Justin finally wins the big one
September 19, 2005 | By Justin Hastings

Finally. That says it all.

"Man, this feels good," said Hastings.

After three consecutive losses in HMWL Championships, Justin Hastings put his hands on the trophy Sunday afternoon.

"Craig did all the horsework," said Hastings. And he's right. Teammate Craig Hastings drove in 11 of the 15 runs the team scored over two games, including three home runs. "But even though I didn't pitch great, I got the important outs when we needed them."

And he's right. After almost collapsing (again) in game 1, Justin recorded a clutch strike out of Fred Rogers after almost giving up a 7-run lead. Hastings also pitched six innings of 2-run ball in game 2 after Craig Hastings failed to find a groove to start the game. It was the clutch pitches by Justin that the league had yet to see from him in the postseason.

Until Sunday, Justin was known not only as the league's best player never to win a championship, but perhaps a choker as well.

"I don't blame anyone for saying that. You're going to hear that when you lose three straight."

Hastings took the loss in the first ever HMWL Championship in 2001. There, he and rookie Matt Lincoln lost to the buzzsaw of Rich McMackin (and Matt Cassaro), 7-2.

Justin appeared again in the 2002 Championship, this time teamed with Cassaro. They would face McMackin and then-rookie Fred Rogers. We all know how this one ended. Rogers's walk-off homer sealed the fate of the game.

Then, in 2004, Justin managed to lose yet another postseason game. After tying the game in the sixth at 4-4 (when some say Hastings blew the game by mistakenly not taking an extra base and forcing home another run), brother Craig snatched the victory away with a walk-off job of his own. He and teammate Fred Rogers defeated Justin & Will Kenney, 5-4.

"That's all history now."

History was seemingly working against Justin since the first year of HMWL league play in 2001. However, he overcame "the curse" and he now sits amongst the all-time greats in HMWL lore.

In the process of winning, Justin also kept Fred Rogers from winning his third HMWL Championship. Both he, Rich McMackin, and now Craig Hastings lead the HMWL with two championships each.

"One is enough for me," said Hastings. "I'm sure it's a whole different feeling winning multiple HMWL Cups. But if this is the only one I win, that's just fine by me."