2015 Chesapeake MSBL Division Champions Crowned

Submitted by Duane Cordrey, Chesapeake MSBL League President

The Chesapeake MSBL crowned its 2015 Division Champions after an exciting season in which two teams went undefeated through the regular season and post-season playoffs. The Chesapeake MSBL experienced another season of growth by adding additional teams to its 25+ and 35+ Divisions. The growth of the 16-team 25+ Division to 16 teams resulted in a split to accommodate an American and National Division to balance the competition and provide an opportunity to award another championship.

The Chesapeake MSBL lost three of its long time members in 2015. It is with sadness and a heavy heart that we said good-bye and memorialized 2008 Chesapeake MSBL Hall Famer and Anne Arundel Umpire Association Founder, Frank “Jocko” Svoboda; Chesapeake Mariners/Dodgers/Nationals player, John Pflueger; and, Chesapeake A’s/White Sox player, Mark Gladden. Each of these fine men will be sorely missed. We express our deepest condolences to each of their families.

Chesapeake MSBL recognized two of its longtime members who were inducted into the Chesapeake MSBL Hall of Fame for their many years of continued and sustained contributions to the Chesapeake MSBL, their team, and to their community. It is with great honor to recognize Ed Nottingham (Chesapeake Indians) and Mike Gordon (Chesapeake Tigers) as the 2015 Chesapeake MSBL Hall of Fame Inductees.

25+ American

In the team’s second season with the Chesapeake Men’s Baseball League, Spring Grove Baseball Club, managed by Todd Perry, made league history by completing two consecutive undefeated seasons going 44-0 in regular season and 10-0 in playoffs over the two year span. The Grover’s put together a perfect 2015 regular season record by going 23-0 and remained undefeated with a 4-0 playoff record to win the team’s second consecutive 25+ Chesapeake MSBL American Division championship.

The Grover’s pitching staff of Brooks Rothschild, Ryan Taylor, Ryan Staton, and Greg Snyder allowed 31 runs in the regular season and 18 runs in the playoffs. Team members Dustin Tarlow, Ryan Baione, Jeff Bihy, Shawn Retz, Devin Rivers, Wade Keenan, Buddy Breidenbaugh, Anthony DiGiorgio, Andy Welling, Jason Schoppert, John Poss, and Todd Perry showed their offensive strength by scoring 243 runs in the regular season and 32 runs in the 4 game playoff series.

2015 Chesapeake MSBL 25+ American Division Standings

Team	Wins	Losses	Ties	Percentage	Runs Allowed	Runs Scored
Spring Grove Baseball Club	23	0	0	1.000	31	243
Chesapeake Orioles	17	6	1	0.729	61	153
Chesapeake Pirates	17	7	0	0.708	93	214
Chesapeake Brewers	15	7	2	0.667	110	156
Odenton (25+) Ducks	14	10	0	0.583	113	171
North County Tar Heels	13	10	1	0.563	107	121
Linthicum Expos	12	11	0	0.522	134	125
Chesapeake Hooks	9	13	1	0.413	140	141
Chesapeake Marlins	8	14	2	0.375	162	133
Annapolis Braves	6	14	2	0.318	171	76

Kneeling (l-r): Ryan Taylor, Jeff Bihy, Greg Snyder; Middle (l-r): Brooks Rothschild, Dustin Tarlow, Jason Schoppert, John Poss, Todd Perry, Wade Keenan, Anthony DiGiorgio, Arnie Miller; Back (l-r): Ryan Baione, Devin Rivers, Ryan Staton, Buddy Breidenbaugh, Andy Welling, Shawn Retz

25+ National

The Chesapeake Red Sox, managed by Danny Tyler, claimed the 2015 Chesapeake MSBL 25+ Division National Division Championship after finishing the regular season with a 10-14 record. As the third seed entering the post-season playoffs, the Red Sox defeated the second seed Chesapeake Giants in the first round of the best of three game series play-off format and came back from four runs down in the last inning in the final series game against the first seed Annapolis Mariners to win the 25+ National Division League Championship by a final score of 5-4. Kyle Storms, Heath Henson, Tom Olsewski, Danny Tyler, Kevin Bearden and David St. John had consecutive hits to mount the come from behind championship game win. Defensively Chris Rowley and Dan Mitchell pitched a great game to keep the Red Sox within striking distance.

During their playoff run the team was lead offensively by designated hitter Tom Olsewski who went 8 for 11 while pitcher Danny Tyler posted a 2-0 record pitching two complete games. In the regular season, the Red Sox were led by Felix Ferriera who, in his first year, batted .436 with a .577 OBP and 10 runs scored. Kyle Storms batted .340 and lead the team with hits and home runs.

2015 Chesapeake MSBL 25+ National Division Standings

Team	Wins	Losses	Ties	Percentage	Runs Allowed	Runs Scored
Annapolis Mariners	17	7	1	0.700	111	241
Chesapeake Giants	11	13	1	0.460	180	152
Chesapeake Red Sox	10	14	0	0.417	159	118
Chesapeake Angels	5	19	1	0.220	266	100
Maryland Yankees	5	19	0	0.208	269	107
Baltimore Rattlers	3	21	0	0.125	236	92

Standing (l-r): Kyle Storms, Ryan Gerhardt, Felix Ferreira, Chris Rowley, Phil Lathroum, David St John, Chris Reber, Jeff Ward; Kneeling (l-r): Tom Olsewski, Danny Tyler, Dan Mitchell, Heath Henson, Kevin Bearden, Phil Allen; Not pictured: Marvin Charles, Quentin Cruppenink, Kurt Hines, Shawn Wiley, Tom Hanna, Matt Mitchell

35+ Division

After a four year sabbatical from the Chesapeake MSBL after claiming seven consecutive 25+ Division Championships (2005-2011), the Chesapeake Braves, Co-Managed by Jeff Wolf and Jeff Pate, reunited in 2015 to claim their first title in the Chesapeake MSBL 35+ Division. The Braves went undefeated in the regular season going 26-0. The offense produced 356 runs while the team’s pitching staff and defense surrendered a frugal 54 runs to their opponents. The Braves concluded their perfect season by going 3-0 in the playoffs and outscored their opponents 38-6 to wrap up their 2015 season with a perfect 29-0 record and outscoring their opponents by a league record 394 runs scored to 60 runs allowed.

The dominating members of the Braves pitching staff were Dave Greely, Josh Molnar, Danny Miller, Jason Lohr, Steve Hoffmann, Bob Engelmeyer, Jim Rice, Eric Milton, and Mike Bronakoski. Each member of the team contributed to the onslaught of offensive runs produced led by the home run power of Ryan Hendricks and Earl Williams, and the consistent effort of the entire Braves roster to get on base, drive in runs, and score runs with a disciplined and smart approach at the plate and on the base paths.

In the championship game, Chesapeake Braves pitcher, Dave Greely, kept the Odenton Ducks off balance by keeping them off the scoreboard by surrendering just two hits, striking out seven and giving up one base on balls in a solid championship game outing. The Braves offense was paced by a 17-hit attack with Joel Hudson leading the way going (3-4, 2B, 3B, 5 RBI) with Ian Hendricks (2-4, 3 SB, 3 R, 2 RBI), Ryan Hendricks, (2-4, 3B), Earl Williams (2-4), and Pat Conley (2-4) also having a big day at the plate. The Braves offense pounded the Duck’s pitchers to earn the Braves first 35+ Division title with a final score of 17-0.

2015 Chesapeake MSBL 35+ National Division Standings

Team	Wins	Losses	Ties	Percentage	Runs Allowed	Runs Scored
Chesapeake Braves	26	0	0	1.000	54	356
Odenton (35+) Ducks	19	7	0	0.731	118	230
Chesapeake Mariners	17	8	0	0.680	132	206
Chesapeake Indians	14	10	1	0.580	159	176
Chesapeake (35+) Tigers	14	12	0	0.539	161	208
Chesapeake Twins	10	14	1	0.420	202	154
Chesapeake Rockies	9	15	1	0.380	223	181
Chesapeake Royals	1	25	0	0.039	342	104

Kneeling (l-r): Pat Conley, Josh Molnar, Duane Cordrey, Todd Perry, Cleon Jones, Ian Hendricks, Danny Lee, Gary Gubbings; Middle Row (l-r): Dub Daniels, Earl Williams, Steve Hoffmann, Jeff Wolf, Alex Brunet, Jeff Pate, Joel Hudson; Back Row (l-r): Jason Lohr, Dave Greeley, Ryan Hendricks, Bob Engelmeyer; Not Pictured: Mike Bronakoski, Danny Miller, Eric Milton, Jim Rice, Jason Tores45+ Division

The 2015 Chesapeake White Sox continued their winning tradition by claiming both the regular season and playoff Championships in the Chesapeake MSBL 45+ Division for the sixth consecutive year. The White Sox 18-5 regular season record and perfect 3-0 season capped off another successful season for team manager, Ron Ebelein.

The veteran club had dominating pitching led by team MVP Bob Engelmeyer, Steve Hoffmann, and Ron Ebelein. The team’s defense was solid throughout the season to win the close games. The competitive character of this was demonstrated with their calm resolve to come through in the clutch to win the important one run game. The Chesapeake White Sox once again defeated the Chesapeake Tigers with a walk off in the bottom of the ninth inning of the 2015 championship game just as they did in 2014. The White Sox manufactured their 2015 championship win by a final score of 3-2 in a very well played game by both teams.

The offensive output was produced by leading hitters Dub Daniels, Jeff Pate, Frank Raska, Wayne Vance, Kevin Williams, Gerry Shay, Duane Cordrey, Mark Robey, Ebelein, Paul Whitlock and Jamey Lee. The acquisition of seven additional players to the team roster made immediate and meaningful contributions to the team’s success this season. The new White Sox members were Brian Green, Alex Brunet, Jerry Osuna, Doug Rupple, Glen Vance, Randy Rykiel and Rick Cannon.

Special recognition is warranted to White Sox team statistician,Shannon O’Brien, for instilling dugout discipline and focus; and to her husband, Nick O’Brien, for his outstanding efforts in supporting the team’s fundraising efforts.

2015 Chesapeake MSBL 45+ National Division Standings

Team	Wins	Losses	Ties	Percentage	Runs Allowed	Runs Scored
Chesapeake White Sox	18	5	0	0.783	100	219
Chesapeake A’s	12	10	1	0.544	172	163
Chesapeake (45+) Tigers	8	15	0	0.348	218	147
Chesapeake Blue Claws	5	17	1	0.239	252	123
Chesapeake Cardinals	4	19	1	0.188	279	145

Kneeling (l-r): Frank Raska, Gerry Shay, Glen Vance, Jamey Lee, Jerry Osuna, Brian Green, Jeff Pate; Middle Row (l-r): Duane Cordrey, Ron Ebelein, Paul Whitlock, Rick Cannon, Doug Rupple, Shannon O’Brien; Back Row (l-r):Kevin Williams, Steve Hoffmann, Alex Burnet, Wayne Vance, Bob Engelmeyer, Dub Daniels; Not Pictured: Jeff Wolf, John Goode, Pat Overton, Mark Robey, Randy Rykiel