2022 Chiefs Win Syracuse Championship Game 1-0 Behind Worden Ninth Inning Solo Shot
Syracuse MSBL
Chiefs 1, Brewers 0
‘Worden Dinger Seals Deal’
Submitted by Devin Reschke, Chiefs manager
The curse has finally been broken! I have played with the Syracuse MSBL Chiefs for 10 years and have managed them for six. We have had undefeated seasons and we have made it to championship games, only to lose in the bottom of the ninth inning. We have never been able to “seal the deal”… until this year!
The season was far from perfect but had such a fairytale ending. We have a great group of guys who are not only teammates, but friends, and everybody was all in. The one story I would like to share that would encapsulate our 2022 season is about overcoming heartache and adversity.
I have a ‘Utility’ player by the name of Robert Worden (#44). Robert ‘Bobby’ Worden and his bride, Weslee lost their firstborn, Easton Worden, after pregnancy complications this past winter. They were devastated. To make matters worse, Bobby lost his father ‘Bob’ Worden after a hard-fought battle with cancer shortly thereafter in the spring. I tried to keep in communication with Bobby throughout the off-season to reassure him that his teammates were there to support him. He attempted to convince me that he was not going to play the 2022 season because his head was not in the right place (understandably). I naturally told him that I can try to understand, but all I knew is that Baseball would help.
Well, I was able to convince Bobby to be present at most of our games. It wasn’t easy getting his head in the game and I failed many times trying to encourage him to play with the tenacity he is known in this league for. Let’s just say, this wasn’t Bobby’s best season playing for me, but he and Weslee did give birth to a healthy baby boy during the first round of playoffs.
Fast forward to our championship game. The series was tied with the defending champs, the Syracuse MSBL Brewers. They have beaten us all season and it seemed as if history was going to repeat itself.
Game three was a pitcher’s duel. Both teams were scoreless going into the ninth inning. We were up with two outs in the top of the ninth. Bobby was up to bat. On the first pitch of his last at-bat, Bobby sent the ball over the left-center field fence! We know Easton and Bob helped him push that ball right out of the park.
The Chiefs won the game 1-0 versus a great 2022 ‘Brew Crew.’ I would like to offer some advice to any MSBL ball players experiencing heartbreak and loss. Baseball heals! Teammates help! Even at your darkest times, baseball will be a constant to temporarily patch the holes left in your heart when life pierces it.
I would like to give a shout to LHP Robert Renaud (#46) and RHP Ryan Fennell (#19) for pitching the best they have for me and Alexander Chapman (#7) for his work behind the dish. I also would like to thank third base coach Danny Dalton (#12) for keeping our field in the best shape with what he is given. I would like to dedicate this season and this year’s championship win to Easton H. Worden and Robert K. Worden; may they rest in peace.
