2016 Racine Blues Knock Off Pilots for 61+ Title in Milwaukee

Milwaukee Men’s Senior Baseball League 61+ Division

Racine Blues 7, Milwaukee Pilots 4

Back Row, L to R: Marty Connaughton, Jon Nelson, Gary Landreman, Donn Britten, Rick Czechowicz, Richard Krupp, Jay Hyma, Gary Lequai, Francisco Jaramillo, Vinnie Renna, Dave Froehlich, Owner/GM Bobby Domanik. Front Row, L to R: John Becker, Mgr. Dan Nicholson, John Lenart, Herman Guzman, Anthony D’Alie, Billy Sweetman

‘Becker and Czechowicz Lead Way Throwing and Hitting’

Contributed by Dan Nicholson, Racine Blues manager

The Racine Blues won the 61-over Rock Complex Milwaukee Men’s Senior Baseball League (MMSBL) Championship defeating the Milwaukee Pilots 7-4. The Rock Complex is located in Franklin, Wisconsin just outside Milwaukee.

Both the Pilots and Blues won their initial playoff games. The Pilots moved up to the 61-over league this year from the 55-over league where they had won three straight championships going undefeated each year. The Blues ended the Pilots 46 game winning streak, including playoff games, with the 7-4 Championship game win August 10, 2016. Blues starting pitcher John Becker, local Racine attorney, picked up the win throwing five shutout innings. Vinnie Renna pitched 2 1/3innings with Jon Nelson pitching 1 2/3 innings to earn the save. The Pilots were shutout until the ninth inning.

Rick Czechowicz led the Blues hitters going 3 for 4 with an RBI. Vinnie Renna and Anthony D’Alie each went 2 for 3 with a double, walk and an RBI each. John Becker also went 2 for 3 and scored two runs. Jay Hyma added two RBI’s.

We are just a bunch of old guys over 60 still playing and loving the game of baseball. As the MSBL motto states, ‘Play Hard not Soft.’