2009 Phoenix World Series Winner: Rex De La Nuez took his South Bay Cubs to Phoenix and won for the 4th consecutive year. They beat the Scottsdale Finest, who had 3 ex-big leaguers, 4-3 in the 35+ National Wood Bat division. Congrats to the Cubs, and thanks for making the LABL proud!
Other 2009 LABL affiliated teams participating: LA Grays (Gary Walsh) 25+ Central Wood went 1-3. Agua Dulce Reds (Gary Firestone) 50+ American went 2-4, lost in the playoffs. Christian Audigier's Lions (Angel Torres) 25+ National Wood went 2-2, lost in the playoffs. LA Skunks (Steve Zorn) 25+ National Wood went 2-2, lost in the playoffs. LABL Dodgers (John Chatigny) 50+ Central Wood went 2-4. SoCal Bullsharks (Mateo Valadez) 18+ Central went 0-5. North Valley Bears (Ernie Johnson) 35+ Central Wood went 5-1, lost in the championship. LA Athletics (Bob Sherwin) 55+ National Wood went 2-4. The Athletics (Bob Sherwin) Father & Son National went 3-1, lost in the championship.

2009 Palm Springs Desert Classic Winner: Bob Sherwin's LA Athletics won the 55+ for the 2nd year in a row. They went 3 - 0 in pool play which included a 2 - 1 win over Dodgertown West and former major league pitcher Brian Kingman, who went the distance. Great game! They beat the California Cards in the semi finals and then Sam Beet's California Redbirds in the final game 9 - 7. Congrats to both teams, and thanks for making the LABL proud!

2009 Palm Springs Desert Classic Winner:Congratulations to our LA Jays for winning the NABA California Kickoff Classic 35+ Wood Bat Rookie division over the Martin Luther King weekend! The Jays went 3-1 in pool play, then winning the championship 11-5 over the San Diego Whitesox, who beat the Jays in the 1st game. All of the Jay's players play in the LABL either in Metal or Wood divisions. Phil Leavitt won MVP for the Championship game, Dave Reed won the Gold Glove for the Championship game. Matt Kennedy (2 home runs, 2 doubles, 12 RBI, .625 Ave), Mark Grizzle (1 Home run, 2 doubles, 10 RBI, .438 Ave) & John Scott (.583 Ave) led the way. Complete game pitching from Dave Reed (9 inning Win), Scott Disharoon (5 inning Win plus 3-1/3 relief) & Matt Kennedy (5 inning Win plus 5 inning relief Win in Championship game). Way to go!

2008 Phoenix Winner: This just in from Nolan Wyatt: I just wanted to let everyone know that the league had another World Series winner in Arizona this year. I managed a team named the Venice A's who won the 25+ Federal Division. We beat the Salt Lake City Buzzards 12-2 at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Saturday 10/25. The team was led by offensive Co-MVP's Justin Collins and Jason Faunt and the pitching of Ari Zagaris, Ruben Hernandez and others.

2008 Phoenix Winner: Our 60+ Tournament Team, the California Cards, managed by Sam Beets (who plays on the Agua Dulce Reds during our regular season) has just won the 60+ National Division Championship at the MSBL World Series in Phoenix, AZ!! Among those playing for Sam from our League were: Bob Sherwin, Gary Faulkes, Ted Betzel, Gary Firestone, and Glen Marshall. Way to go, guys!!!

2008 Phoenix winner: Here, in his own words is Bob Sherwin's Arizona report: During week #2, my father/son team, the LA Athletics won the Father/Son National Division. We went 3 - 1 in pool play winning the division and earning a bye into the championship game on Sunday Oct 26. We defeated the Rhode Island Cardinals 5 - 2 in the championship game. Rhode Island is comprised of 4 players from Rhode Island and 22 from Puerto Rico, including former major leaguer Junior Ortiz. Rhode Island won the National Division in 2006 and 2007 (defeating us in the championship game last year 5 - 1). It was obviously very exciting and rewarding to beat these guys and get back in the winner's circle. Playing on my team were of course my son, Rob and fellow LABL players Cole Summers, Bob Quick, Reid Warner, Celino Escalante.

2008 Phoenix runner-up: The final week which just ended saw my 55+ team, the LA Athletics, lose in the championship game of the 55+ National Division. We won the division with a 5 - 1 record and then lost to the Sacramento Tribe in the championship game 13 - 7. LABL standouts were Jeff Wells, who pitched a complete game victory against the San Antonio Rangers, Jack Charles and Gary Faulkes who led the team in hitting, Mark Gorman and Bob Sherwin who combined at shortstop and second base to anchor a solid defense along with Bill Slaughter and Ted Betzel at 1B; Ray Wilson who picked up the final win on the mound in the last pool play game; Bob Quick who played excellent defense at a myriad of positions. Gary Firestone had a good tournament at the plate knocking in some key runs in our final pool play game (which cinched the division) and the championship game. It was very disappointing to lose when we won the division and had fresh pitching for the championship game. The Tribe however, was a great hitting team and we made too many mistakes in the final game to capture the ring. Overall, it was a good three weeks: 2 rings and a runner up prize! I can truly say winning never gets old. Almost as important is the number of friends I've made in attending and playing in the world series. I respect my competitors and I think the feeling is mutual. (Editor's note: Bob has gone to AZ 18 years and has managed since 1993. His teams have won 10 championships and thus 10 rings. 2 in the 48+; 2 in the 55+; one in the 45+; one in the 60+ and 4 in the Father/Son).