2017 Puget Sound Twins Win 55+ Adirondack Division in First Year Playing Together
Puget Sound Senior Baseball League, 55+ Adirondack
Twins 13, Generals 1
Front Row L-R: Jeff Naval, Rick O’Neill, Russ Jensen, Tag Gleason, Don Russell. Back Row L-R: John Hansen, Mark Patterson, Marlin Appelwick, Wes Lewis, Jim Haller, Tom Samuelson, Ken Combs, Tom Evans Krause, Tim Tucker. Not Pictured: Greg “Pepper” Martin, Ron Hamlin, Rick Phillips
‘Twins Capture 55+ Adirondack Division In First Season’
Submitted by Tim Tucker, Twins General Manager
The Twins defeated the Generals in the championship game 13-1. Wes Lewis got the win with seven plus strong innings striking out five. Greg ‘Pepper’ Martin led the offensive barrage with three hits, four RBI, two stolen bases and scored twice. Rick O’Neil, Russ Jensen, Wes Lewis and Marlin Applewick each had two hits as well.
It was our first year as a team even though we’ve played against each other or as teammates on other teams for years in the PSSBL. Many of us have also enjoyed the warm Phoenix weather in October competing in the MSBL World Series. Our roster of 17 had an average age of 65+! Our philosophy was simple: play the game we love, enjoy the friendships we’ve developed over the years, and don’t get hurt.
However, much of the regular season was hampered by various injuries and personal absences which led to everyone contributing to our success. Our field manager, Jim Haller, guided us to a 15-3 record which secured us with the top seed in the playoffs. We lived up to that by going 3-0 in the playoffs and out scoring our opponents 39-6.
Offensively we hit .429 for the season with seven players hitting over .400. Russ Jensen, who missed all of the 2016 season with injuries, came back with a vengeance hitting a torrid .674.
Our pitching staff was led by Marlin Applewick (7-0) and our staff had 11 complete games -Applewick (7), Lewis (2), and Tucker (2). Not bad for a first year team!
Great job, Twins and here’s to a healthy 2018!