2020 Great Lakes Orioles Win Third Straight 42+ Title in Detroit MSBL

Detroit MSBL, 42+ Hughes Division

Great Lakes Orioles 11, Jet Box Bombers 3 (game three of series)

‘Orioles Win Third Straight 42+ Crown’

Submitted by Mike Favoretto

For the third straight year, playing in the highly competitive Detroit MSBL 42+ Hughes Division, the Great Lakes Orioles finished in First Place with a dominating 14-2 record. They then plowed through the playoffs with an impressive 3-1 record, winning the 3-game Championship Series two games to one over season long nemesis Jet Box Bombers. 

While our nation dealt with the challenges of a pandemic, having a 2020 baseball season seemed uncertain. But a determined Detroit MSBL League President, Mike Juliano, was able to put together an abbreviated 16 game schedule. The season, which usually starts mid-May, was delayed until mid-July and didn’t finish until the first week in October, when the first chill of winter nights ahead started to creep into Michigan. The Orioles, however stayed hot all season long, led offensively by second baseman Joe Brusseau who hit a blistering .607 on the season and a scorching .889 in the playoffs.

In addition to Joe, others leading the offense for the 42+ O’s with 40 or more at bats, were Brian Baumann (.535), Jason Copeland (.516), Major Murray (.414), Dino Martinbianco (.400) and Shawn Crockett (.396). Copeland also led the team with 32 RBI’s. The O’s scored 237 runs during the regular season and batted .456 as a team. On the pitching side, three hurlers, Mike Favoretto, Sean Moran and Steve Michelz had four wins apiece. The team ERA was 2.95.

In the playoff round the highly potent Orioles offense scored 33 runs, while the defense only allowed 13 in the four playoff games. The final record for the 2020 42+ Orioles was an impressive 17-3.