2015 Black Marlins Win Rubber-Match to Cop 45+ Title in South Jersey
South Jersey MSBL 45+ Division
Moorestown Black Marlins 5, Mariners 2
Front row L-R: Ken Young, Dave Harris, bat boy Rowan Degnan, Joe Basara, Mgr. Dave Baril (holding ball from final out), Oscar Rivera and winning pitcher Gary Lebo. Back row L-R: Steve Degnan, Alex Kim, Donnie Davis, John “Kos” Kosmowsky, Tommy Donahue, Rich Swan, Steve Gaunay, Drew White, Tim Sawyer, Gary “GRod” Rodriguez and Shawn Nam. Not pictured: Dean Condodina
‘Lebo Goes the Distance on the Bump’
Contributed by Dave Baril, Black Marlins manager
The Over 45 Division Marlins matched up against the Mariners in the 2015 Finals in late August in the South Jersey MSBL. Having lost to the Mariners the previous Sunday by a 5-4 score, the Marlins were determined to even the score and then take the league title in the rubber match.
Down 1-0 in games, the Marlins quickly dug themselves a big hole in the first inning by giving up three unearned runs with John “Kos” Kosmowsky on the mound. But, not to be deterred, the Marlins climbed right back into this do or die game with an improbable six runs in the top of the third inning that turned the tide in this contest. Drew White drove in two of those runs and was followed by RBI singles from Steve Degnan and Donnie Davis. In the top of the fifth Dave Baril singled and was sacrificed to second by Joe Basara. A balk and a wild pitch soon accounted for what turned out to be the winning run as Baril scored the seventh run making it 7-3 in favor of the Marlins. In the top of the sixth Drew White led off with a single and Tommy Donahue, running for White, swiped third base and scored on Rich Swan’s RBI single. With the game standing at 8-3 in favor of the Marlins, the Mariners did not roll over and in the bottom of the eighth came alive scoring three runs on four hits, a walk and a hit batsman. Don Sachau crushed a run scoring double in that frame but it was too little, too late. Neither team scored in the ninth while the game was won by the Marlins 8-6 knotting the series at one game apiece. Drew White, Steve Degnan and Dave Baril all had two hits for the Marlins while Dan Laudisio and Don Sachau had two hits for the Mariners. John “Kos” Kosmowsky went the distance for the Marlins picking up the win.
After a short 30 minute break, the teams resumed play with a seven inning contest for all of the marbles! This time, the Marlins sent hurler Gary Lebo to the hill and a revived Mariner team proceeded to put up two runs in the top of the first inning. The big blow came from Mariner pitcher Mike Pente who blasted a two run double to deep left field. Never ones to hang our heads, the Marlins quickly roared back as lead-off man Dave Harris singled and number two hitter Tommy Donahue doubled putting runners on second and third with no outs. Drew White came through once again with a sac fly and Donnie Davis produced the equalizer with a single. This season had now come down to a six inning shoot-out. In the bottom of the second inning Dave Baril led off with a single and Gary Rodriguez put a charge into one over the center fielder’s head putting runners on second and third and no outs. Pente retired the next two hitters but Steve Gaunay was not to be denied as he slapped the eventual game winning two run single to right field. The last Marlin tally occurred in the fifth when Donahue led off with a single and scored onSteve Degnan’s slap shot down the right field line making the score 5-2 in favor of the Marlins. This is how the season ended with the Marlins defeating the always tough Mariners by a score of 5-2 to win the division. Gary Lebo went the distance for the win and Tommy Donahue, Steve Degnan and Gary Rodriguez all had doubles for the Marlins while Joe Santone, Mike Pente and Steve Palumbo all had doubles for the Mariners.