2024 60+ Desert
Seattle Pilots 11, Vegas 60s 5
Submitted by Greg Morrison, Pilots’ manager
2024 was the inaugural trip to Arizona for the 60+ Desert Division Seattle Pilots to play in the MSBL World Series.
The core of the team consisted of Puget Sound Senior Baseball League (PSSBL) teammates from the 4-time (2021-2024) 60+ league champion Rainier Pilots in the PSSBL. The balance of the team was made up of other players from the PSSBL and 2 non-PSSBL players.
The Pilots went 5-1 in pool play as the pitching staff of Jeff Kyger, Mike Lindberg, Richard Cordova, Bob Hope, Greg Morrison, and Kevin Steagall allowed a mere 21 runs and twirled four complete games in the process.
Coupled with an explosive offense led by tournament MVP Phil Smith, Lindberg, Kelly Traw, Ron Piacenti, Ron Sherwin, Howard Shore, Jay Lont, Scott Dillinger, Rodney Dunlap, and Rick Powell, as well as a very tight defense led by outfielders Mike Sullivan, Rex Cox, and Mark Nordlund, a solid middle infield of Lindberg and Smith, utilityman Carl Gleason and a catching group of Cordova, Morrison, and Paul Creighton, who kept opponents running games in check, the Pilots won their division and received a bye in the first round of the playoffs.
The Pilots played the Colorado Fossils in their semi-final game. Having been no-hit for the first five innings, the Pilots rallied for an 8-4 victory behind timely hitting and their running game with Nordlund starting the rally and Cox, Traw, Smith, and Piacenti adding hits and putting up a 4-spot after the Fossils scored two runs, earlier. 
The Pilots pushed across a solo run in the seventh. The Fossils pulled to within 5-4 with two runs in the eighth with the Pilots countering with three runs in the bottom of the eighth on consecutive hits by Smith, Piacenti, Sherwin, Lont, and Dillinger. Alan Gibson started and pitched 2-run baseball over six innings and Lindberg and Doug Springford added quality relief innings with Springford earning the save with a five-pitch 9th inning to seal the victory.
The Pilots jumped on the Vegas 60’s in the first inning with a 5-spot and never looked back in an 11-5 championship game victory. Springford pitched a complete game, the defense turned three double plays, and the entire offense contributed to the win.
The beauty of it all was the fact everyone on the roster made significant contributions to our success and ultimately, winning the championship.
Of the 22 players on our roster, 12 were first-time World Series winners. The sheer joy of winning the championship was overwhelming.
We also had a terrific time off the field with Jeff Kyger hosting a gathering at his house to watch the MLB World Series, enjoy his pool, and just chill. We also had a team meal after our semi-final victory and a championship celebration at Philly’s in Tempe.
What an incredible and unforgettable week!
