MBL Recaps Journal Sentinel Article on MBL | Journal Sentinel Article on MBL |
|
|
|
August 10, 2004 Revived rec-league baseball to hold first playoff games. Author: DAVID BOEHLER Kirk Spano and friends won't admit they saved rec-league baseball in Milwaukee, but it wouldn't be around today if it weren't for them. There's a lot of satisfaction in being able to keep the league going," Spano said. "It's important to know that Milwaukee County baseball, which has been going on since 1935, didn't die because of budgetary reasons. Local people were able to keep it going. "Maybe my son will be able to play someday." It looked as if no one would be able to play baseball in Milwaukee after 2002. That was supposed to be the last season for the county open and minor hardball leagues, thanks to budget problems in Milwaukee County. "I've got records here in my filing cabinet 20 feet from my desk that go back to 1935," said Tom Kloza, the public services manager for Milwaukee County Parks. "But we just did not have the staff and couldn't do it any longer. It all related to the county budgets." Now, the 2-year-old Milwaukee Men's Adult Baseball League is getting ready for its first playoff games this weekend. First-round games and the semifinals will be played from noon until 9 p.m. Saturday and from noon until 5 p.m. Sunday at Zablocki Park. The championship game will be played at 7 p.m. Aug. 21 at McCarty Park. "The first year was mainly to get the league running," said Tom Eckert, who was the league president last season before stepping aside because of work issues. "It was kind of baby steps, more or less. Now, I'm just happy guys are getting a chance to continue playing baseball. Most play just to play it. "So it's very satisfying." It wasn't as fun after the 2002 season, when 24 open and minor teams were told the county decided to take away funding for the leagues. "We were disappointed," said Spano, who plays and manages Long Wong's. "We knew it was possible, though, and we'd have to do this by ourselves someday. We're a recreational baseball league so we're relatively low on the list for priority items." So a group of managers got together to form the league, including Spano, Eckert, Jim Rinelli and Mike Galwitta. Kloza also helped the group become what he calls "a permit league." "They basically rent the fields from us and we send them a permit," Kloza said. "Before, we ran the leagues, which meant we took in the teams, scheduled the games, hired the umpires, kept track of the statistics and standings. We did all that." The major hurdles, according to Spano, were finding people with the time to run the league and raise sponsorship money. In fact, he said the league almost folded before Eckert agreed to be its first-year president. "You see a lot of money cuts, the 'You can't do this, you can't do that,' " Eckert said. "It's satisfying to know there's other organizations out there that can keep things running with a little bit of hard work." The league included several teams with lineage going back more than 30 years, including the Milwaukee Police Department team. Despite having a "shoe-string budget" last year, according to Spano, the league expanded from eight to 12 teams this season. Adding playoffs to the mix is just the icing on the cake, thanks to sponsors like Annex Wealth Management, Burghardt Sporting Goods and Long Wong's Bar and Restaurant. The league isn't resting on its laurels, either. Spano and others are trying to restore about 12 fields that have deteriorated under the county's budgetary cutbacks. The field fund is seeking major local corporate sponsors to help pay for the restoration. According to Spano, the county has even given preliminary permission for sponsors to have minor-league style signs at the diamonds. More information can be found at the league Web site, [www.baseballmilwaukee.com]. "We want to see baseball go on in Milwaukee," Spano said. "It's a sport we all love." Copyright 2004 Journal Sentinel Inc. All rights reserved. (Note: This notice does not apply to those news items already copyrighted and received through wire services or other media.) |
|
| Last Updated ( Saturday, 15 November 2008 ) |
| < Prev |
|---|
O’Brien’s/Milwaukee Harley Davidson: 7 South Shore All-Stars: 5
Dan Wilfrath allowed only four hits and struck out five to get the win. The game was tied 1-1 until the bottom of the fourth when O'Brien's scored five times to take a 6-1 lead. The All-Star's would score four in the top of the sixth to close the gap to 6-5. O'Brien's added an insurance run in the bottom half of the inning and that's how it would end. Joe Vilkoski, Tim Heling, and Dave Pangallo all had two hits for the Oriole's. Bryan Mueller took the loss for the All-Star's while contributing two hits to his efforts.
O’Brien’s/Milwaukee Harley Davidson: 12 South Shore All-Stars: 9
In a wild back and forth game 2 of the DH O'Briens/Milwaukee Harley Davidson Oriole's Scored six runs in the top of the seventh to secure the come from behind victory against Southshore All-Stars. The Orioles held a 6-5 lead going into the bottom of the sixth when Pangallo walked the leadoff hitter and was relieved by Chris Sanders. The All-Stars would score four time in the inning with a costly Orioles error with two outs to score two runs. Down by three going into the seventh inning O'Briens would score six runs against a depleted All-Star pitching staff that was missing three starters forcing game one starter Bryan Mueller back into action. Chris Sanders would get the final three outs in the seventh to get the win. The Orioles were led offensively by Tim Heling (3-4 3RBI 2R SB) along with 2 hit games from Bob Rinelli & Jim Rinelli. Rich Galewski had three hits for the All-Stars and Bryan Mueller had two hits while picking up the loss. The DH sweep combined with Johnny V's losing to Brown Deer Supreme Builders clinches the 2010 National division title For O'Brien's/Milwaukee Harley Davidson Orioles. Congratulations!
Leff's Lucky Town Americans 10 Town and Lake Realty Braves 4
In game one of a doubleheader that Leff's needed to sweep to get back into the playoff race, Jared Catenacci, John Kuhn and Alex Rejniak got Leff's on the board early with 2 runs in the first inning. Catenacci was hit with the first pitch and John Kuhn followed with a single. Rejniak with two outs then hit a single scoring both runners after John Kuhn's steal. The Braves got one in their half of the first, but that would be their last meaningful challenge as Leff's defense made the key plays, led by Steve Gustafason in centerfield and Aaron Bielawski at second base. Leff's added two runs in the second and three in the third as Rob Tschimperle, Jeremy Kroll and Jarrett Gates all contributed hits. In the sixth, Mike Schroeder helped his pitching cause with his second homer of the season, an exclamation point 380 foot home run which drove in John Kuhn after Kuhn's 3rd hit of the day, a double to the wall.
Schroeder worked a game plan to perfection controlling the game on his way to the victory, while dealing with symptoms of the heat which caused him to be sick and need ice packs. Rejniak pitched a final scoreless inning. Catenacci went 2-4, 4r, bi; John Kuhn 4-4, 3r, 2bi and Rejniak 3-4, 3bi. Adam Graves had two hits for the Braves, while three other Braves were ejected.
Leff's Lucky Town Americans 3 Town and Lake Realty Braves 1
In game two of a key doubleheader, Leff's pitcher Rob Tschimperle pitched a gutty game, allowing only three hits in six innings en route to the sweep of the Brave's. The defense behind him got the job done in the middle innings until Tschimperle asserted himself strongly in the fifth and sixth getting five strikeouts over those two innings. In the sixth, "Chimp" recorded three of those strikeouts, including of a Braves pinch hitter. Alex Rejniak pitched a scoreless final inning getting the save, with two strikeouts including striking out the final hitter on a nasty breaking ball. Jared Catenacci had two hits and a run scored for Leff's. Rejniak had the game winning RBI.
Athletic Supporters
Login or Register
New Players
Interested in playing in the Milwaukee Baseball League? Register for the site, log-in and fill out a Prospect Form.MBL Information
Around the Horn
| Roto Resources |
| Milwaukee Little Leagues |
| Brewer Fans |
Pictures Wanted
Please submit digital photos of MBL game action to: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .Please include a one line description. Scanned in photos from Milwaukee County baseball from the 1930s to 1990s also sought. Thanks from MBL.
Weather Report
Who's Online
We have 104 guests and 3 members online- The Arbiter
- mdjfish
- freshwater
Hits Since 2005
Visitors: 640266Patronize Our Friends!
Shop the MBL Store
