2024 65+ National

Massachusetts Chiefs 5, Rhode Island Salty Dogs 4

‘Chiefs Sustain Undefeated Championship Streak’

Submitted by Steve Eddy, manager

The Massachusetts Chiefs 65s ran their championship streak to four with a 5-4 win over the Rhode Island Salty Dogs. Since coming to MSBL in 2021, the Chiefs have captured the crown every year.

Getting great pitching from Barry Foster, Ken Jungsten, Denny Dwyer, Rob Race, and Kevin Hagan the team put up a 4-1 pool record while outscoring the opposition 62-14.  A narrow 3-2 defeat to the Salty Dogs was the only blemish. The offense was led by Gary Rima, Franz Strassmann, Chuck Mountain, Dan Coleman, Gary Shuffain, and Matt Baer.

After a first-round bye in the playoffs, the Chiefs took on the Puerto Rico Padres. The Padres took an early lead but eventually were overrun by a 15-4 score. Rima, Strassmann, and Shuffain each had three hits, while Eric Norment contributed two to lead the offense. Jungsten went eight innings, allowing eight hits and three earned runs with Dwyer throwing a perfect ninth. That win set up the rematch with the Salty Dogs in the final.

After going down in order in the top of the first, it got worse for the Chiefs as starting pitcher Foster’s first pitch of the game resulted in a hit batter. That was followed by a base hit, a walk, and an error. A double play and another ground-out limited the damage to two runs.

The Chiefs got one back in the top of the second, but the Salty Dogs got it right back with an unearned run on two more Chief errors in their half. The Chiefs added a run in the third and two more in the fourth to take a 4-3 lead. Meanwhile, Foster began to dominate and retired 11 straight hitters before allowing a leadoff single to start the sixth. That runner eventually scored, tying the game and it stayed that way into the ninth.

Coleman led off and drew a walk. Dwyer pinch ran and Jungsten was sent up as a pinch hitter to bunt him over. A wild pitch and balk advanced Dwyer to third with just one pitch being thrown. The scheduled hitter, Shuffain, was then sent up to replace Jungsten and delivered a sacrifice fly to give the Chiefs a 5-4 lead.

In the last of the ninth, Foster retired the first two hitters before issuing a walk. A stolen base then put the tying run in scoring position. The next hitter grounded a ball that looked like it was going to be a base hit to right between the first and second basemen. Craig Eddy ranged far to his left, slid, fielded the ball, and threw the batter out from his knees to end the game. Foster was named team MVP as he allowed just six hits and two earned runs in the complete game win.