MSBL’s Best Kept Secret: Las Vegas Rattlers

By Steve LaMontia, Director of Communications

There’s an MSBL powerhouse tournament team lurking in the desert in Las Vegas just waiting to assemble and make you wish you hadn’t seen them in your division.

The Las Vegas Rattlers, assembled and managed by veteran player/manager Manny Ocampo, will once again be competing in the upcoming MSBL Desert Classic in Palm Springs, January 19-21, a tournament they won last year while representing the 35+ American division. Pitcher Dave Scanlon pitched seven and a half innings in the championship game to secure the win while Alfonso Gandara closed it out.

“The Rattlers is a team comprised of five of my nephews and two brothers in law,” said Ocampo. “Our Desert Classic team has become a yearly family event. Any other players on the team quickly become part of our family, too. We are a very closely knit team, on and off the field and wherever we are playing.”

The Rattlers are also champions of past MSBL Las Vegas Kickoff Classics and Las Vegas Opens, tourneys that take place every March and Memorial Day weekends in May. They are also in the thick of things ever year at the MSBL World Series in Arizona and are continually seen in their division’s championship games and usually once again fighting for the trophy.

“The beauty of the Rattlers is that all of our players return so we have the continuity of the same players, every year. But most importantly, win or lose we have a great time!”

If you would like to become involved in this year’s Desert Classic in January there is still room. You can call the MSBL offices at 631-753-6725 or email info@msblnational.com.