2017 55+ Generals Post Exceptional Season in Puget Sound Adirondack Division

Puget Sound Senior Baseball League 55+ Adirondack

Front Row L-R: Al Manter, Tom Lange, Rand Gilbertson, Rich Bonny, Jeff Droker, Miles Fiala, Alan Melling. Back Row L-R: Bill Lehr, Mitch Denning, Dean Carroll, John Tremble, Carl Gleason, Bob Sorensen, Jeff Kyger, George Baron. Not Pictured: Greg Morrison and Russ Otani

‘Generals Dedicate 2018 to Championship Run’

Submitted by Bob Sorensen, Generals manager

After having made it to the division championship game in 2016, the Generals of the 55+ Adirondack Division of the Puget Sound Senior Baseball League were optimistic heading into 2017. Injuries, vacations and work commitments (for those few teammates who are still not retired) hampered the team during the regular season. The Generals finished in fifth place with an 8-10 record. But the playoffs were another story!

Going 4-1 in the first five games of a double-elimination playoff format the Generals once again made it to the championship game. There we had a rematch with the Twins who defeated us earlier in the round. But there was no happy ending as the Twins prevailed 13-1 to capture the championship.

Offensively the Generals were led by Carl Gleason: .651/.735/.762/1.497 and Greg Morrison: .510/.536/.686/1.222. Pretty gaudy numbers by two of our youngsters (not yet 60)

Pitching duties were once again held down by Jeff Kyger: 66 IP/4.75 ERA and Rich Bonny: 56 IP/3.81 ERA. Both Rich and Jeff played on three different teams for the 2017 season. Rich played 60 games during the season. Jeff played fewer games than Rich, as he still works 50 hours or more per week.

Two members of the Generals, Al Manter and Mitch Denning, deserve special recognition because of their dedication and age! I won’t give their ages away but let’s just say it totals over 150 years between them. Their commute to games occasionally takes 1 ½ hours each way. These two guys really love to play ball.

The rest of our roster: Dean Carroll, Jeff Droker, Miles Fiala, Rand Gilbertson, Tom Lange, Bill Lehr, Alan Melling, Russ Otani, Bob Sorensen and John Tremble have all played in the PSSBL for many years. Average tenure for the team is over 14 years. On top of that, almost every player has participated in the MSBL World Series, many of them making ten or more trip to the desert.

Here’s to 2018 when we plan to capture our second championship!