2018 Steve’s Sports Edge Orioles in Extras to Claim Cleveland MSBL 25+ Title
Cleveland MSBL, 25+ Division
Cleveland Steve’s Sports 2, Orioles 1 (10 innings)
“Salay Comes Through in the Clutch”
Submitted by John Ramsey, Steve’s Sports manager
Cleveland Steve’s Sports won the 2018 Cleveland MSBL 25+ league on Sunday Sept 16th at Historic League Park. This makes Steve’s back-to-back champions as well as winning the league seven out of the last eight years. Steve’s Sports beat the Orioles 2-1 in walk-off fashion in 10 innings.
Despite having two great hitting teams, this game was all about pitching, as Cleveland sent Kyle Stahlberg to the hill to face the Orioles’ Robinson Reyes. Cleveland plated a run in the bottom of the first after Zac Johnson singled then stole two bases. Steve Ross then hit a sac fly giving Cleveland their first run. Kyle Stahlberg would preserve that 1-0 lead as he pitched five innings of shutout baseball. Jeff Salay would come in relief and hold that lead heading into the top of the ninth.
The Orioles would take advantage of a couple of Cleveland defensive lapses in the inning and tied the game at 1-1. Cleveland would load the bases in the bottom of the ninth, but Reyes would escape damage and send the game into extra innings.
After the Orioles went quietly in the top of the 10th inning, the bottom of the inning started off uneventful as two lazy fly-outs left Todd Moyer with the task of trying to start a two out rally. After an incredible at bat and working a walk, Moyer advanced to third base on a John Ramsey single. This set the stage for Jeff Salay who followed up with the game winning hit, scoring Moyer.
Cleveland was coming out of the winners’ bracket in this double elimination playoff format. Cleveland finished season 17-2.
The championship game was all about pitching as Stahlberg and Salay were dominant for Steve’s Sports. We had one scummy inning defensively that otherwise ruined a perfect day on the hill for those two guys. Hats off to the Orioles and their starting pitcher Reyes. He pitched an amazing game keeping us off balance all day.
In closing, this group of guys are more than just a team, this is a second family who’s bond goes beyond baseball. We do a lot of stuff off the field together. We attend weddings together and an occasional funeral. The wives and girlfriends of the team also provide an outstanding support system. How else could adults continue to play a kids’ game?