2018 Top Lumber Expos Capture ‘Three-Peat’ in Delco MSBL 25+ Division

Delco MSBL, 25+ Division

Top Lumber Expos 15, Glen Mill Rays 4

‘Top Lumber Expos Claim ‘Three-Peat’ in Finals Sweep’

Submitted by Carlos Law, Top Lumber Expos manager

After winning two championships in the Delco MSBL 25 + League in 2016 and 2017 we knew we had a bull’s eye on us to dethrone us. So Top Lumber owner and general manager Len Montano acquired former Big Leaguer Todd Rizzo, who pitched for the Chicago White Sox, to bolster our pitching staff. During the regular season we finished in first place at 14 – 4, earning a bye to the Semi-Finals.

On August 4th we faced the Media Mustangs in Game one of the Semi-Finals. In the top of the third inning Gary Prugh walked, Chris Schilling laid down a sacrifice bunt and Kevin Toler doubled to put the Mustangs in the lead 1-0. In the bottom of the third the Expos responded with Anthony DiGregorio’s lead-off single and then Larry Greenwich Jr. doubled to score Anthony and Matt Nelson hit a sacrifice Fly to center to score Larry for a 2 -1 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth inning the Expos seized control with Ed Bahamonde’s lead-off double, Dan Cooper’s RBI single, Anthony DiGregorio’s RBI single, Alex Blum’s RBI single and concluded with Matt Nelson’s RBI single for a 6-1 lead. Savvy veteran Barry Blundin pitched a complete game including five strikeouts while only allowing six hits and two walks for an 8-2 win.

On August 5th, Game two was played and the Expos dominated the Mustangs for a 12-4 win to sweep the Semi-Finals. Todd Rizzo pitched a complete game with eight strikeouts. As for the offense, Matt Nelson and Champ Sanchez were 4 for 4 knocking in three RBI each as Larry Greenwich Jr. and Dan Cooper each had three hits and two RBI each.

On August 12th we faced the Glen Mill Rays in Game one of the finals. The Expos ace Todd Rizzo pitched a complete game shutout with six strikeouts and only allowed four hits for a 6-0 win. In the bottom of the second inning Len Montano led off with a walk and scored on a wild pitch for a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the fifth inning Steve Smith led off with a single, Anthony Monzo singled, Dan Cooper drove in an RBI, Anthony DiGregorio singled in an RBI, Alex Blum drove in an RBI, and Larry Greenwich Jr. doubled in an RBI for a 5-0 lead. In the sixth inning Len Montano hit a lead-off single and then scored on Anthony Monzo’s sacrifice fly to right to close out the scoring.

In Game two the Expos once again dominated the Rays for a 15-4 win to sweep the Finals and harness a third Delco MSBL 25+ League Championship in a row.

As for the Offense, Playoff MVP Larry Greenwich Jr. was 5 for 5 with three runs scored and four RBI. Anthony Monzo was 3 for 4 with two RBI. Champ Sanchez, Len Montano and Steve Smith each had two hits and two RBI while Matt Nelson, Kevin Archer, Dan Cooper, Anthony DiGregorio, Alex Blum, Brian Stumpf, Zac Penman, Dave Kowalski and Matt Papa each hit singles. In the meantime “Cy Young” pitcher Barry Blundin was pitching a complete game 5-hitter with six strikeouts.

In closing, our general manager and prime time hitter Len Montano and myself, Carlos Law, took up the coaching reins to lead this franchise to three consecutive championships. Len’s Top Lumber Academy and Baseball Bats manufacturing company continues to grow and thrive in the Delaware County, PA area. This really provides our team a place to hit in the cages during the off season and keep our young and old guys together to maintain the continuity to WIN!