2017 Westchester Marlins Take 45+ Crown in Westchester-Putnam (NY) MSBL
By Ed Johnson, Marlins managerThe Westchester Marlins won the MSBL Westchester- Putnam 45+ championship in just their second year in the league, after posting a 16 win season in 2017. After playing in the MSBL for 25 years on various teams and age groups from Westchester to Long Island, player-manager Ed Johnson decided to start his own team. With the help of Walter Franklin he build his team around power hitting and speed, with players such as Tony Agosto, Keith Bryant and Lou Ponte.
Ed lost his entire infield the first year, an infield that turned 17 double plays in 13 games. He then replaced them with Junior Fuentes at shortstop, Bill Tolli second base, Walter Allen at first, and third baseman Wade Hardy. The surprise of the year came from their ace pitcher Herm Mieles, who finished with a record of 9-0.
In the final game of the season, the Marlins beat the Yorktown Pirates in the bottom of the ninth with a walk-off single from newcomer Rob Fernandez, a game in which they were down 8-2. Both teams then celebrated their seasons with a joint cookout.