Bradley throws and Levine hits as Rangers claim top prize

By Steve LaMontia, Executive Regional Director

HoHoKam Stadium, Mesa, AZ, October 27, 2013-Amidst some good old fashioned Texas weather in Mesa, Skip Bradley pitched the San Antonio Rangers to a resounding 15-2 victory over the over matched Sacramento Solons in the title game of the 65 and over national wood bat division. Bradley gave up a miniscule three hits through seven innings in this high scoring division until the Solons finally made a little noise in the eighth while stringing together four hits by Terry Howarth, Gary Ewbank, Don Frantz and Ron Williams and scored their only two runs of the game in the inning.

Bradley got out of the jam but was met with a lead-off double in the ninth by Nick Pashulka so Gerry Noack came in to seal the deal on the bump. Noack gave up another hit but then coaxed an infield dribbler for the first out and then Lanny Ropke grounded into a double play to end the game.

The Rangers lead-off hitter and team MVP Billy Cocchia walked three times and scored every time while being knocked around the bases by manager Billy Jacobs, who was 2-4 with two walks of his own from the second spot. Bob Levine contributed a 3-5 day while Bryan Krantz was two for four at the plate while also getting hit by a pitch in the second inning, which led to his scoring a run.

But this day was Bradley’s. The big Texan lefty, and San Antonio MSBL league president, was nearly untouchable under the hot Arizona sun. His only early trouble came in the third inning when he gave up two hits and a walk and was staring at bases loaded with two outs. A grounder to short ended that threat without harm and he was on cruise control until the eighth.

The big damage to the Solons came in the bottom of the fourth when the Rangers started with a walk to Cocchia and back to back bunt hits by Billy Jacobs and Steve Klein. The Solons decided to relieve starter Brad Baker with Jerry Karnow.After a strikeout, a hit batsman and a line drive to third, Karnow looked like he might get out of it but a two RBI single by Mark Adams and a two RBI double by Mike Jones put the game out of reach at 11-0 after four innings.Terry Horwarth led the Solons with a 2-3 day at the plate while scoring one of the Solon runs. Nick Pashulka contributed a double in the ninth inning for the Solons and also pitched a one, two, three eighth inning but it was way too little and way too late to stop the San Antonio train.