2023 75+ National
2023 75+ National
USA Volkers 15, Sacramento Solons 9
‘USA Volkers Take Fifth National Division Title in Six Years’
The USA Volkers first venture into the 75+ National division ended with a 15-9 victory over the two-time defending champion Sacramento Solons. Sacramento defeated the Volkers 7-5 in the tournament’s opening game behind the outstanding pitching of MSBL legend Jimmy Allen. Sacramento finished undefeated in pool play and earned the bye to the championship game.
The Volkers won their remaining games in pool play, finishing second and playing the third-place Tri-Valley Antiques in the semifinal game at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The Volkers defeated the Antiques 11-2 behind the excellent pitching of team ace, Howard Elson. Elson seems to be immune to fatigue as he also started the championship game against Sacramento. Elson struggled in the first inning and Sacramento scored three runs. It looked like it might be a long day for Elson however, he settled in beautifully and only surrendered one run from the second through the eighth inning.
Meanwhile the Volkers bats turned hot against Sacramento and ace Jimmy Allen, who had their number earlier in the week. The Volkers scored two runs in the second to close the score to within a run and then erupted in the third with a 6-run inning highlighted by a bases-clearing 3-run triple by Lew Ingalls, his first extra-base hit of the tournament. Ingalls drove in two more big runs with a 2-run double in the fifth, extending the Volkers lead to 10-3. (Ingalls, 79, then became ill, collapsing in the dugout and needing EMS to help him overcome a severe case of heat exhaustion.)
The Volkers continued to add runs with several clutch two-out hits and eventually found themselves entering the bottom of the ninth with a 15-4 lead. Elson FINALLY ran out of steam after throwing 15 innings of pressure playoff baseball and the Solons scored three runs before closer Ray Starnes was called on to finish the game. Sacramento, battling as they always do, did not go down easily scoring five runs in the bottom of the ninth and bringing the final score to 15-9.
The Volkers championship game Co-MVP’s were winning pitcher Howard Elson and 5-RBI man Lew Ingalls. The Volkers named Ray Starnes their Tournament MVP. Starnes was outstanding on offense and defense all week, finishing with a .700 batting average and playing a lockdown third base, while also taking on the closer role, in which he was outstanding. Starnes was far from the only player who had productive weeks at the plate as Jeff Blatt, Sal Calcagno, Larry Weaver, Rick Park, Bill Ehrhardt, and Ron Windell all had big hits throughout the week.
Defensively, the Volkers were led by shortstop Sal Calcagno who was virtually flawless all week, and catcher Tom Keyser, whose steady play behind the dish was critical in keeping pitchers in a groove and the infield on its toes. Also instrumental was outstanding third base coaching by Rick Park and first base coaching in the playoffs by Tony Hernandez.
USA Volkers manager and MSBL World Series Hall of Fame member Billy Jacobs also credited the inspirational contributions from 88-year-old pitcher Dick Fitzgerald and battery mate, catcher Ken Combs, 82. These two humble gentlemen contributed nine outstanding innings of pitching/catching as Dick started two ballgames and became the oldest winning pitcher (as far as we know) in MSBL history with his W against the Cal Vets.
The Volkers secured their fifth National division title in six years (70+ 2018, 2019, 73+ 2021, 2022, 75+ 2023) and certainly intend to return to the 75 National Division in 2024 for the 37th MSBL World Series. Thanks goes out to all the wives, relatives and friends who supported this true team effort and of course to Steve and Brian Sigler for allowing us to continue to enjoy our baseball dreams.