2022 40+ Mountain
BBQ Forkballers 7, Dallas Redbirds 6
‘BBQ Forkballers Win ‘Back to Back’ Titles at 2022 MSBL World Series; Offer 20% discount to all MSBL members on all patented bat-handle BBQ tools and cutting boards!‘
Submitted by Brett Mandel, BBQ Forkballers manager and Greater Philadelphia MSBL League President
“One for the other ring finger!” was the rallying cry for the 40+ Mountain Division’s Baseball BBQ Forkballers when they returned to the MSBL World Series as defending champions. After a thrilling, 7-6 win over the Dallas Redbirds, the Forkballers claimed their back-to-back championship and added that second ring.
The core of the Forkballers team has been making the trip to Phoenix since 2008 and while every week in the sun was full of baseball memories and lots of laughs, the team had made a habit of returning home without a trophy. Now, despite having a roster that includes no ex-pros and only a handful of players with college experience, winning has become a tradition.
Sponsored by Baseball BBQ — makers of patented, bat-handle BBQ tools and cutting boards (www.BaseballBBQ.com) — the Forkballers earned a 5-1 round-robin record as Russel Kessinger and Kyle Hinds ignited the offense at the top of the lineup. In the playoffs, the Forkballers needed a thrilling, extra-inning, come-from-behind win to secure their berth in the finals. Down by one with a runner on first in the bottom of the 10th, Mike Mullen worked a 12-pitch walk and then Chuck Lovell laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt that was thrown away, setting up Robert Hawkey to knock in the winning run past a drawn-in infield.
In the final game, Josh Mayo and Lawrence Richmond powered the bats and Mike Mullen, Ian Downes, and Rich Ropp kept the opposition off balance from the mound and the Forkballers hung on for the 7-6 victory. Ray Vetter squeezed the final out in his glove to complete a line-drive-force-out double play to end the game.
Off the field, the team stayed together and enjoyed a raucous kangaroo court to keep everyone loose all week. Every MSBL World Series has been great fun, but adding one for the other ring finger made this one just a little bit better.
To celebrate the Baseball BBQ Forkballers’ back-to-back championship victories, Baseball BBQ offers the entire MSBL community a 20% discount off any product. Just use discount code “GPMABL20” at www.BaseballBBQ.Com to celebrate the victory!