2023 Springfield Rifles ‘Repeat’ as 60+ Roger Stanley Division Champs in DCMSBL
DCMSBL, 60+ Roger Stanley Division
Springfield Rifles 6, Cardinals 3
Submitted by Craig Burlingame, manager
After coming off an undefeated 2022 season in the DCMSBL 60+ Roger Stanley Division and winning their first Championship, the Springfield Rifles went back-to-back in the 2023 season and again won the 60+ Championship.
The 2023 team had some challenges going into the season. Due to a player relocation from Virginia to Florida, the Rifles lost a very good player and number-three hitter. And injuries changed the lineup as another very good player (Greg Schuler) had a knee replacement and was thought to be out for the year.
But the Rifles still had a very good offensive team through the entire lineup led by Joe Athey, Frank Cappello, Barney Owens, Greg Schuler, Mike McGlaughlin, John Gibson, Dave Trehern, Garland Cooper, Tom Dellinger, Charlie Wooldridge, Steve Norwood, Bruce Edgington, Gordy Shelly, Mike McAlister, Matt Mohay, and Ray Aubel. Most importantly, we still had one of the best pitching staffs, if not the best pitching staff, in the league led by ace Barney Owens. Barney was a workhorse throughout the entire season. He pitched three complete 9-inning games in 95+ degrees and contributed with his bat too as he became the new number three hitter in the lineup.
Defensively, this was an excellent defensive team led by shortstop John Gibson, second basemen, Charlie Wooldridge, Craig Burlingame, and Mike McAlister, third basemen Bruce Edgington, Frank Cappello, and Ray Aubel, first basemen, Garland Cooper, Frank Cappello, and Greg Schuler, outfielders Joe Athey, Mike McGlaughlin, Gordy Shelly, Dave Trehern, and Mike McAlister, catchers Tom Dellinger, Ray Aubel, and Dave Trehern, DH’s Steve Norwood, Bruce Edgington, Gordy Shelly, and Mike McAlister, and pitchers Barney Owens, John Gibson, Mike McGlaughlin, and Steve Norwood. The Rifles were managed by Craig Burlingame and first base coach/pitcher Matt Mohay.
The Championship game was against the very tough and well-coached Cardinals for the third straight year. Leadoff hitter Joe Athey was steady throughout the year and continued in the Championship game going 3 for 4, stealing two bases and scoring one run. To the Rifles’ pleasant surprise, Greg Schuler’s replaced knee healed up in time for the second half of the season and he got his doctor’s clearance to play. He went one for three and played outstanding defense at first base.
The Rifles took a 4-2 lead going into the bottom of the seventh. Pitcher Barney Owens tired a little bit in the bottom of the seventh walking two batters, hitting a batter, and giving up a run to make it a 4-3 game. In the top of the eighth, the Rifles bounced right back as Centerfielder Mike McGlaughlin led off with a single for his second hit of the game, stole second, stole third, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Dave Trehern making it a 5-3 game.
The Rifles scored an insurance run in the top of the ninth on singles from DH Steve Norwood and Left Fielder Joe Athey. Barney Owens settled down in the eighth and ninth innings and shut the Cardinals down for another complete game, a 6-3 Rifles victory, and another Championship.
This was another enjoyable and successful season in the 60+ DCMSBL Roger Stanley Division for the Springfield Rifles.