2023 Orioles Sweep Thunderbirds in 30+ Division Championship Series of North Texas Amateur Baseball League (Dallas MSBL)

North Texas Amateur Baseball League (Dallas MSBL), 30+ Veterans Division

Orioles 9, Thunderbirds 2 (Game two in best-of-three championship series sweep)

Submitted by Shawn Lee, League President

In 2023, the normal NTABL Veterans (35+) Division changed to the Veterans (30+) Division as a means of getting new teams to move up from the Open (18+) Division. The division only saw four teams take the field during the Spring 2023 campaign, but there was plenty of talent to go around to make it an interesting and promising level of baseball.

The NTX Thunderbirds, managed by Brent Smerczynski won the regular season top seed, followed by the Dallas Orioles, Dallas Modoc, and the Pelicans. The teams competed in a best-of-three series with the Thunderbirds hosting the Pelicans, and the Orioles hosting Modoc.

Modoc, a perennial champion in NTABL Veterans Division play, had won five straight titles before bowing out to the Orioles following an 8 to 1 loss in game one, and a 5 to 0 loss in game two. In the Thunderbirds/Pelicans series, it was the Thunderbirds advancing after winning two straight, winning game one by a score of 7 to 6, and game two by a score of 7 to 3.

In the championship series, it was the #2 seeded Orioles that went on to claim the Veterans (30+) Division title after knocking off the Thunderbirds by a score of 15 to 3, and 9 to 1 in game two.

The Orioles finished the Spring campaign with a 12-3-3 overall record, while the Thunderbirds claim second place, finishing with a 12-4-2 overall record. Congrats to Manager, Anthony Cass and the Dallas Orioles!