2023 73+ American
2023 73+ American
OKC Dodgers 6, Rhode Island Salty Dogs 5
CO-Managed by Paul Martin and Ray Johnson
As the World Series drew closer, changes to the team began – one person lost to personal issues, and co-manager Paul Martin came down with pneumonia Oct 1st. Only 12 players remain at this point.
At the coach and players Meet and Greet meeting before our first game, I knew 10 players and there were two new players, all from 6 different states. The meeting could not have gone better, the whole team bought in that we could do it with 12 players. As the manager, it was really something to experience, a team coming together before they even played a game.
We now are three games in and winning all three handily. Our defense, pitching, and hitting have shut down these teams. Our hitting was on fire, our top six batted over .600, Ed, Terry, and Richard hit .657, .645, and .643 followed by Carr, John, Serigo, Dell, Maust, and Hines. Every player was a big part of this team. Big HITS, great defense, and solid pitching.
I knew we had a strong 10 players, but the two new players fit right in. Terry Corey at shortstop made the plays and was a top hitter, and Dell Buss was a real surprise pitcher, infielder, and top hitter.
The 10 became a strong 12 and we rolled. As we moved towards the playoffs, dirty uniforms and all, our new team motto appeared, ‘THE DIRTY DOZEN’!
The team took this name as a battle cry to the championship game as the Rhode Island Salty Dogs took on THE DIRTY DOZEN.
Our only loss was to the Salty Dogs 8 to 5 in pool play so we knew they would be a challenge moving forward.
In the Championship game, we had saved one of our top pitchers for this game, Robert Carr, a hard-throwing sidearmer. The game was 2 to 1 us and in the fifth, we scored four runs to lead 6 to 1 after five innings. Slowly they chipped away and we saw our lead narrow to one run. The game was an epic battle, going into the bottom of the ninth with the Dirty Dozen leading 6 to 5.
Robert Carr pitched all nine innings and struck out 12 players. He was in trouble with the bases loaded, one out and both times he struck out the next two batters to end the innings. He also had two on and one out in the bottom of the ninth. He struck out one and ended the game on a groundout.
What an MVP Game of a lifetime at 75 years old! Robert took us all the way
to become the MVP of the World Series. I needed 11 more MVP shirts for the WHOLE team because they were all my MVPs.
This was a team for the ages! We started with 12 and ended with THE DIRTY DOZEN all still standing. All players ages, 75 to 79, eight games in seven days, a remarkable feat at our age.
Thank You – WE DID IT! MY MVP TEAM
