The Rockies are no strangers to adversity this year and they had all they could handle with a formidible Lugnuts squad that they had not beaten in two previous attempts this season. The Rockies marched out Evan "Big Game" Bickel (9.0 IP. 5 k's 10 hits. 4 runs, 2 earned) while the 'Nuts countered with Darryl "Viva Las Vegas" Natale (8.0 IP, 13 hits, 4 K's) in a first round playoff game played at FHA. 'Nuts skipper Jim Varney (2-4) led off the game with a base knock. stole second, reached third on Tim Booher's sac bunt and then scored on Tod Bezenah's ground ball to second to give the 'Nuts an early 1 zip lead!. The Rockies had the lead off man Craig Bodensteiner on second with no body out, but couldn't score him. The 'Nuts made it 2-0 in the top of the second. Regy Root(2-4) led off with a single, Natale reached on an error. With runners on 2nd and 3rd and no out RobAdamson hit a ball back up the middle off BIckel's glove which Rockies second baseman Craig Bodensteiner fielded and fired quickly home to Larry Frisa to tag Root out at the plate. Drew Rice was intentionally walked after Adamson took second unchallenged. Willie Ramos lifted a 2 strike sac fly to score Natale and the 'Nuts had a 2-0 lead. Adversity!!! The Rockies had the answer for it today! Mike Coyle (2-3, double) singled, Bickel (1-2) singled, and Chuck Healey Jr. (3-3, 2 rbi) singled in Coyle. Larry Frisa followed with a walk, and Doug Costello(1-3) singled in Bickel and the Rockies had tied the score with no outs before the rally died and the score stayed 2-2 after two. After a scoreless third, the Nuts made it 3-2 in the top of the fourth. Adamson stroked a two out base hit, stole second and then scored when an errant Rockie throw got away at first and went out of play scoring him on the play. The Rockies got it right back in their half of the fourth. Tony Leonardo(2-4) hit a leadoff single, stole second, and Mike Coyle worked the count for a walk. Bickel laid down a perfect sac bunt and the Rockies had 2nd and 3rd with one out. Chuck Healey Jr. then singled in Leonardo and the Rockies had tied it at 3-3! Bickel responded with a 1-2-3 top of the fifth, and the Rockies took the lead for good in the bottom half of the inning. It all happened after two outs, Craig Bodensteiner walked, stole second and when Mickey Harris (2-3, 2 doubles, 4 rbi) took a Natale fastball the other way for a double Bodensteiner scored giving the Rockies a 4-3 lead! Bickel left runners on base for the 'Nuts in the sixth and seventh w/out a run scoring, and his teammates gave him some breathing room in the seventh. Chuck Healey Jr. painted a single down the chalk on the third base line. Mike Coyle pitch running for Healey stole second, and when Natale tried to get Coyle at third on Frisa's bunt the ball got away allowing Coyle to score. Frisa moved to second on the play. Doug Costello (1-3) then put a good sac bunt down that got Frisa to third. Jay Mann (1-2) then worked a walk, and Steve MacLean ran for him. Craig Bodenteiner walked to load the bases for Mickey Harris. The 2009 NABA All Star Game American Division MVP then came through in the clutch with a bases clearing double to put the Rockies up 8-3. Bickel responded with a 1-2-3 inning, to put his mates up again looking for a little more insurance. Mike Coyle came up with one out in the bottom of the eighth and hit a rocket down the left field line for a double, and with two outs Chuck Healey Jr. drew a walk, then took second unchallenged. Frisa then looped a fly ball just inside the left field line beyond third and when an errant throw went out of play, both Rockies scored making the score 10 -3 Rockies. Bickel gave up a single to Root and he stole 2nd and third eventually scoring on Adamson's fly ball to deep left field that John Salerno snagged on a full run down the line. Drew Rice had the last hit of the season for the 'Nuts as Bickel  got a ground ball for the third out to end the game and the "nuts playoff run. The Rockies will face their old nemesis the Padres in the American Division Final, while the Bulldogs and Giants square off in the other one.