2015 White Plains Tigers Capture 28+ Crown at West-Put MSBL
West-Put MSBL 28+ Division
White Plains Tigers 4, Mohegan Braves 2
‘White Plains Tigers Late Season Run Cops West-Put MSBL 28+ Crown’
Submitted by Kagan Hudayar, Tigers manager
With an average team age of nearly 50, and opting to play in the younger 28+ West-Put MSBL division, the White Plains Tigers won five in a row to close out the season and earn a playoff opportunity. They found themselves needing to win a single elimination game to continue into the final four playoff series, and they did it in walk off fashion on a big ninth inning RBI triple delivered by the second oldest team member, John “Doc” Colasacco to defeat a very tough Rays team 5-4.
They then carried that momentum into the next round and defeated the #1 seed Tarrytown Indians in a two game sweep behind the pitching of team ace Fernando Ramos and 48 year old veteran and team manager Kagan Hudayar. The final out of game one came following a bases loaded bomb off the center field fence. The Tigers’ Ed DeGasperis, Nelson Dorta and Chris Presbyto executed a perfect relay to the plate to nab what would have been the game tying run. In game two, Hudayar’s pitching and the Tigers’ clutch hitting proved too much to overcome for the heavily favored Indians. It would be the first trip to the League Championship for the Tigers.
In that championship round, things initially looked bleak for the Tigers. Led by the power bats of Alex Pezzuto, Greg Pezzuto and Jason Bopp, and the stellar pitching of ace Josh Wolin, the Mohegan Braves handed Fernando Ramos a rare loss and appeared poised to win their second championship in four years. But with their backs to the wall, the Tigers came out swinging in game two. A barrage of early hits capped by a mammoth Chris Presbyto home run would put Kagan Hudayar’s complete game performance to good use. They managed to pull the series even with a convincing 12-4 victory, and set the stage for the decisive, winner take all final.
When the Tigers and Braves faced off for that deciding game, Fernando Ramos was not to be denied, as he pitched nine masterful innings, saving his best for the final two when his fastball actually picked up speed noticeably. He also contributed with a solo blast to center field in the seventh. The Tigers played flawless defense behind Ramos’ superb performance and defeated the powerful Braves 4-2 to earn their first ever Championship.
When all was said and done, the Tigers had won 10 of their final 11 games by playing smart, error free, hustling baseball, and making the opposition pay for every error. It was a true team effort that relied on level-headedness and a gritty, grinding style of play by the tight-knit group of veterans .
Among those veterans for the wily old Tigers: Todd Mathias(56), “Doc” Colasacco (54), Nelson Dorta (48), Kagan Hudayar (48),Fernando Ramos (44), Ed DeGasperis (50), Chris Presbyto (47), John Montone(47), Brent Kammerer (43), and Victor Nieves (49). The more youthful,“post-Nixon” members of the team include; Ferdinand “little bro” Ramos, Emerick Torres, Vinnie Palmerino, Brad Holcman, Glen Peters, and Omar Mojica. The Tigers dedicate their magical season to “Extra Strength Naproxen” and “Super-Duty” neoprene athletic braces.