2017 55+ National
San Antonio Bombers 13 Sacramento Royals 6
‘MVP Smith Goes 3 for 4, Throws Complete Game’
By Rodney Johnson, special to MSBL
October 26, 2017, Tempe Diablo Stadium, Tempe, AZ – If you arrived late to the 55+ National Division championship game, you might as well have stayed home. San Antonio had a 7-0 lead before fans could settle into their seats. The San Antonio Bombers went on to a convincing 13-6 win over the Sacramento Royals.
San Antonio got some help early as Bryan Wyatt led off by being hit by a pitch and Jack Held reached on catcher interference. David Oliver was trying to lay down a sacrifice but instead ended up with a bunt single to load the bases. Mike Smith followed with a two-run single. Sacramento starter Jerry Tuman gave himself a chance to get out of the inning by retiring the next two batters, but then the Bombers poured it on. Joe Kramer walked; Freddie Douglas rapped a RBI single followed by Lester Bedford’s two-RBI single and it was 5-0. That was enough to chase Tuman.
Jim Barker came on to pitch but gave up a walk and another two-run single before Wyatt came up for the second time in the inning and made the final out. “Their pitcher (Tuman) struggled a bit with his control and we were able to come up with a few hits and put something together,” said Bombers manager Jerry Spencer. Sacramento fought back but the first inning was enough for San Antonio to coast to the title.
San Antonio native Mike Smith pitched a complete game and went 3-for-4 at the plate with 3 RBIs to earn MVP honors. He also was the winner in the Bombers semi final game. To cap off his season, Smith won the MVP award in the 50+ National division earlier in the week. “He’s just a horse and we rode him,” praised Spencer. Smith is a former major league who played two seasons with the Baltimore Orioles.
“We’ve faced former major leaguers before and that’s just part of the game,” said Royals
manager Gary Stonebrook. “We got six runs off of him which is enough to win most of the time. We just got too far behind today. I like to see these major leaguers come down here because they want to have fun just like everyone else.” Stonebrook has plenty of experience with the MSBL World Series. In his 28th year coming to Arizona for the tournament, this one was special for Stonebrook as he was inducted into the MSBL Hall of Fame.
In addition to Smith, the Bombers had five other players with at least two hits;Bryan Wyatt, Jack Held, David Oliver, Joe Kramer and Freddie Douglas. In all, San Antonio pounded out 19 hits. “My brothers are the Bombers,” said Spencer. “We play together, live together and go home together. We’re not a group of individuals, we are a team.”
Stonebrook was philosophical about the loss; “We all want to win but we made some mistakes early. There’s no sour grapes. That’s just how it is. They are a good team and deserved to win. We’ll be back next year and try it again.”
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
SA Bombers 7 2 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 13 19 2
Sac Royals 2 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 6 13 1
Pitching Line: (San Antonio Bombers) Mike Smith (Sacramento Royals) Jerry Tuman, Jim Barker (1), Ken Jungsten (8), Ken Jungsten (8), Bob Booth (8).
WP: Smith LP: Tuman
HR: none
3B: none
2B: Oliver (SA):MK Smith (SA): Douglas (SA).
Leading Hitters: San Antonio: Bryan Wyatt 2×4, 2 R; Jack Held 2×3, 2 R; David Oliver 2×5, 3 R; Mike Smith 3×4, 3 RBI; Jerry Spencer 1×5, 3 RBI; Joe Kramer 2×4, 2 R; Freddie Douglas 2×4, R, 2 RBI. Sacramento: Bruce Anderson 4×5, 2 R; Dave Everingham 2×4, RBI; Derek Bulock 2×3, RBI.
SAC: Welz (SAC).
SF: Adams (SAC).
SB: Held (SA); Welch (SAC).
Team LOB: San Antonio 14; Sacramento 10.
Time of Game: 3:03.