2022 65+ Desert
Cal Vets #1 11, Colorado Stars 7
‘Cal Vets Successfully Defend Their 2021 Crown’
Submitted by Ken Breyley, Cal Vets manager
On October 29th the Cal Vets #1 team defended its 65+ Desert Division championship title in the 2022 MSBL World Series by beating the Colorado Stars 11-7 in 9 innings.
The Cal Vets and Colorado Stars had faced off in game one of the tournament’s round-robin play and the Stars prevailed, 8-6. After going 4-1 in round-robin play and winning its first playoff game, the Cal Vets (5-1) met the Colorado Stars (6-0) in the Championship Game at the Salt River Diamondbacks/Rockies Baseball Complex.
After four innings the game was tied 2-2. In the fifth inning, the Cal Vets scored two runs and the Stars scored one. After 6 1/2 innings of play, the Cal Vets held onto a slim 4-3 lead. In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Stars scored three runs to take what appeared to be an insurmountable 6-4 lead.
However, in the top of the eighth inning, the Cal Vets rallied sending 14 batters to the plate and scored seven runs to take an 11-6 lead. Surprisingly, the Cal Vets had only three base hits in that inning but put eight more men on base via bases on balls, fielding errors, and batters hit by pitches. In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Stars threatened a comeback scoring one run and leaving two men in scoring position.
While I elected to bat only 10, the 14 Cal Vets players that were present all contributed to the win. Notable Championship game player performances included a complete game victory by Cal Vets pitcher Gary Salhany and two base hits each by Marty Rogowsky, Gary Alexander, and Dave Foreman.
The Cal Vets played seven games in seven days to win the Championship. They scored 105 runs and gave up only 45. Each and every one of the 15 Cal Vets players helped the team win the Championship and defend its 65+ Desert Division title.
Outstanding individual player achievements over the seven-game tournament included:
Rusty Chaboudy’s three pitching wins and 4.26 ERA
Dave Sechler’s 14 hits, 17 RBI’s, and .560 batting average
Gary Alexander’s 11 hits, 10 RBI’s and, .524 batting average
Tony Cafazza’s 12 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, and one inside-the-park home run
John Trinwith’s 12 runs scored, seven bases on balls, and an inside-the-park home run
Based upon his pitching performance in the Championship game, we named Gary Salhany “MVP” of the series.
The Cal Vets 2022 Championship victory made it the third time in four years that the Cal Vets team won the MSBL World Series 65+ Desert Division.