendered a leadoff single but got the next hitter on a liner to left. The next Shady Oak batter bounced a one-hopper back to Earl, who started a nifty 1-6-3 game-ending double play. AWA had pulled off the repeat.

There were many doubters at the beginning of the season, among opponents and AWA players alike. But all were in agreement now. The boys of AWA were champs -- again!