2021 45+ Cactus Consolation

OC Dodgers 15, Texas Scorpions 10

Submitted by Jef Brown, Dodger’s manager

We started with a lot of new players this year due to COVID and we had no idea that we would win a trophy.

I was fortunate to be able to manage the OC Dodgers, as we were also were led by our outstanding coaches, Glenn Marshal and Ralph Cedillo. The OC Dodgers entered this year’s tournament with players primarily from Southern California along with players from Utah, North Carolina, and Arizona.   

The Dodgers finished pool play with a record of 3-3 with victories over the Nassau Yankees, Silverton Red Sox, and the Santa Barbara Black Sheep. The Dodgers came into the final day of pool play sitting at 2-3 and got a big win against the Silverton Red Sox to finish pool play 3-3.

This team really came together during the tournament, displaying some offensive power, scoring in the double digits in three of their pool play games and 15 runs in the Championship game.  Some of our new players, Chuck Whitaker, James Harris, Tommy Gelatka, and Joe Kowalow did a phenomenal job on both defense and offense.  Our workhorse, starting pitcher Ron Glenn pitched a gem against the Nassau Yankees and pitched in nearly every pool play game.  He did an amazing job helping us get to the Championship!

Coming into the playoffs the Dodgers got a first-round victory against the San Diego Diamond Dogs and advanced to face the Texas Scorpions in the Championship! 

The Dodgers sent out Carlos Cruz-Acevedo in the final against a very tough and talented Texas Scorpions team. It was a tough task against a very good Scorpions team, but with key hits from Skills McFadden, Chuck Whitaker, James Harris, Joe Kowalow, Tommy Gelatka, and Lamont Lane, the Dodgers jumped out to a 3-0 in the first inning and never looked back, putting up 15 runs against the Scorpions.

Carlos Cruz-Acevedo pitched a gem in the 45+ Cactus division Championship Saturday morning and he was able to pitch a complete game holding the Scorpions to only 3 runs.

This was an amazing tournament this year.  When we started out we didn’t know what we had, with so many new faces, but the chemistry was there from the beginning.  Players were unselfish, picked each other up, hustled and each did an outstanding job to get us to the Championship win!  I’m extremely proud of how this group came together and we are looking forward to next year!