Spring 2016 Finals!

19+ Division Outlaws Complete the 3-Peat!

Congratulations to the Outlaws on their Spring 2016 tournament win in the Legends 19+ Division.

By Steve Patrick
In a rematch of last spring's championship game, the #3 seed Outlaws got the chance to defend their title against the #1 seed Flying Squirrels. After two tough regular season losses at the hands of the Squirrels, this was exactly the matchup the Outlaws were gunning for.

The game was a back and forth heavyweight prize fight, filled with timely hitting and gutsy pitching. After losing staff ace and Squirrel Killer, Mike Kirik, to an arm injury in the semi-finals, the Outlaws showed guts and resilience navigating through the dangerous Squirrel lineup. They got solid innings from starter Brandon Bender and David Kellmel followed by a Kirk Gibson moment when the injured Mike Kirik came in to stop the Squirrel rally and get the final out with the bases loaded in the 7th. Closer Justin Woods came up huge blanking the Squirrels in the 8th and 9th to seal the deal.

With the time-limit rapidly approaching, the Outlaws began the top of the 8th down 10-8, knowing that if they didn't tie it up there wouldn't be a 9th inning. With 2 outs and the game on the line, Charley "Refuse to Lose" Mays launched a 2-run homer of the day, tying the score at 10-10 and forcing the game into an extended 9th inning. With the momentum shifted by their offense in the top of the 8th and their pitching in the bottom of the 8th, the Outlaws rode that wave into the 9th. After the first two batters reached base, Kameron Lawrence came through with a clutch RBI double to take the lead, followed by Troy Patrick's second 2-run single of the game and Brad Wenzel's SAC fly insurance run to take the lead for good at 14-10.

Charlie Mays takes home his second straight Legends MVP award with his monster 3-5, 2 HR, 5 RBI championship game! Special recognition also needs to go out to Regular Season MVP Mike Kirik, who threw 18 innings (10 against the Squirrels and 7 against the #2 seed Hurricanes) with 27 Ks, while only surrendering 5 earned runs. He also lead the team in hits and slugging percentage. Also to Playoff MVP Troy Patrick who went 6-13 with 2 2Bs, 1 HR and 11 RBI during the Outlaws three game playoff run.

The Outlaws have now won 3 straight Legends 19+ Championships and reached the big game in all 4 seasons since they joined the Legends League. While there are no signs of slowing down or relinquishing their title any time soon, the renewed rivalry with the Squirrels will have the Outlaws hungrier than ever to defend the crown this fall! 

30+ Division Padres "Walk off" with Tournament Win!

Congratulations to the Padres on their Spring 2016 Tournament win in the Legends 30+ Division.

By RJ Lucciotti
The Padres and Nationals squared off in a rematch of last season's finals on a beautiful Sunday afternoon of baseball. The last two times these teams met each other in the finals, the wins were lopsided - the first in favor of the Padres in 2010, and then last season, where the Nationals won in convincing fashion. This season's final would be a different type of game - featuring spectacular pitching and almost flawless defense.

The Nationals jumped out to a quick first inning lead. Padres' starter Michael "I'm 72 years old, Blue" Murphy, surrendered a lead off single and followed with a hit batter. The Nationals quickly capitalized with a double steal, which left the Padres facing second and third with nobody out. Murph then forced a fielder's choice, which gave the Nats a 1-0 lead, but was able to escape the first inning with minimal damage.

The Padres went down quietly in the bottom of the first, as did the Nationals in the top of the 2nd inning, before the Padres got on board and tied the game in the bottom half of the inning. RJ "I faked retirement for attention" Lucciotti, worked a lead off walk, but was forced out at second on a fielder's choice. Chris "6 helmets" Smith followed with a double off the right field fence, leaving the Padres with runners on second and third base and one out. John "my mustache is real" Michetti, followed with a clutch RBI single to tie the game at 1 a piece.

But the Nationals came right back in the third inning with a manufactured run, which included a single and two stolen bases before scoring on another fielder's choice. The Padres answered right back in the bottom half of the inning. After getting hit by a pitch, Padres' lead off hitter, Blake "my socks are stupid" Dunn stole second, moved to third on a fielder's choice, and then scored on an RBI single by Ryan "I'm not Murray" Welch. At the end of 3 innings, the game stood at 2-2, and a great pitching duel ensued.

Murph mowed down the Nationals over the next two innings, while recording 3 strike outs and a huge outfield assist at home plate by Padres' centerfielder, Ryan "I fake shoulder injuries" Murray, to close out the top of the 5th inning.

Padres' closer, Steve "Wanna be Startin' Somethin'" Adair, followed Murph in the 6th inning and held the Nationals scoreless over the next 5 innings, while the Padres played great defense behind him. The Nationals' pitching did the same thing and made quick work of the Padres' lineup over the next 5 innings - while their short stop, Al "the grass is too long" Torres, seemingly played the field all by himself.

After 9-1/2 innings, the game stood at 2-2; a run hadn't been scored since the 3rd inning. In the bottom of the 10th, the Padres sent the heart of their order to the plate. After a quick first out, Ryan "cueball" Welch, got on base with a swinging bunt, but it didn't matter. Steve "I hit bombs with my eyes closed" Adair, stepped to the plate. He had been on fire of late, recording 4 home runs in the last 3 games, and he followed that up by taking the first pitch he saw over the left center field fence, for a Padres' walk off win.

Steve has been the Padres' lights out closer all season, and through the end of the season, he carried the team on his back with his bat to earn a much deserved MVP trophy. This was the first Padres' final win in several seasons, and it couldn't have come after a better played game by both teams.

40+/30+B Division Pirates Clinch 1st Playoff Championship!

Congratulations to the Pirates on their Spring 2016 Tournament win in the Legends 40+/30+B Division.

By Demian Dominguez
The Pirates, in their first Legends finals appearance, played their finest game in years vs. a very tough and powerful 1st ranked Generals team. They were led by outstanding pitching performances from Lewis Hardy, Kevin Jillions, and team ace Patrick McCane.

A strategic rotation move of deployment of this mild heat-firing trio paid huge dividends in playoff competition. The fantastic pitching was supplemented with a team-hitting effort lead by 2016 team MVP Jonathan Champ (finally coming into his own after attending Softball Rehab) and long time RBI producers Akil "Boom" Barlow and Fred "Timeless" Lewis. Comeback player of the year Matt "McRib" Edwards provided production out of the leadoff spot; he initiated several scoring innings on this biggest stage.

This Pirates victory was an absolute team effort with every member contributing in our victory, from Jeff "Da Ump" Alexander, John "Soup" Campbell, Luis "El Capo" Feliciano, Demian "Dirty Double D" Dominguez, Wes "Taco" Rosati, and newcomer Matt "Amber" Rose.

Spring 2016 Fan Cam!

Friends and family flocked to Andrew Leitch Park in Dale City for the 2016 Legends Baseball Finals.

Spring 2016 Finals Action!

The Outlaws broke open a tie ball game with four runs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat the Flying Squirrels in their 19+ Division Championship game. Charlie Mays (far right) was the 19+ MVP.

Great pitching and a steady barrage of hitting helped the Pirates defeat the Generals in their 40+/30+B Division Championship game. Jonathan Champ (far right) was the 40+/30+B MVP.

Pitching, defense, and a walk off home run propelled the Padres past the Nationals in the 30+ Division Championship game. Steve Adair (far right) was the 30+ MVP.

Spring 2016 home run derby winners

Home Run Derby honors were shared by (from left to right) Chris Herald of the Nationals, Curtis Swift of the Rebels, and Steve Adair of the Padres. Steve was also the MVP of the 30+ Division tournament.