2024 Montco Expos Outlast PBC Royals for 55+ Title at South Jersey MSBL
South Jersey MSBL, 55+ National Division
Montco Expos 11, PBC Royals 9
Submitted by Mike Ehrmann, Expos GM
Having defeated the higher-seeded Marlton Braves in the semi-finals, the Expos were set to take on the Royals at their home field in Cheltenham, PA. Brian Greever started the game off by sending the Royals down in order and the Expos drew first blood when Tom Wilmer singled with the bases loaded to score Larry Boreali for the 1-0 lead.
Costly errors by the Expos defense in the top of the second led to the Royals scoring five times and a double by Greg Weneck in the third scored two more to put the Royals up 7-1.
The Expos responded immediately in the bottom of the third. Boreali singled and stole second base. John Lombardi walked and Tom Drages singled, scoring Boreali. A single by Jeff Staples and a double by Flaco Arias scored Lombardi and Drages. Another single by Wilmer scored Staples and Arias. Then after Greever reached on an error, Chuck Haegele scored Wilmer on a sac fly to tie the game at 7-7.
Greever recorded an important 1-2-3 shutdown inning in the top of the fourth and Montco took an 8-7 lead in the bottom half when a Royals error led to Rick Kelble scoring the go-ahead run after he had drawn a walk.
Both teams scored once in the fifth. Bill Foronda doubled in a run for the Royals tying the game at 8-8. Royals starting pitcher, Will Denning, exited and Ray Dudonis came on in relief. With two outs, the Expos fired off four consecutive hits by Wilmer (his third of the game), Greever, Haegele, and Ron Littel. Haegele’s hit plated Wilmer putting the Expos back on top 9-8.
Neither team scored in the sixth. Flaco Santiago relieved Greever and retired the Royals in order while in the home half, Bill Littel was thrown out in a close play at the plate while attempting to score from second.
In the seventh, another Expos defensive lapse led to the Royals tying the game at 9-9. Once again, the Expos responded with back-to-back singles by Lombardi and Drages. Staples hit into fielder’s choice and a subsequent error scored Lombardi. A second double by Arias scored Drages and the Expos had their biggest lead of the game at 11-9
Neither team scored in the eighth and the teams headed to the top of the ninth. Mark Demko led off with a walk. Paul Laux grounded back to Santiago who threw to second base for the force out. Ron Dalton and Kirk Nowlan both singled to load the bases with one out. Dudonis grounded to George Ackerman at third, who threw to catcher Tom Longstreth for the force at home.
The moment of truth. Bases loaded, two outs, and the Royals lead-off hitter Mike Trout (no not THAT Mike Trout) at the plate. With 20+ Expos fans cheering the team on, Trout grounded to Arias at short who ran to the second base bag for the final out, clinching the championship for the Montco Expos!
The Expos revamped their roster for 2024 and it culminated with a title. The championship team also included Mike Ehrmann, Joel Polanco, and Joe Scardino.