2016 50+ National

Team Victory 5, Boston Wolfpack 3

‘Co-MVP Flynt Throws Complete Game for Crown’

By Jason P. Skoda, special to MSBL

October 21, 2016, Tempe Diablo Stadium – Will Flynt of Team Victory stood in the center diamond knowing his left arm only had so many more pitches left in it.

The results may say otherwise, but Flynt had decided before the week started at the MSBL World Series he was done pitching. So when he took the mound against the Boston WolfPack in the 50 National championship game, the left-hander was going to do whatever it took to stay on the mound.

It went relatively easy as he helped Victory to a 5-3 win over the WolfPack on Friday at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

“It hurts too much. This is it. I am walking off the mound happy,” said Flynt. “This is what I wanted to do.”

Flynt, who was named co-MVP along with Manny Salinas, allowed one hit through six innings before the WolfPlack plated three runs in the eight. The left-hander allowed eight hits, struck out five and walked one for the win with his long-time buddy, Buzzy Sailer as his catcher.

“He caught my first 90 mph fastball and got me signed,” said Flynt, who reached as high as Triple-A and played in several different countries. “I wanted him to be there in the end, too.”

Victory is almost always there in the end when it comes the MSBL World Series and the opponent has been the WolfPack many times over the years.

It’s one of the better rivalries in the MSBL World Series and the WolfPack looked like it may have finally had enough to get a ring, going 6-0 for the week including two late-inning rallies to beat Victory.

It wasn’t to be, however, as the offense, despite having several accomplished players like Dante Bichette in the lineup, had trouble doing anything against Flynt.

“We couldn’t get anything going on offense,” co-manager Bob Iandoli said. “They just always seem to have our number.”

The WolfPack made a late run, plating three runs in the eighth thanks to RBI hits by Dean Borcelli, Jose Deldago and Don Bell, but it wasn’t enough.

“One of these years we are going to win,” Iandoli said. “This was the best we’ve ever brought here. We mashed all week. We had a great week. It is what it is.”

Team Victory had plenty of offense as Oscar Duran, Frank Bons and Salinas has two hits each with Duran driving in two runs to win its sixth ring in the last eight years.

“We had a lot of clutch hitting and our defense is unbelievable,” manager Rafael Fuentes said. “We had to refocus and do what we do. They battled and came here to win. We played fundamental baseball, kept the pressure on with pitching and defense.”

Team Victory 5, Boston WolfPack 3

V   011 002 010 – 5  10 1

B   000 000  030—3   8  1

Batteries: Flynt, Sailer. Smith, Bichette (6), Borcelli.

WP – Flynt. LP – Smith.

2B – Bichette (B).

Leading hitters – (Victory) Duran 2×4, 2 RBI; Salinas 2×4, RBI; Murray 1×3, RBI. Bichette 1×3, double; Borcelli 1×2, RBI; Delgado 1×3, RBI.

LOB – Victory 10; Boston 5.