2020 Privateers Claim First 35+ AA Division Title in Long Island MSBL

Long Island MSBL, 35+ AA Division

Long Island Privateers 12, Long Island Athletics 5

Submitted by Tom Mallis, Privateers manager

This is the Privateers seventh season in the 35+ AA division of the Long Island MSBL.  The finals series was a good one, as we had a rematch of the 2017 finals with the Athletics, a series which we unfortunately lost.

Game one of the finals went 11 innings. We trailed by a run in the ninth when Larry Draiss hit a two-out single to tie the game.  We then escaped a second and third no-outs jam in the bottom of the tenth, only to score five in the 11th led by my catcher Brian Franke smoking a two-run double down the third base line to secure the victory.

In Game two we trailed again, 4-1, and then 7-3 in the seventh but we were able to put up a 9-spot in the bottom of the seventh making it 12-7 and we didn’t look back.  Joe Vitale got both wins in relief out of the bullpen and allowed no runs in six innings of relief in back to back days.

This was our third trip to the finals in seven years.  As nice as it was to get one, the season looked a little shaky at the beginning.  We lost six players and went from 19 down to 13 and lost many key players.  We had to piece a lot together.

When we were able to add pitcher Greg Arnold at the deadline, he put us over the top.  In game one of the finals he had 11 K’s in seven innings and was dominant all season.  Thanks Greg!