2014 Red Sox Sweep A’s for 45+ Title in North Carolina

Central North Carolina 45+ Division

Raleigh Red Sox 10, A’s 4

Submitted by Joe Levinski, Red Sox co-manager

Summary of Season:

The 45+ Raleigh Red Sox of the Central North Carolina MSBL went 15-2-2 in the regular season.

The Red Sox are co-managed by Joe Levinski & Rob Woods.

Summary of Championship Series:

GAME 1:

– Sox scored six runs in the first inning

– 7-5 Sox after four innings

– Three consecutive leadoff singles in the fifth and five consecutive leadoff singles in the sixth with a pair of errors thrown in accounted for five runs and a Sox 12-5 lead after six innings

– Vern Hinton 4-4 (all singles), 2 runs, RBI, and a stolen base

– Jim Arleth3-5 with a double, 2 runs scored and RBI

– Several running/diving catches in CF by Dave Swoveland (season .351 BA, 7 RBI, 10 SB) with runners in scoring position to hold the Sox lead

– Ron Daniel pitched a complete game victory (6K)

– Final score Sox 12 A’s 8

GAME 2:

– Two-run single by Gabe Maldonado after two consecutive errors to lead off fifth inning puts Sox ahead for good 4-3

– LF Jeff Gates (season .472 OBP, 7 RBI, 10 SB) throws out runner at home in crucial spot during 7th inning to keep score at 6-4

– Red Sox pull away with Curtis Miller (season .383 BA, 14 RBI) two-out, two-run double to RF gap in bottom of seventh inning to make it 8-4

– Two unearned runs in 8th after two leadoff singles to finalize scoring at 10-4

– Two hits apiece for Arleth, Hinton, Barnett, and Miller

– Barry Fussell pitched a complete game victory (6K)

– Final score Sox 10 A’s 4

Team Leaders:

Barry Fussell – SP, 7-0, 2.44 ERA, 62K (led 45+ league in all these stats) / .333 BA, 13 RBI, 9 SB

Ron Daniel – SP, 6-0 (2nd in 45+ league), 2.81 ERA (2nd in 45+ league), 37K (3rd in 45+ league) / .405 BA, 10 RBI, 5 SB

Jim Arleth – 3B, .560 BA (1st in 45+ league), 1 HR, 15 RBI, 4 SB

Dave Barnett- C, .379 BA, 3 HR (1st in 45+ league), 34 RBI (1st in 45+ league), 5 SB

Vern Hinton- 1B, .474 BA, 21 RBI (3rd in 45+ league), 6 SB

Gabe Maldonato – C, .380 BA, 1 HR, 19 RBI, 10 SB