2026 Buffalo Nine Continue 45+ Division Dominance at Buffalo MSBL
MUNY-Buffalo MSBL, 45+ Division
Buffalo Nine 6, Phillies 4
Submitted by James Lacki, player/manager
The Buffalo Nine continued their stranglehold on the Buffalo MSBL 45+ Division with their fourth consecutive division championship. This was the team’s ninth championship in the past 10 years.
The Nine defeated the Phillies, who were making their first championship game appearance, 6-4. The score reflected a close, well-played game. The Nine plated five runs in the first inning on three hits, including a two RBI single by Jim Poulos. Joe Ferrnado and Scott Lauck each had a hit and an RBI in the inning.
The Nine bats went silent over the next four innings, as the Phillies pitching and defense kept them at bay. The Phillies scored a run in the first and second innings and added two more in the third inning to make the score 5-4 in favor of The Nine.
The Nine added an insurance run on the bottom of the sixth. Craig Leone singled to lead off the inning. A sacrifice bunt by Mike LaRosa moved Leone into scoring position. An RBI single by Mike Webster plated Leone, and The Nine were holding on to a two-run lead.
That was all The Nine needed as LaRosa pitched a complete game, allowing one walk and six strikeouts. Ferrando, John Catanzaro and Henry Falkowski had multiple hits for The Nine.
The Nine defeated their arch-nemesis Buffalo Anvil in the semi-final. After the teams traded blows in the first inning, The Nine found themselves trailing Anvil 5-2 after three innings. The Nine erupted for five runs in the fourth inning to take a 7-5 lead.
The Nine got things rolling in the bottom of the fifth after three consecutive hits by Lauck, Ryan Kay, and Jim Lacki. With the bases loaded and no one out, Webster came to the plate and singled, scoring two runs. RBI singles by Ferrando, Dan Potwora and Poulos gave The Nine the lead they would not surrender.
The Nine scored the final run in the bottom of the sixth after Webster led off the inning with a single and was knocked in by Ferrando two batters later. Kay, Ferrando, Webster and Falkowski had multiple hits for The Nine.
On the defensive side of the field, Leone stole the spotlight as he pitched the final 4 1/3 innings, allowing zero hits, zero runs, and zero walks.
Over the season, the Nine batted .378, had 140 hits, scored 94 runs with 33 walks, and stole 21 bases. The offense was led by Webster (.623 BA, 24 hits, 8 SB), and Ferrando (19 RBI).
The pitching staff was stellar all season. The staff was led by Tim Kirst (30 2/3 IP, 16 K), LaRosa (2.25 ERA, 21 K), Leone (2.05 ERA), Poulos, and Tom Hoffman.
Over the last three years, The Nine has 33 wins against three losses, including an undefeated season in 2023.