2023 Dragons Hold Off Capable Emeralds for 65+ Division Championship in Redwood Empire Baseball League

Redwood Empire Baseball League, 65+ Division

Dragons 7, Emeralds 6

‘Nelson Earms MVP Honors at Plate and on Bump’

Submitted by Allan Green, Dragon’s manager

After finishing the regular season as the #1 seed with a record of 17-2, the Dragons faced their perennial rivals the Jazz in the 65+ R.E.B.L. semifinal series. By beating the Dragons 6-5 on a gutsy pitching performance by David Charp, the Jazz forced a third and deciding game. Dragon’s pitchers Gary Nelson and Marty Wilcox came up big in the final game, limiting the Jazz to four hits; the Dragons advanced 9-0. This created a rematch of last season’s intense championship series with the Emeralds, the #2 seed, who had no trouble getting past the Pioneers in two games.

Game one shaped up to be a pitchers’ duel, a rematch of the 2022 championship game when Dragon’s starter Rich Epidendio bested Emerald’s ace Mike Allen, 2-1. But the Emeralds pounded Epidendio from the outset and never let up, winning 15-5. On Sunday, however, the Dragons flipped the script, notching a 25-12 victory behind Larry Hendrickson in a marathon slugfest and setting the stage for the deciding third game.

After four scoreless innings marked by exceptional defense on both sides, the Emeralds broke through for two runs against Dragon’s starter Gary Nelson on hits by Larry Lamar and Pat Carroll. Singles by Dave Scola and Ricky Guerrero resulted in two more runs for the Emeralds in the sixth. Meanwhile, Mike Allen still had a shutout going through seven innings, the Emeralds leading 4-0.

The Dragons finally broke through in the eighth. Singles by Gary Nelson, Rich Peters, Rich Epidendio, John Ball, Steve Rhinehart, a walk to Rick Chassey, followed by a base hit by John Lavin, plated six runs. Gary Nelson drove in the seventh and eventual winning run with his second hit of the inning. A crucial play that doesn’t show up in the scorebook was speedster Tom Kunst beating a throw to second on a force play that would have ended the inning.

But the Emeralds would not go quietly. John Hughes started their rally with a walk; hits by Dale Skinner, Larry Lamar, and John Shea scored two, cutting the Dragons lead to 7-6. Dragons closer Marty Wilcox struck out two, but the Emeralds loaded the bases before he could secure the final out on a one-hopper back to the mound. The Dragons were extremely fortunate to prevail again against the Emeralds, one of the best 65+ teams in the nation.

Gary Nelson was named Playoff M.V.P.  In addition to pitching the Dragons to wins in both deciding games, he hit .444 for the playoffs, with six RBI and six runs scored. Other leading hitters for the Dragons were Steve Rhinehart (.647), John Ball (.538), Rich Epidendio (.500, eight runs scored), Mark Fess (.464, nine RBI), Roy Davis (.423), and John Lavin (.391, seven stolen bases).

The potent Emeralds offense was led by Wes Mayne, who hit .625 in the playoffs, Dale Skinner (.615), Arturo Jaimes (.571), Ricky Guerrero (.500), John Hughes (.500), John Shea (.471), and Skip Stephens (.400).  Next the Emeralds and the Dragons get together under the Dragons banner and head to Arizona to compete in the 65+ division of the M.S.B.L. World Series.