Category: League Champions

Central Florida Adult Baseball League

Dade City Brewers 3, Brandon Bombers 0

‘Castillo and Hernandez Combine for Shutout Championship’

Submitted by Phillip Ramirez, Brewers manager

Our Central Florida Adult Baseball League championship game was against the Brandon Bombers, who are a very tough team and always a great match up. Our Ace Diosdany Castillo got the ‘W’ going seven scoreless. The Bombers lefty matched Castillo pitch for pitch. The game remained scoreless into the seventh before a lead-off walk by left fielder Roland Ramirez was followed by a 2-run homer by shortstop Cesar Soto. Second baseman Jose Ruque drove in Henry Gonzalez with a sacrifice fly to center field making it 3-0. That would be enough for Lefty Yasmany Hernandez to come in and close out the final two innings.

This is our third consecutive league championship since joining the CFABL. We rode our pitching all season, along with strong defense and tough AB’s.

Diosdany Castillo team was our team mvp. (43IP, 80Ks, 7ER,1.14ERA). Yasmany Hernandez was also dominant. (48IP, 109Ks, 13ER, 1.90ERA)

My brother Roland and I have enjoyed keeping this team together since 2007. Now we look forward to the MSBL Fall Classic in West Palm in Florida and chasing a ring!

Atlanta MABL, 18+ National Division

Atlanta Reds 10, Sidewinders 5

‘Reds Post ‘Three-peat’ in their 25^th Year in League’

Submitted by Don Pike, League president

The Atlanta Reds celebrated 25 years in the Atlanta MSBL/MABL by capturing their third straight National Division Championship by defeating the scrappy Sidewinders 9-0 and 10-5.

Tyler Massey took home the team MVP and the teams Triple Crown (.389 BA  9 HRs and 37 RBI`s). Jamie Sexton posted an 11-2 record with 102 strikeouts and a 1.88 ERA. Rocco Callaway also contributed five home runs and 22 RBI. Pitcher Colton Prather, the third overall pick in 2019 draft, won all three games he started, along with achieving 5 for 5 in save opportunities with a 1.53 ERA.

I would like to give a shout out to the National division managers for putting together competitive and classy team’s year in and year out. The Atlanta 18+ National League wouldn`t be as competitive as it is today if it wasn’t for solid team leadership. The managers know the game, they respect the game and they have the respect of their players.

Chicago North MSBL, 65+ Classic Division

Rangers 8, Giants 7 (eight innings)

Back row L-R: John Keith, Neil Robin, Dave Schultz, Rick Gordon, Ray Huard, Wes Monty, Dan Gooris, Bobbie Matticx. Front row L-R: Jerry Tatar, Bob Berliner, Glen Tomlinson,

Jerry Tarshis (on IL)

‘Robin and Gordon Drive in Tying, Winning Runs in Extras’

Submitted by Robert Berliner, Rangers manager

In exciting extra inning walk-off fashion, the Rangers were crowned champions of the Chicago North Men’s Senior Baseball League (CNMSBL), 65 Classic Division.   Initiated by Mike Haase and Ranger teammate Dave Schulz, with the active engagement of Commissioners Bob Friedman and Steve Obert, and the support and encouragement of CNMSBL President Max Reising, the 65 Classic Division played its inaugural season in 2019 with four teams.

Messrs. Haase, Friedman and Obert did a remarkable job of organizing the division, especially in ensuring that the teams were competitively balanced.  The team records and closeness of nearly all the games reflected that balance.   For all that, all the members of all the teams were extremely grateful.

The Rangers finished in third place in the regular season standings.  The single elimination playoff to determine the division champion pitted the first place Padres against the fourth place Giants, while the second place A’s faced the third place Rangers.  Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, the Giants and the Rangers won their games and advanced to the final to determine the champion.

The championship game lived up to every expectation that anyone could have had.  Giants ace Will Rosales held the Rangers in check, allowing only two runs in his four innings of work, while Rangers starter John Keith yielded four runs in his four innings, handicapped by some defensive miscues.  The Rangers, aided by some walks, a perfectly executed bunt single by Dave Schultz and a huge double by hitting star John Keith, tallied four runs in the fifth to take a 6-4 lead.  Neither team scored in the sixth but in the top of the seventh inning, walks and an infield single enabled the Giants to tie the score.  Closer Wes Monty recorded the final out of the inning, leaving the bases loaded.  The Rangers went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning so the game went to extra innings.

In the top of the eighth inning, pitcher Wes Monty, tiring somewhat, gave up some walks and a single, allowing one run, but again leaving the bases loaded.    In the bottom of the eighth, though, the top of the Rangers order exploded.  Wes Monty reached on an error and John Keith (remember him?) blasted still another double, his third of the game.  After an intentional walk to Ray Huard, Neil Robin, who had also made a spectacular running catch in left field to close the fifth inning, stroked a single, driving home the tying run.  Rick Gordon grounded to second but John Keith beat the throw and slid in to score the game winning run.   The excitement was palpable.

The Rangers are proud to have been crowned champions of the new division but in particular congratulate the Giants for a terrific performance in the playoffs and congratulate all the teams for a fun season of close competition.

Memphis MSBL, 40+ Division

Memphis Legends 5, Mid-South River Rats 1

Front row L-R: Kirk Caraway, Travis Hill, Barry Cummins, Darin Thronson, Maurice Howard. Back row L-R: Cory Williams, Orville Nevins, Rick Rossi, Sean Hays, Jodie Wolfe, Derek Caraway, Johnny Gonzales. Missing: Cory Morgan, Matt Stephens

‘Hill Overcomes Rats on the Bump’

The Memphis Legends of the Memphis MSBL put together another solid year during 2019, winning both the regular season and end of the year tournament for Memphis MSBL 40+ league.  As player/manager, Jodie Wolfe put together another strong roster in the hopes of winning another title.  Newcomer Johnny Gonzales was a mainstay at shortstop and led the team in batting average while Kirk Caraway led the team pitching staff.

The Legends faced the Mid-South River Rats in the tournament finals, as Travis Hill, another rookie in the league, took the mound for the Legends.  The Legends prevailed in a game that turned to be primarily a pitcher’s duel.  Hill was able to deliver some key strikeouts and make some great defensive plays to only give up one run.  The pitcher for the River Rats managed to keep the Legends off balance at the plate for most of the game.  Thanks to a terrific bunt by Wolfe and a couple of late runs, the Legends got a little bit of breathing room and were able to hold on to a 5 – 1 victory and earn another championship.

The Legends and the rest of the league would also like to thank Eddie Byrd for serving as League Commissioner and organizing another successful season.

Indiana Baseball League, 18+ Division

Arrows 5, Hurricanes 4

Left to Right: Nito Luna, Luke Kluemper, Luke Buehler, Griffin Lenz, Ryan Blinn, Rudy Gonzalez, AJ Ernst, ‘Bench Coach’ John DeCosta, Manager Jim Wegener, AJ Taylor, Trey Douglass, Ty Foster, Seth Powers, Aaron Leming

Submitted by John DeCosta, League President

The Arrows and Hurricanes are the two oldest franchises in the Indiana Baseball League and it naturally follows that it’s the longest running rivalry. Prior to the 2019 Championship, the Arrows had made it to the final in eight seasons, winning it five times. The Hurricanes had been there an amazing eight seasons in a row, 11 times total, with four championships. The 2019 final marked the sixth time these two teams have faced off for the championship, with the Arrows having a 3-2 edge.

The Hurricanes finished the regular season in third place and advanced to the final with a win against the #6 Indians in the opening round and a semi final win against the #2 War Eagles, behind their 2019 Cy Young Award winner Greg Vogt who was unbeaten in the regular season.

The Arrows went into the final week of the regular season tied for first place with the War Eagles.  After losing the first game of a doubleheader to the War Eagles, they came back in the second game with a 9-2 victory finishing in a tie for first place.  The tie was broken by virtue of the Arrows outscoring the war Eagles by 2 runs, the narrowest margin in league history.

The Arrows advanced by besting the Chiefs in the opening round 13-1.  The game was much closer than the score indicates, with the score tied going into the bottom of the sixth. Next came the marathon semi final against the Rays, a game that lasted 14 innings and took a week to play.  The Rays scored one run in the top of the first and the Arrows tied it in the third.  Four hours later the game was suspended after 13 innings due to a torrential downpour.  Fast forward to the following Sunday, continuing the game, the Arrows pushed across a run in the 14^th to seal the win and set up the championship scheduled for later the same day.

The Arrows gave the ball to Luke Buehler who came into the game with a 3-0 record and a skimpy 0.95 ERA.  Luke was also the starting pitcher in the semi final and had scored the winning run in that game after drawing a one out walk and stealing second before scoring on a single of the bat of Nito Luna.   The Hurricanes countered with Hayden Cleveland who was 4-1 with a 1.09 ERA in the regular season and the winning pitcher in the two previous playoff games.

The Arrows defense, that had committed only two errors in the previous five games, failed early allowing three unearned runs in the first three innings putting themselves in an early hole.  But when these two teams get together in the playoffs, it’s never over until the final out.  Three of their previous five meetings in the championship were decided in the last at bat.

The comeback for the Arrows started in the fourth when 18+ MVP A.J. Ernst delivered a big hit scoring Luke Kluemper and Ty Foster. When Ryan Blinn followed with a single, putting runners at first and third, it looked like the Arrows were on the verge of a big inning.  But Cleveland reached down for something extra and retired the next three batters with two strikeouts and an easy fly ball.

The Arrows scored again in the fifth to tie it up.  AJ Taylor started it with a single, Trey Douglass followed with a walk and Nito Luna moved them into scoring position with a well-placed sac bunt.  When Foster ripped a ground ball to second base it looked like a certain double play, but it reached the outfield on the Hurricanes only error of the game allowing Taylor to score.  A perfect throw from right field cut down Douglass trying to score from second.

The Hurricanes took the lead back in the sixth.  Cameron Clark drew the first walk of the game by Buehler with one out.  Deaun Williams followed with a single and with two out Sam Maxwell delivered another single to put the Canes up by one.  When Buehler gave up his second walk of the inning loading the bases and bringing up Kyle Anderson who was 2 for 2 against him, the Arrows went to the bullpen and Aaron Leming who had earned the win in the semi final game with seven innings of scoreless relief.  Leming used three 90 mph fastballs to end the threat.

The seventh inning started like the fifth with Taylor and Douglass reaching on a walk and a single, and Luna dropping down another perfect sac bunt.  Taylor scored on an infield out by Kluemper and after an intentional walk to home run threat Foster, Ernst came through with his second hit of the day driving in Douglass for the eventual winning run.

Leming threw a scoreless seventh and eighth with two more K’s and then turned it over to former college teammate Seth Powers, who got the final three outs on only nine pitches.  With the semi final game, this gave him his second win of the day.

In the regular season, the Arrows led the league with a team average of .374, also leading in runs, extra base hits and fewest strikeouts.  The pitching of Buehler, Leming, Blinn and Powers accounted for a record of 10-1 with 82 K’s and only 37 hits.

Adversaries during the 2019 college season, Buehler for Rose-Hulman and Leming for Franklin College, the two of them combined for a remarkable playoff run.  Buehler with a complete game win, a total of 19 2/3 innings allowing two earned runs with 25 strikeouts and only four walks.  Leming threw 9 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, striking out eight and walking only two.

Only hours before the 2011 Championship game, Arrows catcher Brad Everett lost his life in a car accident.  He is still listed on the roster.  Their 2011, 2013 and 2014 championships were dedicated to Brad.  After a four-year absence, they are proud to once again honor his memory.

Lehigh Valley MSBL, 40+ Division

Mudcats 13, Diamondbacks 1 (Game three)

‘Miller and Lebron Dominate D’Backs on the Bump’

The Lehigh Valley Mudcats historic run to division and playoff champions in the Lehigh Valley MSBL was a total team effort. After first year player/manager Keith Hawk took over, he assembled a solid team of players with an average age of 45 years old. The Mudcats won the Lehigh Valley MSBL 40+ division and playoffs led by strong pitching, solid defense, and power hitting.

Chad Arnold was named division pitcher of the year and led the Mudcats throughout the year going undefeated, besting five of the 25+ division teams, until losing his first game in game one of the playoffs against the 40+ Diamondbacks. The Mudcats final record of 16-4 included beating some of the top 25+ division teams with players much younger than them and more experienced.

After losing game one of the best of three playoffs series by a score of 7-2, the Mudcats settled down and took the next two games by scores of 9-0 and 14-2 respectively. Game two was a dominating shutout by first year Mudcat pitcher Chris Miller, giving up only three hits in seven innings. Game three was another dominating performance on the bump by veteran shortstop/pitcher Julio Lebron, as he gave up only six hits and two runs. Other notable Mudcats contributing in the championship game were Chris Wright (2 for 3 and 3 RBI), Eric Pieczynski, Luis Vasquez, Manny Mencia, Tito Fuentes and Carlos Cotto each with two hits and an RBI.

Julio Lebron pitched a one hit one run game to clinch the title.

Puget Sound Senior Baseball League, 55+ Adirondack Division

Osprey 16, Mavericks 5

‘Undefeated Season Dedicated to Richard Harris and Bruce Morrison’

Submitted by Carl Gleason, Adirondack Division Commissioner 

The Osprey of the Adirondack Division capped off an undefeated regular season by grabbing the 55 and over rec title with a 16-5 playoff win over the Mavericks.  Eric Johnson and Ed Anderson were the hitting stars going 4 for 5 and 4 for 4 respectively.  Mike Lindberg added two hits and two RBI while pitching a complete game for the win.  He gave up a single earned run while scattering 10 hits over nine innings.  Lindberg finished the season with a stellar 13-0 record on the mound.

The core of the Osprey has been together for several years.  The team excelled on offense throughout the 2019 campaign and their defense was key.  The Osprey had several games in which they turned five or more double plays.  The combined regular season and playoff record for the squad was an amazing 21-0.

One of the Osprey, Richard Harris, passed away a few weeks before the season started.  GM Bruce Morrison missed the season recovering from an illness as Ed Anderson stepped up to run the team, which dedicated the season to Harris and Morrison.

Of note for the runner-up Mavericks, their regular season batting leader was Tom Layson, who finished the year with a gawdy .607 average while posting an OPS of 1.466.

Atlanta MABL, Saturday League

Expos 13, Clowns 0

‘Concevitch and Bartlett Seal the Deal on the Bump’

Submitted by Kenny Asaro, Expos manager

The Expos put an exciting end to their Cinderella story by winning the Spring Saturday League championship in the Atlanta MABL.  Only two years removed from being the worst team in the league, the Expos swept the former 5-time Champion Clowns in the best of three series.  The Expos, who took the hardest road to the championship as a wildcard team, defeated the reigning league champions Reds in a tough fought 4-2 victory in the semifinals.

The Expos came into the championship series as heavy underdogs and without one of their ace starters and cleanup hitters JD Shields, who was out due to injury.  Game one was a close game until the Expos broke out to a 6-0 lead in the fifth inning and then added another seven runs in the top of the seventh to take a commanding 14-0 lead.  The win was a combination of patience at the plate, heads up base running, and a spectacular pitching performance by Ian Concevitch, where he pitched a complete game shutout, striking out 10 and scattering only four hits.

In the second game of the double header, designated hitter Spencer Iacovone, led off the scoring in the bottom of the second with a 2-run homer to left centerfield giving the Expos an early 2-0 lead.  A ravaged Clowns pitching staff was shorthanded after using four arms in game one, including their scheduled game two starter.  The Expos took game two and the series sweep with a 13-0 victory.  We were again led by a spectacular pitching performance by long time work horse David Bartlett, who also threw a complete game shutout while racking up six K’s and giving up only three hits.

Games one and two starters, Ian Concevitch and David Bartlett, were named co-MVPs.  Combined they threw two complete game shutouts while racking up 16 K’s while only surrendering seven hits.

DCMSBL, 50+ Division

Potomac River Bandits 14, DC Nationals 3

Bottom L-R: Michael McGlaughlin, Dave Treherne, Rick Weissenstein, Patrick Ferry, Steve Jaekle, Garland Cooper. Top L-R: Scott Engle, Pete Cressy, Jim Villa, Luke Thayer, Matt Mohay, Dave Thune, Jake O’Neill, Tim Sullivan, Frank Cappello, Jay Dennis, Ray Auble. Not pictured: Glenn Gulyas

‘Jaekle Shines on the Bump and at the Plate’

Submitted by Tim Sullivan

For the fifth straight season, the Potomac River Bandits won the DCMSBL 50+ tournament championship.  In a rematch of last year’s 14 inning championship game, the Bandits were able to score early and often to take an insurmountable lead over the DC Nationals in route to a 14-3 victory.  Steve Jaekle threw a complete game, giving up three runs, two earned, while striking out seven.  Jaekle also had three hits and two RBI in the game to pace the offense.  Mike McGlaughlin scored three runs, while Pete Cressy and Dave Thune chipped in with two hits and two RBI each in the victory.

The Bandits jumped out to an early 5–0 lead off Nationals ace Terry Lonjin, then exploded for nine runs against a series of relievers over the next two innings to build the insurmountable lead.  Ron Barckhoff, Dan Cassidy and Lonjin started a rally in the fifth but Jaekle was able to hold the Nationals to just two runs.

“This was the toughest season thus far for the Bandits,” said Coach Frank Cappello.  “The talent in this league is always improving and there were at least three teams who could have ended up champions this day instead of us.”

“Jaekle was amazing today.  This Nationals team beat us twice in the regular season so that makes his performance today even more impressive.”

Chicago North MSBL, 24+ American

Chicago Rippers 5, Chicago Aces 0

‘Two Hit Shutout by Committee Seals 2019 Championship’

The 2019 season was the Chicago Rippers fifth year of operation under the leadership of Jake Mills and Mike Martin and finished the 2019 season with the best record in five years, 32-7-1. In CNMSBL play they finished with a 27-5 record and went 7-1 in postseason play. They defeated the Chicago Aces 3-1 in a best of five Championship series. This would be the third time in three years they have faced off the with the Aces in the Postseason. In 2017 they beat the Aces in their first year in the CNMSBL, 3-1 games again in a best of five match up. In 2018 the Aces swept the Rippers in the Semifinals 2-0 games to advance to the Championship to face the Chicago Finest.

In Game one of the Championship they gave the ball to Nick Mazzone. Nick was their workhorse this season finishing with a team best seven wins and 84 strikeouts in 56 innings pitched. Nick threw a complete game with 13 K’s, five hits and one walk. Offensively, Andrew Brauer went 2-3 with a double, a walk and three RBI.

In Game two the Rippers dropped the contest 11-2 and were dominated by one of the league’s best all-around players Justin Stawychny. Justin walked off versus them in the semi’s last year with a 2-run home run in the bottom of the seventh to send the Aces to the championship series.

Game three saw the Rippers bounce back with a 3-2 win with Nick Mazzone again with a complete, eight strikeout, two walk, four hit night. Nolan Bennett’s pinch hit RBI single in the bottom of the sixth tied the game at two. Karl Lundholm had a walk-off fielder’s choice in the bottom of the seventh.

Game four saw the Rippers win the League title with a 5-0 victory, as four pitchers teamed up for the 2-hit shutout. Phillip Andersen, the Ripper’s ace pitcher, took the ball in game four to exit the game after 1.1 innings pitched due to soreness in the throwing elbow.  They then turned the ball over to a well-rested Steve Lewis, who went 3.2 innings giving up one hit with four strikeouts and one walk. Karl Lundholm pitched a clean sixth Inning and Josh Kwasnzy got the final three outs to win the league title. The Aces Randy Dunnett went 2-2 for the only two hits of the game.

The Ripper’s key team leaders in 2019 were rookie Greg Ludwig, who finished with a .377 BA, 17 RBI, and a team high five home runs. Benji Rodriguez logged a team high 23 RBI, 29 hits, two homers and 22 runs scored.

Next up for the Rippers is teaming up with Nassau Pirates in Arizona for the 2019 MSBL World Series in the 25 Mountain Division.