24 Yuengling Swallows Capture First Overall 50+ Championship in DCMSBL
DCMSBL, 50+ Jim Beck Division
Yuengling Swallows 11, Outlaws 4
Submitted by David Smith, Swallows manager
In their sixth season, the DC MSBL Yuengling Swallows captured their first overall championship by beating the Outlaws 11-4 at Edison High School. The Outlaws had made to the championship by winning the game of the year, winning 1-0 over the defending champs, Mustangs. For the Outlaws, Barney Owens threw a 1 hit shutout and Turbo’s ninth inning double provided the only run.
The Swallows had beaten the feisty Bobcats 6-1 in the first round and the Mudhens, playing their second game of the day, 10-4 to make it to the championship. Facing the Outlaws, the Swallows hoped to avenge a regular season 6-6 tie.
After three innings in the championship game, the Outlaws were ahead 4-1, scoring four times in the third against Joe Bonaccorsey as defense had a slight hiccup. In the fourth inning, Dan Pototsky took over on the mound and proceeded to throw six shutout innings. Bill Purshce was available out of the bullpen had Pototsky faltered.
The Swallows bats came alive in the fourth, scoring six times and knocking Owens out of the game, to take the lead 7-4. Joe Kister knocked in the first run with a hard hit single to left to show Owens would not be invincible that day.
The next inning the Swallows sent 12 men to the plate to take the lead for good. Joe Bonaccorsy started it off with a hit on the seventh pitch of the at-bat. Bill Murphy then had a single. Dan Pototsky worked a 9-pitch AB into a walk to load the bases. Singles by Doug Milman and Dean Hirakawa brought the Swallows within one.
Ryan McCullough’s HBP tied the game, and Dan Mitchell’s fielder’s choice got us the lead. A walk to Gene “Izzy” Lee made it 6-4 and the end of Owen’s day. Keith Saxtion’s HBP brought in the last run of the inning and the lead would not be relinquished.
Great hitting from the entire lineup propelled the win – Hirakawa, Lee, McCullough, and Pototsky reached base three times, while Bonaccorsy, Kister, Milman, Mitchell, Frank Rodriguez, and Saxton reached twice apiece in the 11-player lineup.
Defense supported the pitching! Our outfielders solidified our defense. Lee covered a lot of turf to snag a pair of liners and doubled off the runner on one of them. Mike McAlister made two plays at second, while Doug Milman made three good grabs in right field.
Dave “Gene” Izawa played a great shortstop, including three putouts and four assists. Joe Kister put in a yeoman’s job at first with 11 putouts and an assist. Lang Gibson also nailed a runner trying to steal second base.
The Swallows had their best overall season, with a 10-1-1 record. We finished the year with eight straight wins. The only smudges on the record were a 13-6 loss to the Mustangs and a 6-6 tie with the Outlaws.
Many Yuengling Lagers were consumed in the post-game celebration of our Championship season! The team motto was yelled out en-masse!