Sylvania 65's team win 2016
SPA AA
Sylvania Great Lakes
The Sylvania '65's tournament team defeated the 60's AA Dayton Diamond Dawgs in two straight bracket play games to win the prestigious SPA Great Lakes Nationals, August 11- 14, at Pacesetter Park. The winners qualify for the World at Dalton, Georgia. First row: Mark Vonderembse, Ed Eckhart, George Bates, Mike Riethmiller, Dann Schlenbaker, Ron Callison, and Jim Steffes
Second row: Fred Roberts, Charlie Oberlin, Dave Ashman, Granville Smith, John Strzelecki, Dick Block, Dale Knepper, and Tim Wilde
SPA WINNERS! Sylvania's 65's Dave Ashman and Fred Roberts accept
the Great Lakes 2016 award for winning their bracket.
SSS 65's Defeat Dayton Dogs
13-12 to Win Tournament
After two second place finishes this year, Sylvania came through as the winner of the 60-65 AA bracket in the Great Lakes Tournament. In pool play, Sylvania was 1 and 2 against AAA teams. In bracket play, Sylvania faced the Dayton Diamond Dawgs who are a 60 AA team. Sylvania beat them two straight to take the championship. Because of the age difference, Sylvania was given 5 runs in each game.
Fred “twinkle-toes” Roberts pitched two great games giving up only 21 runs in 14 innings. In the first game, Sylvania got off to a fast start with a single by Ashman, a double by Steffes and a walk to Smith. Dann Schlenbaker was the hero with a bases loaded, in-side-the-park home run. In the second, Reithmiller, Wilde, Ashman and Oberlin pushed across another run. Smith, Schlenbaker, Callison, Eckhart, Roberts, Bates, and Riethmiller gave the team four runs in the fourth. Oberlin, Steffes, Smith, Schlenbaker, Callison, and Eckhart added five in the fifth. Bates, Knepper, Wilde, and Ashman added two runs in the top of the seventh. With the five run spot Sylvania won 21 to 9.
The second game was tight with Sylvania pulling out a 13 to 12 win. The first inning was the big inning as Sylvania scored 5 runs with two outs. Oberlin, Steffes, Wilde, Schlenbaker, Strzelecki, Callison, and Eckhart accounted for the runs. The big blow was a triple by Steffes. The runs that won the game came in the bottom of the sixth. Knepper, Oberlin, Steffes, and Wilde came through with two big runs. Dayton went 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh to end the game.
Jim Steffes was the MVP. Ed Eckhart, Mike Riethmiller, Granville Smith, and John Strzelecki were all stars. It was a true team victory as everyone played well. A special thanks to our ALL STAR scorekeeper, Jane Wilde.
DAYTON, OHIO-The Sylvania '65's team finished second in the Dayton Legends Pre-Season Tournament, on April 23, with a 2-1 record. The one loss came in the bottom of the seventh. Back row from left: Coach Mark Vonderembse, Jon Buehler, Granville Smith, Coach Fred Roberts, Gary Walton, Mike Reithmiller, Joel Hansen Front row from left: Gary Meyer, Ron Callison, Tim Wilde, Dan Schlenbaker, John Radscheid, Dick Block, Jim Steffes
Sylvania 65 Finishes Second
in
its Inaugural 2016 Tourney
On April 23rd, the team traveled to Dayton, Ohio to kick-off the 2016 season, and finished second in the eighth annual Dick Ernst Senior Softball Classic. Sylvania lost its first game 15 – 14 in the bottom of the seventh inning. The team struggled the first two times through the order. Although the generosity of the other team allowed Sylvania to score 4 runs in the top of the first, while hitting only two balls out of the infield, barely making the outfield grass in both cases. The bats came alive in the final three innings with 10 runs, but it was not enough. The second game was back-and-forth with the team’s rival, the Dayton Legends. Sylvania came back with 5 runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 17-16 lead as the bottom of the order led the way. Jim Steffes started with a triple, followed by singles from Fred Roberts, Joel Hansen, Ron Callison, and Mike Riethmiller. Tim Wilde and Gary Meyer drove in the final two runs. After giving up 3 runs in the top of the seventh, Sylvania came back with two runs to tie and send the game to extra innings. Granville Smith singled, Gary Walton doubled, Dick Block singled, and Jim Steffes capped the scoring with a single. Great pitching and defense set Dayton down 1-2-3 in the top of the eighth, and then Mike Reithmiller doubled and Tim Wilde singled to push across the winning run. In the final game, Sylvania’s defense and pitching were excellent, and the bat pushed across 23 runs in six innings to win 23 to 11. After a slow start, the team hit well, led by Granville Smith, John Buehler and John Radscheid who hit 857, 833, and 818, respectively. Dick Block, Ron Callison, and Mike Riethmiller hit 727, 700, and 700. Joel Hansen and Tim Wilde batted 636 and 615. John Buehler, Dick Block, Granville Smith, and John Radscheid supplied the power with 1,667, 1,182, 1,143, and 1,091 slugging percentages, respectively.