skipper kelly nicholson took the cards' helm in 2005 and led the team to a first-place finish in the east division. nicholson's cardinals featured ccbl outstanding relief pitcher steven wright and emmanuel burriss, who led the league with 37 stolen bases. after taking the semi-final playoff series from chatham by winning both ends of a day-night playoff doubleheader, orleans once again met bourne for the title. game 1 at eldredge park was scoreless going into the bottom of the ninth when the speedy burriss scored the game's only run in dramatic walk-off fashion by tagging up on a foul pop. the braves proceeded to clobber the cards in game 2 at bourne by a score of 10-1. but orleans answered early in game 3, scoring nine runs in the first three innings. the cards shut down bourne hitters behind the stellar pitching of brad meyers and closer wright, and cruised to a 13-1 title-clinching victory. meyers shared playoff mvp honors with burriss, who reached base five times and scored three runs in the finale.