North Texas (Dallas) MSBL 2020 Championship Summary

Submitted by Shawn Lee, Social Media Director and 18+ Division President


Congratulations to the Dallas Panthers for taking the crown in the NTABL Open (18+) League 2020 season for Group A

The Panthers took on a very talented and championship tenured Oak Cliff Pelicans Baseball Club in a best-of-three series and completed their fifth consecutive “top-bracket” championship with two shutout victories sweep of the Pels. Credit to both teams for their outstanding effort including players, managers, fans and supporters.

Winning pitcher was Blake Martin who went the distance allowing only two hits while striking out seven.  Mike Anderson said “Nobody thought we’d get through a week of baseball and here we were able to make it a season. Congratulations gentlemen and thank you for your leadership in North Texas baseball!!”

Upstart Newcomer Andrews Distributing Tigers take NTABL Open (18+) League Group B Presidents cup capping a 14-8 season

The Tigers sent the Old Fashioneds to the golf course with a 9-8 victory at Greenhill. Andrews, the newest champ, won a series of 1-run thrillers throughout the playoffs to claim the crown.

After trailing 8-2 in the bottom of the fourth, the Andrews Co. Tigers stormed back to defeat the Old Fashioneds 9-8. Andrews Co. Tigers closed out the Presidents Tourney by going undefeated, 4-0. Blake Hathaway went the distance holding the Neds with runners in scoring position to close out the game.

Center fielder Tommy Carr had the game winning RBI in the bottom of the eighth. Carr was named team MVP for the tourney going 8 for 17 for the tourney with four doubles and two game winning RBIs. Catcher Wade Bagley, logged 24 years between championships, where his previous title came as a member of the ’96 National Champion LSU Tigers!

Cec’s Walk-Off Picture-Perfect Ending in Dallas Modoc’s Victory Over NTABL Dallas Dodgers in the Veterans (35+) League finale

Congrats to Dallas Modoc and manager, Chris Cec as Modoc went to war with a surging Dodgers squad and came out victorious with a 5 to 4 barn burner that lasted 10 innings.  Along with leading the team, Cec’s walk-off base hit scored the winning run in the tenth.   The game featured some of the best arms in Dallas pitching and it was the Dodgers that came out swinging. 

The Dodgers led the entire game, which was played on Graham Field at Prestonwood Christian AcademyModoc showed it’s poise by tying the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, sending the game into extra innings. The Dodgers rallied in the eighth for two runs, but Modoc rebounded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the frame to tie it once again only for Cec to spoil the day for the boys in Blue.

Bill Kelly earned the win in relief for Dallas Modoc. Kelly went the final three innings, allowing one hit and two runs while striking out three.  Adam Gremillion posted a solid seven innings as the starter striking out 14 Dodgers.  Shout out goes out to Dodgers manager Kevin Simmons, who’s squad battled from the middle of the pack to nearly winning the whole thing. The Dodgers finish the season at 9-9-2.

Modoc earned the 2020 NTABL Veterans League championship, finishing with a 15-2-1 record and completing a 3-peat at the top of the NTABL Veterans stanza.

Shout out to the Caddo Reds, this year’s 2020 NTABL Masters League (45+) Champions!

The Reds took down a talented Royals team by a score of 8 to 4 to earn walnut and bronze. The Reds finished the season at 15-2-1 under the helm of manager, Daniel T Washington. Congrats to the Reds!

Your 2020 NTABL Legacy (55+) League Champion, Dallas Rangers!!!

The Dallas Rangers continued their Legacy Division dominance with a 10-4 victory over the upstart EKG Orioles at Reverchon Park claiming the 55+ Championship.  

The 8-8 Orioles were a big underdog vs the undefeated Rangers.  Down 3-1 early, the Rangers used a big fourth inning to put the game out of reach.  

Randy Kelley got the victory and Bill Downing took the loss.  Bill Hanley got the hold going the final two innings for the Rangers.

Jerry Castandeda lost several key players down the stretch due to Covid-19, yet the Dallas Rangers swept through the playoffs with an unblemished 16-0 record.

Worth Noting: The ‘storied’ season of the NTABL Legacy Division came to an end for the Uptown Grays at the hands of the EKG Orioles at Historic Reverchon Park. 

The Grays fought hard but came up on the short end in the first postseason elimination game. 

Uptown, cobbled together by Keith Riley after Covid-19 left numerous players “orphaned”, battled every game and according to Riley “will be ready to compete in the Spring.”   We hope to see you out there coach!