2018 Desert Classic: 60+

LA Athletics 12, So Cal Dodgers 4

‘Thatcher Hits Blistering .706 to Lead Athletics’

Submitted by Bob Sherwin, Athletics manager

Having won in 2015 and 2016, we faltered in 2017 when the rain poured down and cancelled/limited the games. It was our goal to return to the winner’s circle and we did so by beating the always tough So Cal Dodgersin the championship game.

Danny “The Beast” Pawelek threw a complete game victory as the Athletics won 12 – 4. It was Pawelek’s second complete game in the tournament after he threw on Saturday in the A’s 24-3 win over the Tri Valley Gigantes. Pitcher Mike Livesey also threw four innings on Saturday in our first win over the Inland Angels and then threw a complete game in the semifinal win over the Salt Lake City Dodgers.

Mike Thatcher captured the MVP honors for the tournament by hitting .706 to go alongside his .761 on base percentage. Thatcher obviously had offensive support from his teammates as the Athletics scored 66 runs in five games. Other hitting stars were Mike Livesey, Blaine Olson, Gino Suter, Doc Hamilos and Mark Flatau.