2016 Silver Spring Dodgers Make it Four in a Row in DCMSBL

DC MSBL 25+ National East Division

Silver Spring Dodgers 7, Maryland Bay Monsters 5

Standing L-R: Doug Remer, Patrick Conley, Kevin Burns, Matt Herbek, Brian Herbek, Matt Kianka, Wes Stonelake, Dan Marchetti, and Trevor Snook. Kneeling L-R: Brandon Dean, J.T. Williamson, Daniel Washington, Jeremy Schutt, and Billy Duvall. Not Pictured: Eric Duvall, Chris Kees, Mike Simko, Nick Stevens, Connor Tagg, Jason Thibeault, and Aaron Wilson.

‘Four-Peat and Tenth Title for Dodgers’A special note from Larry Lombardi, DC MSBL League President

‘This article is particularly special because Patrick Conley is the team manager of the Silver Spring Dodgers. Patrick has managed and guided the Silver Spring Dodgers through all 10 League Championships! Besides the fact Patrick is one of our DCMSBL Hall of Fame members, Patrick has played in our league when we first started the MABL division. 

Patrick loves the game of baseball like no one else and the fact that he has been playing in our league for a long time, if you knew where he lives and where we play our games, Patrick literally comes in from the next state to play baseball! You can’t get anyone more dedicated than that when it comes to playing MSBL baseball! Patrick is well respected among all his team manager peers and players. His team plays great baseball, they all have fun and all are first class when it comes to the game of baseball. We are very fortunate to have such a great individual as Patrick to play and manage in our league!‘ (Below is the championship series recap)

The Silver Spring Dodgers won the 2016 DC MSBL 25+ Championship defeating the Maryland Bay Monsters in a best-of-three series, to earn their 10^th league championship. The Bay Monsters finished the regular season in first place with a record of 15-1, followed by the Dodgers in second with a record of 13-3. The Dodgers offense scored the most runs in the 25+ division with 172, while the Bay Monsters allowed the fewest runs with 38. The Dodgers and Bay Monsters split the two games against each other during the regular season.

Game one of the three game series went to the Bay Monsters with a final score of 4 – 2. The Dodgers scored first in the top of the second inning on a two-out double by Trevor Snook, scoring Brian Herbek. The Bay Monsters countered with a run in the bottom of the inning from a leadoff single by Jeff Flax, who later scored. The Dodgers scored again in the top of the third inning. Matt Kianka reached base on an error, stole second base, and scored on a single by Daniel Washington. The Bay Monsters again answered back with a run in the bottom half of the third inning, tying the game at 2-2. Christian Schulz doubled and scored on a two-out hit by Bill Henig. The game remained tied in the sixth inning with both starting pitchers in the game. Dodgers starter Chris Kees was relieved in the sixth inning with two outs, after a throwing error allowed the go ahead run to score. Later in the inning a balk was called, scoring the Bay Monsters fourth and final run of the game.

In game two, the Dodgers got off to an early lead scoring three runs in the first inning. Billy Duvall led off the inning with a double, followed by doubles from Dan Marchetti and Kevin Burns. The Dodgers added three more runs in the third inning. Kianka led off the inning with a single and Washington hit a 2-run home run to extend the lead to 5-1. Marchetti and Burns followed the home run with a pair of singles, and Jeremy Schutt drove in Marchetti scoring the sixth run of the game. The Dodgers added a final run in the fourth inning scoring Snook to extend the lead to 7-1. Dodgers starting pitcher JT Williamson was able to hold the Bay Monsters offense, allowing just one run through six innings and striking out four. Mike Simko pitched the final inning for the Dodgers to close out the game. Dodgers won game two with a final score of 7-1.

The Championship game came down to the final out. The Dodgers struck first in the second inning. Burns led off the inning with a single, B. Herbek reached base on an error, and Brandon Dean hit a two-out double scoring Burns and Herbek. The Dodgers added three more runs in the top of the third inning on a pair of doubles from Duvall and Burns and singles by Washington and Schutt. In the bottom half of the inning the Bay Monsters cut the lead to 5-2 from hits by Ryan Bottegal, Kevin Fuqua, Daniel Konieczka and David Dudish. The Dodgers added two more runs in the seventh inning to extend the lead to 7-2. Dean walked with one out and was pinch ran for by Doug Remer. Snook was hit by a pitch, Duvall hit into a fielder’s choice, and Kianka singled. The Bay Monsters were not finished, scoring three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning led by Steve Ulaky’s home run to cut the lead to 7-5. In the bottom of the ninth inning the Bay Monsters stranded a runner on first base to end the game. Final score Dodgers 7, Bay Monsters 5. Dodgers starting pitcher Matt Herbek threw 7 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out seven. Matt’s twin brother Brian Herbek came in relief, pitching the final 1 1/3 innings to close out the game and earn the save.

The series win for the Dodgers earned their record 10^th DC MSBL League Championship. Since 2005 the Dodgers have won 10 out of the last 12 titles, including their fourth in a row – 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.