|
|
 |
| |
NO OCTOBER SURPRISE: Rays FINALLY Defeat A's for Fifth Straight 25+ Title
Oct 4 - Waterlogged and well rested, the Marlton Athletics and South Jersey Rays finally got the weather, the field gods and enough players together long enough to play a Championship Game in the 25+ American Division this past Sunday at Cherry Hill Rotary Field.
After a month of frustrating starts and stops, the Rays shook off a little rust and finally did what they do best, make big plays and get big hits at the right time in big games. Their reward was an 8-3 Finals victory and along with it came their fifth consecutive South Jersey MSBL Championship.
Although the final score was 8-3, this one was alot closer most of the way, as the Rays held a slim 2-1 lead over the gritty, undermanned A's team through seven innings. Playing without six starters, Marlton mounted a trio of scoring opportunities over the middle innings, loading the bases twice with less than two outs and putting runners at second and third with no outs on another occasion. However, the Champs were equal to the task, collecting an inning-ending double play each time to preserve the lead. The Rays would finally break the game open with a three run 8th, keyed by a 1-out bases loaded single from Outfielder/Manager Dan Shannon that drove in a pair of runs. In the ninth inning, a three-run blast from Catcher John Shannon capped the victory and another champagne (disguised as beer at the bar) celebration. Rays starter Kevin Fahy went the first six innings to get the win, while reliever Sean Joyce hurled the final three innings to get the save. For the Athletics, starter Jason Davis went the distance in defeat while driving in a pair of runs at the plate.
Kudos to Manager Dan Shannon and his Rays for coming through once again in championship fashion to hold onto the 25+ title. With their "one for the thumb", the Rays surpass the mark of the Washington Twp. Senators' four titles (2000-2003) and now draw into an all-time tie with the Maple Shade Dodgers, who also won five championships from 1995-1999. Whether 2010 starts measuring ring sizes for hand #2 is anyone's guess, however the Rays are certainly going to be ready for all comers.
Among those new clubs ready to take a swing at the Rays are the upstart Florence Bears, who in just their second season bullied their way through a 19-2 campaign en route to the 2009 National Division title. Mike Tolle's Bears ballclub features impressive fireballer George Moore as well as sluggers Tommy Ditmars and Nick Puccio, who should pose a formidable test for the Rays and the rest of the American Division foes next season.
Congratulations go out to all the 25+ Division clubs for another great year of South Jersey MSBL baseball as we look forward to the 2010 season right around the corner.
|
| American Division Championship |
|
|
National Division Championship |
| Top 5 teams make the playoffs |
|
|
Top 6 teams make the playoffs |
| One Wildcard game (5 vs. 4) |
|
|
|
Two Wildcard games (6 vs. 3 and 5 vs. 4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 25+ AMERICAN PLAYOFF SCHEDULE |
|
|
25+ NATIONAL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE |
| ------------------------------------------------ |
|
|
------------------------------------------------ |
| Wild Card Round - Single Elimination |
|
|
Wild Card Round - Single Elimination |
| (Winner advances to Semi Final Round) |
|
|
(Winners advances to Semi Final Round) |
| Sat. August 8th (9am) |
|
|
|
Sat. August 8th (9am) |
|
| #5 Seed @ #4 Seed |
|
|
|
|
#6 Seed @ #3 Seed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#5 Seed @ #4 Seed |
|
|
| ------------------------------------------------ |
|
|
------------------------------------------------ |
| BEST of 3 SEMIFINALS |
|
|
|
BEST of 3 SEMIFINALS |
|
| Sun. August 9th (9am) |
|
|
|
Sun. August 9th (9am) |
|
| GAME #1: Wild Card Winner @ #1 Seed |
|
|
GAME #1: Wild Card Winner @ #1 Seed |
| GAME #1: #3 Seed @ #2 Seed |
|
|
|
GAME #1: Wild Card Winner @ #2 Seed |
| Sun. August 16th (9am) |
|
|
|
Sun. August 16th (9am) |
|
| GAME #2: #1 Seed @ Wild Card Winner |
|
|
GAME #2: #1 Seed @ Wild Card Winner |
| GAME #2: #2 Seed @ #3 Seed |
|
|
|
GAME #2: #2 Seed @ Wild Card Winner |
| Sun. August 16th (1pm) |
|
|
|
Sun. August 16th (1pm) |
|
| *GAME #3: Wild Card Winner @ #1 Seed |
|
|
*GAME #3: Wild Card Winner @ #1 Seed |
| *GAME #3: #3 Seed @ #2 Seed |
|
|
*GAME #3: Wild Card Winner @ #2 Seed |
| * If Necessary |
|
|
|
|
* If Necessary |
|
|
| ------------------------------------------------ |
|
|
------------------------------------------------ |
| AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP (BEST of 3 ) |
|
|
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (BEST of 3 ) |
| Sun. August 23rd (9am) |
|
|
|
Sun. August 23rd (9am) |
|
| GAME #1: Semifinal Winners at Higher Seed |
|
GAME #1: Semifinal Winners at Higher Seed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Sun. August 23rd (1pm) |
|
|
|
Sun. August 23rd (1pm) |
|
| GAME #2: Semifinal Winners at Lower Seed |
|
GAME #2: Semifinal Winners at Lower Seed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Sun. August 30th (9am) |
|
|
|
Sun. August 30th (9am) |
|
| *GAME #3: Semifinal Winners at Higher Seed |
|
*GAME #3: Semifinal Winners at Higher Seed |
| * If Necessary |
|
|
|
|
* If Necessary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tiebreakers for divisional positioning: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1) Head to Head |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2) Division record (Non-Shore Games Record) |
|
|
|
|
3) Run Differential Head to Head |
|
|
|
|
|
|
4) Run Differential Division |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5) Run Differential Overall |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6) Coin Flip |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Meeting Minutes
25+ Managers Meeting at The Elephant & Castle Pub
June 18, 2009
Meeting came to order at appx. 7:15pm.
Officers Present: 25+ President Terry Annese, Secretary Mike Solmen, 25+ At Large Board Member Joe Aupperle
Teams Present or Represented: Phils, Rays, Pirates, Nationals, Marlins, UTEK, Mariners, Athletics, Redsox, Cubs.
Teams Not Present or Represented: Wolfpack, Royals.
Old Business:
All present agreed the league has been running smoothly this year.
One concern was that over field usage with so many teams sharing fields now. All agreed to start seeking out fields early (during the winter) for next year.
25+ President Annese led discussion on 'no substitute/out' rule conflict. After group discussion on matter, all teams agreed FROM THIS POINT FORWARD that in the regular season should a player leave a game for an injury or obligation and no substitute is present, that NO OUT be awarded. However, in case of a player ejection, an out is recorded the first time around the batting order and skipped thereafter. The playoff rule remains that for any reason should a player leave and no substitute is present that an out is awarded the first time around the order.
New Business:
Playoffs: Best of 3 format for both divisions. Wild Card Saturday Play-in Round with #1 and #2 seeds getting byes into Semifinals. Two different scheduling scenarios were discussed. Teams agreed to Sunday DH option.
Playoff eligibility - Players must have played in 8 games (including a maximum of 5 games any player was physically on the DL for a legitimate injury) to qualify to play in the playoffs, teams must have 11 players qualified for the playoffs for a team to be able to participate in the playoffs.
Forfeit in the playoffs only counts as a loss for 1 game.
Mid-Week League- 6-8 Teams, 7 inning games played on Tues- Thurs evenings @ 7:00 PM starting after week of the 4th of July, play apx 8-10 game season, all would be required to cover costs for field and umpires divided by # of players. New players must be registered with the league ($35 ea).
Make-up Games- Teams doing well making up games so far but still a few to get caught up on after Father's Day rained out games. On season makeup week of 8/2, all games from 5/3 rainouts or any other make-up games.
Player Releases- Will set a date to get player releases after the season
Money Owed League- discussed and managers of teams are aware they must be paid in full
Rule 4D Ties in regular Season- Ties are OK and result is counted as a tie if teams played a game of official length but had to leave the field for reasons beyond their control (rain, darkness, other team has the field Etc)
Courtesy Runner- Last recorded out (batted or otherwise).
Meeting adjourned at appx 9:00pm.
|
| |
|
