2015 Lugnuts Squeeze Pirates for 60+ Title at ‘The Rock’ (Milwaukee)

The Rock (Milwaukee) 60+ Division

Lugnuts 5, Pirates 3

‘Ferrell Leads the Way on the Hill and at the Plate’

Contributed by Jeff Walsh, Lugnuts manager

The Lugnuts were fortunate to win the championship against the Pirates. The 3-8 Pirates defeated the undefeated Blues to make the championship game behind superb shutout pitching by A.J. Allen, 8-0. The Lugnuts squeaked by the Grays 8-7 on a walk off double by pitcher Bob Schweitzer to reach the final.

The final saw four lead changes, a complete four-hit game win for pitcher Jim Ferrell who also drove in three to gain a 5-3 win. Schweitzer and Mike Wichser also had RBI’s.

The Lugnuts took the lead in the third inning and held on for the victory. They went up for good on a two-run single by Jim Ferrell. The Lugnuts were led by a flawless day at the dish by Jim Rand, who went 3-3 against the Pirates’ pitching. He singled in the first, third, and sixth innings and scored two runs.

The Lugnuts relied on Jim Ferrell to eat up innings en route to the win. He pitched seven innings and allowed two earned runs, four hits and three walks while striking out four.

A.J. Allen was the game’s losing pitcher for the Pirates. He lasted just six innings, walked one, struck out two, and allowed five runs.

The Lugnuts never surrendered the lead after the third inning. The runs piled on thanks to an RBI double by Bob Schweitzer.

The Rock MSBL 60+ Lugnuts are comprised of guys from several Rock MSBL 55+teams, mostly the 55+ Lugnuts, and a few new players. The 60+ league will eventually progress to 65+ at The Rock. The four-team 60+ league was started after five years of trying to start a 65+ league with two teams. We expect two expansion teams next year. This is my fourth Lugnuts team, having started a 45+, 55+, 65+ and 60+ MSBL team in Milwaukee. Many guys play on more than one team but I’ve recruited over 100 players for these teams over the years.