2025 70+ Cactus
MBI 9, Paladin 3
Submitted by Pat Fynes, manager
10-24-25 – Quarters Finals and Semi’s…Game six was the quarter-finals and saw us face the Mariners from Puget Sound. Al Alt was handed the ball and took the bump in the playoff-shortened 7-inning game. Al held the Mariners to two earned runs, going five innings and facing 30 batters. Al spread seven hits, allowing five walks and getting two K’s to pick up the win.
In the sixth inning, Randy Fleck took the mound for a tiring Al. Bases were loaded with no outs, and Randy induced another 1-2-3 double-play to get us out of a jam, and then got a K for the third out to keep the Mariners off the board. Ron pitched the seventh, and the defense turned another double-play to end the game with a 20-2 victory of the boys from Puget Sound.
Offensively, Fred was 4 for 4 and Ken W had three hits, including a ball that was 30 feet over the right-fielder’s head for a triple. Jeff, Tim, and Jerry had two hits each.
The second game of the day, the semi-finals, had us matched for the second time against the So Cal Dodgers. For the first time in the tournament, we were trailing. The Dodgers scored four runs in the first and two more in the second, while we managed to plate three in the first. So, after three, we were chasing, 6-3.
The ball was put into Bruce Alpaugh’s hands with one out in the second, and Bruce shut them down through the sixth inning, facing 16 batters and allowing only two hits, walking none, and striking out three, inducing 10 ground ball outs. Our offense was able to score 10 more runs in the third thru fifth innings, so we led 13-6 going into the seventh and last inning.
Ron Richmond took the bump in the seventh, and the Dodgers mounted a threat using a single and two walks to load the bases. The next batter grounded to Ron, and we again turned a double play, scored as 1-2-3. Randy Fleck took over the pitching duties, and after the Dodgers put their next three batters on base, Randy ended the game with a 6-4 fielder’s choice. Final score was 13 to 8, and we were off to the Finals.
10-25-2025 – Championship Game…In the final game, we would face Paladin for the second time in the tourney. Once again, Bruce Alpaugh was handed the ball and once again, pitched a beauty. Paladin could only manage nine hits and three runs, sending 38 batters to the plate, for a team average of .237. Bruce walked two and had four K’s. The defense played superbly, with only one error in the nine innings.
The offense pumped out 20 hits, with Tom Czysz, Fred Krause, and Joe Williamson producing three hits each, and Jeff Blatt, Randy Fleck, Ken Gourley, and Jerry Weaver stroking two hits each. Final score was 9 to 3, and for MBI, the goal was achieved. No surprise that Bruce was our MVP!
During the week, John Entwistle and Ken Gourley handled our catching duties, and with John getting injured on a slide at home, Ken reflected the qualities of a Sherman tank. He caught the majority of innings, and that is no easy task at this age. John wanted to contribute, and it wasn’t easy watching most of the games. I know of no player more team-oriented than John, and he showed it with his support of Ken throughout the tournament. As Casey Stengel stated, “No baseball pitcher would be worth a darn without a catcher.”
The infield played great, and the outfield matched their fielding skills. We had a great team that blended strong defense, offensive talent, and superb pitching, but critical to the undefeated record was teamwork, mental toughness, and a positive attitude. We had the intangibles, the required communication, discipline, trust among players, clutch hitting, and a competitive spirit that stayed unified.
Great teams and successful weeks do not consist of only individual talent, but are made by a shared goal and a commitment to success. Congrats to all and thank you for a fun week and your cooperation. Lastly, a shout-out to our fans – Nancy, Judy, Anne, Diane, Vicky, and Virginia!!!
Our team name is MBI, and I am frequently asked how that name originated. My best friend passed in 2010, and his name is Billy Cameron. I re-arranged the letters in his name to form words that were a tribute to him. So MBI stands for “My Baller Icon.” A Baller is a person who plays the game well, and an Icon is something you respect and value. Re-arrange the Words “My Baller Icon” and you can form the name “Billy Cameron.” It is a simple way to maintain his memory.