2017 Great Lakes Orioles Claim ‘Five-Peat’ in Detroit MSBL 35+ Slusser Division

Detroit MSBL, 35+ Slusser Division

‘Great Lake Orioles Cop Five-Peat’

For the fifth straight year the Great Lakes Orioles are winners of the very competitive 35+ Slusser Division of the Detroit MSBL. The O’s finished with a 21-3 regular season record and the Orioles playoff record was 4-0 for an overall 2017 League record of 25-3.

In the first round of the 2017 playoffs, the O’s faced a tough Yankees team and came away with a 10-4 win; Orioles veteran right hander, Mike Favoretto was the fortunate recipient of an explosive Orioles offense. That win put the Orioles into the second round of the playoffs against a determined and talented Old English D’s team. O’s mound-mates Sean Moran and Chris Yates combined to quiet the usually potent OE D’s bats by a score of 10-0. That victory vaulted the Orioles into the best of three championship series for the fifth consecutive year.

While the Orioles were taking care of their business the Cardinals and Dodgers were going at it in a classic battle that ended with a walk-off 3-2 win for the scrappy Cardinals team. This would mark the first time in four seasons the Championship game opponent for the Orioles would be against a team NOT named the Dodgers.

In the first game of the best of three series it was evident the Orioles came to play, as they opened a quick first inning lead that would prove to be enough for Orioles lefty Chris Yates as the O’s coasted to an easy 16-0 victory. In the second game of the series opening doubleheader, Orioles starter Mike Homant took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before a couple seeing eye hits fell in and allowed the Cardinals their only run to score in a 9-1 Championship winning sweep of the best of three series for the Orioles. During their Playoff/Championship run the Orioles outscored their opponents 45-5.

Leading the Orioles offense in 2017 was Chris Yates with a sizzling .595 BA an OPS of 1.352 and an OBP of .638. The big run producer for the fifth straight year was Jason Copeland who had 38 RBI’s while batting an outstanding .493 and also tied teammate Digz Edwards with five doubles. Joe Brusseau was the O’s hit leader with 35, while batting a blistering .556 Tied for second in hits, with 34 each, were Jason Copeland and Keith Opalach, who hit .415 on the season.

Other notable offensive achievements included having 11 players with 10 or more RBI’s. Chris Yates and Jamal Womble tied with 12 stolen bases a piece. The Orioles had five players who hit .500 or higher with a minimum of 36 AB. As a team the O’s batted a remarkable .425 and scored 234 runs, had an OPS of .999 and an OBP of .508.

The Orioles Pitching staff also proved formidable, they were led by ace Sean Moran who finished with a 10-0 record, a 0.90 ERA, WHIP of .82 and OBP of .148. He also led the team in innings pitched with 60. He was followed by veteran right-hander, Mike Favoretto who posted a 7-1 record, 1.75 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and OBP of .189. Chris Yates and Mike Homant finished the season with a 4-0 records, Yates had a perfect 0.00 ERA and Homant’s was 0.33. Overall the Orioles Pitching staff finished 25-3, 1.51 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and OBP of .159.

Congratulations to all Detroit MSBL teams on another fun and competitive season, looking forward to 2018.