2014 Volpes Orioles Defeat Fountain Hill for 25+ Lehigh Valley Crown

Lehigh Valley (PA) MSBL 25+ Division

Volpes Orioles 6, Fountain Hill 2

Contributed by Jim Reagle, Volpes Orioles manager

2014 was the year of the Volpe’s Orioles in the Lehigh Valley MSBL 25 + Division. The team was managed by Jim Reagle who signed with the Orioles in 1994 and became the manager in 2008. This was the fourth trip to the finals and the second title for the Volpe’s Orioles under the management of Jim Reagle who was assisted by veteran Matthew “Hap” Smith and new comer Tim Loch.

The team was led offensively by Derek Caldwell, Tim Jones, Kevin Sawyer, Vince Leone, El “Beasto” Ortiz, Steve Wentzel, Steve Pondish and Eric Ehrhardt. The pitching staff was anchored by Scott Hoch, David Martin, PJ Yurick, Tom Gallagher, Ryno Smith and the closer was Derek Caldwell. The defense was led by Marc Stewart, Derek Engle, Matt Markus, Mike Richmond, David Crosson, James Mayers, Mike Wagner and catcher Johnny Braz.

The Orioles had a good mix of talent, but that means nothing without team chemistry and the team chemistry was evident in the playoffs when it was made perfectly clear that the playoffs are about winning not getting playing time.

In the playoffs the Orioles came from behind five times and before a packed house at Hackett’s Park the Orioles beat a talented Fountain Hill squad, 6-2 to win the championship two games to one and finish the season with a 20-5 record.

Now that the season is over we have to thank God and our sponsors:Volpe’s Sports Bar & Grille, Reagle Insurance, Lehigh Valley Bat Works, Smitty’s Auto Body, Performance Food Center, AccuCare Chiropractic, The JA Corvino Tax Resolution Firm and Shop.com/instride.