2016 Rangers Quest for Ninth Title Comes Up One Run Short in Milwaukee
Milwaukee-Rock MSBL, 35+ Division
‘Rangers Post Impressive Playoff Run in 35+ Milwaukee’
Submitted by John Buono, Rangers manager
The 2016 Rangers competed in their 11th season in the 35+ division of the Milwaukee MSBL. Our resume of eight championships including seven in a row from 2008-2014 was quite impressive. However, age and the injury bug resulted in a less than stellar 6-8 regular season record. The team rallied at playoff time but came up just short, losing the best of three finals to the repeating champion Cardinals.
Our first playoff game matched us with the Red Sox. After struggling for several years, the Red Sox posted an impressive 9-5 regular season record, including two victories over the Rangers. In a tight fought game, Ranger pitcher Johnny Arnold Jr. outlasted the Red Sox Matt Turner for a 3-0 victory. Arnold allowed just five hits and struck out eight. Arnold and Matt Jacoby each had three hits in the victory.
The second round of the playoffs matched us with the regular season champion Mudhens. The Mudhens posted an impressive 12-2 season record. The Rangers came out of the gate fast, posting a total of ten runs in the first four innings. Arnold picked up the win while Jacoby and Pat Tobiasz contributed two hits each. Joe Ferro had three hits and pitched 5 1/3 innings scoreless innings for the Mudhens.
The finals resulted in a rematch of the Rangers and Cardinals for the third year in a row. The Rangers won in 2014 while the Cardinals won in 2015. In game one the Cardinals scored twice in the first inning and made it stand up winning by a final score of 2-1. Outstanding pitching efforts by the Cardinals Brian Henschel and the Rangers Jeff Lemmerman led to an exciting game. Game two went to the Rangers by a 6-2 score as Arnold took the mound allowing six hits in nine innings. Arnold added two hits for the winners. Game three once again matched Arnold and Henschel on the mound. The two teams managed a total of only eight hits, but a three run home run in the seventh inning by Paul Archambault proved to be the difference resulting in a 3-2 Cardinals win.
Some of our season outstanding performances were Johnny Arnold Jr. .459, Pat Tobiasz .411 with two home runs, and Matt Jacoby .400. Arnold posted a 1.50 era and a 4-1 record. Arnold was also named the league MVP.