2019 Tigers Sweep Warriors to Capture 35+ National Division of South Jersey MSBL
South Jersey MSBL, 35+ National Division
South Jersey Tigers 14, Delco Warriors 11
Bottom L-R: Mike Terlizzi, Jim Capalbo, Jesus Rodriguez, Scott Parsons, Joan Hereida, and Ricardo Rodriguez. Top L-R: Jenuel Vargas, Alex Rosado, Tom Gardner, Jose Hernandez, Allan Forsyth, and Willie Rivera
‘Tigers Sweep Warriors to Capture 35+ National Division’
Submitted by Jose Hernandez, Tigers Manager
Cherry Hill, NJ – In their first year in the SJMSBL 35+ National division, the SJ Tigers become the SJMSBL 35+ National division champions. The Tigers swept the Delco Warriors in the Best-of-Three Championship Round, 8-5 and 14-11, to win their first title since the team was founded by Jose Hernandez in 2015.
During the regular season, the Tigers and Warriors faced off two times with a dead even record of one win and one loss. The Best-of-Three Championship Series win was up for grabs between the two evenly matched teams.
The Warriors got off to an early lead in Game One scoring one run in the top of the first inning and two more in the top of the third. The Tigers responded with five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to put the score at 5–3. Scott Parsons, Jimmy Capalbo, Jose Hernandez, and Ricardo Rodriguez each smashed one single and one run to give the Tigers the lead. The Warriors kept the pressure on and came right back, scoring a run in the seventh and another one in the eighth to tie the game.
The Tigers fired right back in the bottom of the eighth, scoring three runs to take the lead for good. Game One’s final score was Tigers 8, Warriors 5.
In Game Two, the Tigers used 12-hit barrage to outslug the Warriors. The Tigers scored first, batting in seven runs in the first inning. The Warriors hit back, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first, one more run in the third, and another two in the bottom of the fourth. But the Tigers did not panic; they continued hitting the ball well and were able to score one more in the third and another one in the fourth to make it a 9-5 lead.
The Warriors rallied in the sixth, scoring five runs and one more in the seventh. The resilient Tigers fired back in the bottom of the sixth, scoring five runs to take the lead for good.
The Tigers/Warriors hit parade made the final score (14-11) look more like a high school football game–but don’t be confused, it was indeed an adult competitive baseball game. Both team pitchers looked sharp, but it was the bats that did the talking.
The Tigers ended the regular season with a 12-2-1 record, going undefeated at home winning eight straight games. This was a great season for the Tigers as they had great positive team chemistry while everyone contributed to the success of the team.