Jim Ansel surrendered just two runs against an accomplished Bristol Baseball Club, and the Albany Golden Marlins hit the ball well against a tough lefty pitcher to net their fourth straight Labor Day Tournament title. The two runs came as a result of a blown call by the first base umpire in the bottom of the third inning. Jim kept his focus after the bluder allowed the Bristol team to tie the score at 2. The Marlins plated one run in the top of the fifth on a two-out single by Mike Girard scored Skip Treece; and salted the victory away with four in the top of the seventh, the key hit being a three run triple by Teddy Poleto. Jim Ansel shared MVP honors with Jim Latorre (who pitched four shutout innings in game one and seven shutout innings in the semi's).
Congratulations on a great win by a great team. It was a fun game to watch and see some really good players play as a team. It was great to see the Marlins overcome the aforementioned call as well as a couple of plays that could easily rattle a team. They picked each other up and came through when it mattered. But the icing on the cake was to watch the Bristol team intentionally walk ( I believe it was Mitchell?) to load the bases and go lefty to lefty on Teddy Poleto who had not really hit the ball all that hard up to that point. Teddy promptly came through in the clutch to launch a ball deep to right for a bases clearing double. Watching the way the guys greeted and congratulated each other after the game was pretty special as well. The game was a great testimony to the league and the depth and quality of players that play here in the CDMSBL.
Teddy's bases clearing double was the icing on the cake, a clutch at bat if there ever was one. He crushed the ball for four of five games, although he was silenced by Jim K in the semi-final. The Marlins hitting was consistent and outstanding. Mike Girard ripped the ball all tournament. His adjustment to the Bristol pitcher was evidence of his skills. We were facing a lefty with a fast ball that moved away from right handed hitters. Mike spanked the ball to right all day, getting the game winning rbi along with a few solid hits otherwise. The Marlins hit the ball well for five games. Mash Gadomski was all over the ball. John Reel was 7 for 10 and didn't even put himself in the lineup in the final. The whole team hit.
The defense was tenacious in the final. The outfield (Mark, Skip Treece, Pete Westfall) turned fly balls and line drives into easy outs. Mike Girard snagged a line drive headed for a single to lead off an inning by jumping (yes, off the ground by a good foot) and stretching all of his frame and his first baseman's mitt. In the fourth inning, when the game was still tied, Bristol had men on first and second with one out. The batter hit a hard grounder between third and short, headed to be a single. Randy Craft not only got to the ball, but fielded it and threw a Jeter-like bullet to TJ at second who made the turn and got the hitter at first for a double-play to end the inning. It was an incredible play and changed the game. The Bristol manager just shook his head. That was just one play as Randy was outstanding at short all for five games, and he hit too.
The pitching was also outstanding. Dennis Scimeca through a complete game shut out. Mash Gadomski just missed a shut out. Jim Latorre won two games, never gave up a run in eleven innings, and through a complete game shut out in the semi-final. As a team, we gave up four unearned runs in the whole tournament. Mike is correct to point out that the umpire made a terrible call in the final that lead to the runs. The batter was out by twenty feet on a routine ground out, but the umpire said Mike pulled his foot off the bag. Mike was on the bag, plus the guy was out by a mile. All part of the game I guess.
Another part of the tournament was the support. We had two outstanding players who were injured but were there for every out. Ronnie Lochner, who was crushing the ball until he pulled a muscle in the semi-final, was there with his muscle relaxers and his cooler. Tom Maney was as into the tournament as if he was playing, cheering and clapping with one hand. He was as happy for us to win as if he had the game-winning hit. He is very special teammate. It was good to see the turn out from family, friends, and players from around the league.
I agree that this performance is testimony to the quality of Albany baseball. It also looks like the good baseball will continue if and when the oldies turn to dust. Way to go young bucks, as the locals get two trophies this fine Labor Day.
Congratulations Marlins on another title - Crafty, Ansel, and the rest never cease to amaze.
But I gotta get some details - Teddy Poleto with a triple?? Tell me the fielders collided, lay unconscious for a few minutes, overthrew the cut-off man, and then the ball took a bad hop!!
first of all i want to say it was a priveledge to play in this tournement, with what is without a doubt one of the finest collection of ballplayers in the country. I would take Ron Lochner at 3rd.,Randy Craft at SS.,T.J. Scorscone at 2nd,and Mike Gerard at 1st. over anybody you could come up with. That is probably the tightest infield I have seen play together in years. The pitching from Mash,Jim Latoure, Jimmy Ansel and Dennis Scimeca was outstanding,to say the least. Dave Mitchell and Mark Myers called perfect games behind the plate in some pretty intense heat,and never let down once. I think what really seperated us from the other squads was this teams ability to hit the ball,no matter what kind of pitching we faced. Everyone hit,and hit well,from the top of the lineup to the bottom. When you combine that with the excellent defence we played, I can see why these guys are national champs.From right field I got to witness the double play started by Randy,and I can tell you that you will never see a more perfectly executed play than that one.Poetry in motion. P.S.-- Ted did hit a triple........he just chose to stop at second base.
Congrats Joey Fitz on winning yet another LD title, and is classic style, too. With the talent in Albany, I hope Florida is in all of your futures. We could do some serious damage down there.
The Marlins beat Leominster, Mass., and a team from New Hampshire before beating the Albany Peppers to get the the semis. They then put away a pesky Albany Hornets team 7-0 behind the 3-hit pitching of Jim LaTorre to get to the final against Conn. A three-run bottom of the 6th put the Hornets away. Both teams were 3-0 entering the game.
And before I go on about the title game, thanx to my "Hornets'' team for putting on a real nice showing in the tournament. Our only regret is that Bobby Bolt's arm was a bit sore so all he could do was hit about .600 and play a great defense for us. Also Mike Maiello, Paul Scutieri, John LaTorre, Matt Kelly, Joe Hauser and several Hornets, Jack Perry, Mike Lannon, Dan Maguire, Al Wolfer and Dick Stark took us to 3-0 before running into the Marlins.
And then came the final. Ansel's description was right on.
On Monday morning at Cook Park, ol' reliable Jim Ansel called for the ball and did what he's been doing for years, this time with the help of a great defensive effort.
On that play Ansel spoke of in his recap, that was a VERY WELL-HIT ball to Randy's right that was heading to left field for an RBI single. But Randy, in the hole facing the left-field line, backhanded the shot on one hop, made that Derek Jeter hanging-in-the-air strike to TJ Scorsone at 2nd for the force, and TJ, never missing a beat, made a great pivot and fired a strike to Mike Girard at first, nipping the runner for the double play to end the inning, leaving Conn. motionless in stunned disbelief, and yes, the manager shaking his head. If Ansel could see himself, he went a bit gaga on that play, too!
What set up Poleto's hit was Girard stealing second base with two outs and runners at the corners. That opened up first base for the intentional walk to Mitchell to set up the lefty-on-lefty matchup with Teddy. Possibly remembering Teddy's double down the left-field line earlier in the game on a pitch away, the pitcher decided to go up and in on the first pitch. And Teddy wasn't taking, whacking a long drive down the right-field line to clear the bases, sending a fairly sizeable and enthuiastic crowd to their feet. And Ansel took care of the rest.
It's hard to expect anything different after this team won the 45+ wood tournament in Florida last year. It's basically the same team minus KJ, Joey C. of the Orioles, and possibly another player. Our 52+ Fla.-bound team can expect to be ready for this year's tournament 'cause we plan to give these Marlins some battles in scrimmage games before heading south in November. Knowing we can prepare for the tournament by playing a defending champion, well, it just can't get any better than that.
Darrell, John, get NS ready for some fall ball. JimK
I created and ran this tourny for 14 years. I wore the first tourny t-shirt my son designed when he was 11 years old. he's a 25 year old man now. This holiday means baseball to me. It has had its ups an downs, the downs mostly the result of rain. Like last years' hurricane soaked holiday. This year Kevin Jackson took the reins and restored this tourny to its rightful regional spotlight, it hosted three MSBL National Tourny Champions. It represented players and teams from 9 United States and a Canadian Province. They come expecting the best and we as host strive to deliver.
With only a couple glitches we held over 40 games in mostly 2 days. Our umpire organization handled the load well and performed admirably under the intenseness that these games bring out. We used 8 or 9 fields. the math seems simple but I can tell you KJ did not sleep well till Monday night. teams dropout just before they come down, others are short players and want help. sometimes a field needs attention. The grass is high on Friday morning, the bases aren't out. and you watch the weather channel. It becomes more than baseball, it's an event. An event I might add that has secured this league a sizable balance as insurance against over runs of our division budgets and always offers us a chance to enhance the quality of our CDMSBL experience.
I especially enjoyed reading the account of Joe's 25+ team's journey to the championship. plenty of adversity makes the prize all the sweeter. congrats to Joe and his guys. Well done.
But we had 9 local teams represented with varying expectations. The Mutts are a great travelling tradition kept alive by Don Dunham. Bones entered another solid 35 team. The Stillwater Tigers fell in the 25 semis to a 2005 champion, I know a disappointment to the quality team Dan had assembled. Frank's Columbia County 45+ Cougars entered with hopes of holding their own and playing more ball, and that they did. The 45 Rivals under Don Wixon went to the quarterfinals and lost to the formidable Jimmy Konstantakis Hornets. I saw players from here helping a short Vermont team and one from Rochester. Sometimes these arrangements lead to long term friendships. Thanks to those who did that. Thanks to the managers who sweated out rosters, collected fees, and made tough lineup decisions.
But believe me, the most gratitude goes to Kevin Jackson. Thanks for carrying on this great Labor Day tradition. I can't wait till next year.... when the longest continuously held MSBL regional returns for its 15th time. Hmmm...Maybe I get my son to join me on a 25+ team next Labor Day. I never dreamed we'd still be at this, wow.
Well said, John. And that's the drawback to this tournament. While we are taking the field, some great ball is being played at other fields. And watching this brand of ball is almost as good as playing!!! Damn, how can we possibly be in two places at once! There must be a way. This is the kind of tournament that should net interest from our local cable TV station.
And now that we kinduv put our own local talent in perspective by winning two titles, not to mention a national title last year, perhaps that will increase the attendance for the Game 3 game between the Orioles and Marlins. When is that game, anway???
I figured this would be a good time to enter my 1st post, i felt compelled to add my gratitude for kevin jacksons great effort in running this years labor day tournament we all know how thankless this job is. Iwould also like to thank each and every manager in every league for the commitment they show for with out them there would be no league, so do yourself a favor tap your manager on the back and tell him what a great job he's doing. And finally i would like to say i'm proud to play in the alb. league. jim latorre
Hey guys!!! I just wanted to send a message to everyone who was a part of the Marlins club that won for the fourth straight year...I remember telling Mash and mane that i schedule my vacatrions around the Labor Day tourney becasue i get to play some great baseball with my buddies and enjoy the sport and passion of the game with guys who are just in tune with everything that represents the game of baseball....I love playing with the team and fell honored tohave been a part of the last two championships....I regretted Tommy not being able to play but after he got done with all his builiding projects at home and a quick stop at the beverage center he was at the games.... he was a part of everything that we di...I guess it is a reflection on tommy who for almost 45 years has been one of my most trusted friends on and off the field....I realized how much he hated not playing but he shared in the championship along with everyone else and hell he has enough of them already!!
We really did have a great tourney and to a man you could run off some of the things each guy did to contriobute to the wins and the eventual championship....but i wont bore anyone with that ....Personally i was jsut happy to be reunited with all my friends and to keep score for the last game and watching Jimmy shut a good team down, Mike working his magic at first and Randy being Randy at short...what a combo he and TJ make!!! Daryl was hurt and played thru until he couldnt contiue and we had Mash as a backup???? Not bad..We had Jimmy Latore and Mash and TJ and Pete to back up Jimmy amongst others and we had Mark and Skip and Pete covering ground like they were like 40 :)....
I was priveleged to be a part of an ongoing tradition in Albany my home and everytime i have to leave it is increasingly difficult......Playing with Mitch and laughing the whole game with him is always a blast....We had some of the guys not at every game and we still beat a great Hornets team to get into the final and then we had to battle and endure a ridiculous call to pull out a tough win...Mike did an awesome job of going the other way and contiues to hit like he is still 20 something...Randy is in my opion at 50 + still one of the best players in the area ..... Mash Jim L Pete and Dennis got us to the final and Jimmy slammed the door...We never even used TJ or Daryl...That is so unreal!!! Anyway i am just thankful for John to let me sneek in every year with the boys have a couple and take a great memory home...
To set the record straight for Johnny Martin and Pete is basically that as i turned first base i realized that i was 52 and getting to second was a chore in itself so that is why i didnt get the stand up triple i would have had in 1975....Mike thanks for giving me my first triple in 3 decades:):) to be honest it was great to be able to contribute along with everyone else and you could split the MVP probably 15 ways and no one would have cared....I also want to recognize that we also set a record for beer consumption compared to last year so we continue to improve in other areas of life as well..
