2022 Philadelphia Wolves Walk it Off in 21+ Fall Season of South Jersey MSBL
South Jersey MSBL, 21+ Fall Season
Philadelphia Wolves 4, Clayton Angels 3
‘Wolves Walk it Off for Championship Victory’
The 2022 season started with a pep-talk from Team Captain Bob “Bob-O” Walmsley, citing that “selfless teams win championships.” For a team having been around since 2017 formally and starved of late-season success, having never won a playoff game, 2022 was the year the Philadelphia Wolves turned it all around.
Led by Player/Managers Robert Grabel (Wolves founder) and Bruce Leto, Jr., the team met in January 2022 for practice with a message and mission: establishing a collaborative, winning culture!
It looked like the dominant Philadelphia Wolves were going to repeat an undefeated season in the 21+ fall league of the South Jersey MSBL. However, they took a tough 6-0 loss against the Camden Braves in October – their first loss of 2022. Veteran and national MSBL champion, David Harris told the diverse team, comprised of younger guys and players as old as 60, that “Now we will see what you guys are made of…” Dave’s mid-season pep-talk was all that the team needed as they continued winning out, and looked forward to their match in the championship against a talented, aggressive Clayton Angels team.
The Wolves found themselves in a hole and down to their final (of nine) lives in the bottom of the ninth. The Angels were up 3-2 when two timely singles by Ryan Austin and Greg Dellavecchio put runners on first and second with no outs. Then, a walk and a ground into double play had the Wolves almost left for dead. Resilient, the wolves battled, with two HBP’s and a pinch-hit, walk-off game-winning RBI by rookie Matt Edelman securing the championship MVP and the Wolves’ second trophy of the year.
Rookie and newcomer right-hander Steven Gallagher went toe-to-toe with the Angels’ ace in a stellar 6.2-inning performance, with only one earned run and eight strikeouts.
The Wolves experienced things in 2022, which will enshrine those players and teammates forever in team (and MSBL) history. If interested in playing, please send an email to: [email protected]