2024 Zephyrs Repeat as 60+ Division Champs of Chicago North MSBL
2024 Chicago North, 60+ Division
Zephyrs 15, White Sox 7 (Game two in best-of-three championship series sweep)
‘Zephyrs Go ‘Back-to-Back’ in 2024’
Submitted by Tim ‘Murf’ Murphy, manager
The Zephyrs came into the 2024 season as 2023 champions and the team everyone was bringing their “A” to the park to beat. After losing some key contributors from the 2023 team, this season’s additions included: “superman” Bill Kazmierczak, “hitting machine” Wally Czarny, “Mr. Utility” Joe McCarthy, “Mr. Clutch” Jeff Davis, “the comeback kid” Greg Klyczek, and “rookie/draft sensation” Allen Croft.
With the new addition to the league, an extremely talented RedHawks team, this season was truly the most competitive, 7-team, 60+ division ever!
All season long the Zephyrs played solid defense allowing only 104 runs (1st), displayed great offense power scoring 240 runs (1st), and had consistently strong pitching performances led by starter Joe Capparelli (13-1, ERA 1.91) and backed up by “Kaz”, “Joe Mac”, “Klyz”, and “Moss”. This staff kept the Zephyrs in first place throughout the season and a #1 seed into the playoffs, with a record of 21-4.
With a team batting average of .405, our core offensive prowess was led by Wally Czarny (.684) Billy Kaz (.605), Larry Burger (.500), Joe Capparelli (.464), Joe McCarthy (.441) and Allen Croft (.395), followed by Dan Moss, Tim Murphy, Tom Malloy, Dave Koelper, and Greg Klyczek.
Other key contributors were Scott Quackenbush, Mark Stein, Graham Hershman, and Steve Colen.
After getting a first-round bye in the playoffs, the Zephyrs dropped game one of the semi-finals to the Red Hawks, 3-2 but then battled back with victories of 4-3 and 6-3 to take the series and get back into the championship with a rematch versus the 2023 runner up, and consistent yearly finals contender White Sox.
In the championship, the Zephyrs had something to prove…that 2023 was no fluke, and that there was a NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN!
The Zephyrs went on to batter the White Sox with a 35+ hitting flurry and finished the series in two games, 9-2 and 15-7 to repeat as CHAMPIONS!
