LEGENDS LEAGUE CHAMPS! Fricker’s Blue defeated Fricker’s Maroon 12-11, in the bottom of the 7th, when Bob Hoffman ripped a line drive to right field, scoring Darren Axon with the winning run. Back row, l-r, Tom Fisher, Terry Finch, Jeff Huskisson, Darren Axon, Bill Garber, Bob Ruckman. Front row, l-r, Dan Leonard, Randy Rydman, Bill Trego, Tom Rowe, Mike Keaton, Bob Hoffman. Not pictured, Glen Smille. Darren Axion led the team with a .762 BA and Tom Fisher supplied the power with 5-homeruns.

Championship Game:
Fricker’s Blue 12 – Fricker’s Maroon 11

In a finale that lived up to it’s billing, the two division winners played a great game for the championship. In a back and forth game that featured great defense on both sides, the game went down to the final at bat when slugger Bob Hoffman ripped a line drive to right field scoring Darren Axon from 1st base to plate the deciding run. Tom Fisher and Mike Keaton played outstanding defense on the left side of the infield, shutting down some potential rallies for Maroon. The Blue offense was led by Bob Hoffman 4/4 with 2 3b, Jeff Huskisson 3/3, Bob Ruckman 3/3 with a 2b and Darren Axon 4/4 with 4R. A great end for a great team that kept finding a way to win and never gave up. A special thanks to the best damn fans in the land for all your support throughout the entire season, we love you all!

The Championship game came down to the last inning and unfortunately for Fricker’s Maroon we came up one run short. Fricker’s Maroon battled back with 6 runs in the 6th inning to tie the game at 11, However we couldn’t score in the top of the 7th and hoped to get into extra innings. In the bottom of the 7th Fricker’s Maroon with one out already recorded and no one on, was on the wrong end of a bang bang play at 1b and Fricker’s Baby Blue took advantage with a game winning hit that plated the winning run. Fricker’s maroon was led in hitting by Jim Watters 3-3 2 2b’s ; Dave Copi 2-3; Charlie Oberlin 2-3; Mike Betley 2-3 and Matt Edinger 2-4. A very tough Championship game loss , but I want to thank all of my fellow Fricker’s Maroon teammates for a great regular season winning our division with a 10-6 record.

KING OF SWAT! Fricker’s Tom Duhart, receives a plaque and is congratulated by Board member Rick Schmidt for hitting fourteen home runs during the Legends League regular season. Duhart is a member of the SSS Sidelines Sports Pub travel team and was named to the All-American tournament team in World Championship play at Dalton, Georgia.

THE WINNERS! The Citizens Advisory Group team won the 2016 Masters League, defeating Hansen State Farm 15-14 on August 9 to win the league. In the tournament semi-finals, Tuesday, August 16, CAG pounded Glass City 11-4 to face Sundown Cantina in the finals, winning 16-11 for a sweep of the Masters League and Tournament play. Back row, l-r, Bill Bray, Craig Mantey, William Green, Coach Bill Wiseman, Larry Gagin, Jon Labeau & Jeff Szenderski. Front row, l-r, Bruce Klostermeir, Bob Briggs, Jim Nickelsen, Daniel Lewis, Bill Cox and Dwaine Nemire. Labeau led the team with a .851 BA and 7-home-runs, Klostermeir hit .787 with 2-home-runs.

Championship game:
Citizens Advisory Group 15 – State Farm 14

CAG won each of the first 5 innings and took a 10-4 lead into the sixth. State Farm cut it to 5 after 6th and scored 7 runs in the 7th to take a 14-12 lead. In the bottom of the 7th, Bruce Klostermeier lead off with a single, followed by Bill Bray’s triple, a ground out by Larry Gagin scored Bray to tie the game. Dan Lewis and Dwaine Nemire singled and Craig Mantley ended the game with a walkoff double to bring in Dan Lewis. Jon LaBeau threw out runners out at home twice and went 3/3 with 2B and 2-3B. Dwaine Nemire was 3/3, Bruce Klostermeir 3/4 , Bill Green 3/4, Larry Gagin, 2/4, Dan Lewis 2/4, and Craig Mantely 2/4. Bill Cox and Bill Wiseman combined to pitch the team to victory.and the league championship. Thanks to all 12 guys and their good plays all year to finish with a 13-5 record. Team contributions were key in the success this year with all contributing. Members of the team were Jon LaBeau, Bill Green, Bruce Klosermeir, Bill Bray, Larry Gagin, Dan Lewis, Dwaine Nemire, Craig Mantley, Bill Cox, Jeff Szenderski, Bob Briggs and manager Bill Wiseman. Our hearts go out to our 13th playet Jim Nicholsen who was only able to play in four games this year, before taking his wife to Florida for medical needs. His wife, Linda, pass away in Florida two weeks ago.

FINALIST! Joel Hansen’s State Farm team lost to Citizens Advisory Group in the bottom of the 7th, yielding three runs to lose 15-14. State Farm finished with a 11-6 record, tied for first place in the West Division. State Farm was able to only field nine players in the Master’s tournament, losing to Sundown Cantina 15-12. Back row from left: John Brubaker, Dave Ashman, Chuck Strzesynski, Jim Czerniakowski, Phil Franklin, Joel Hansen Front row from left: Ron Fox, Dick Block, Coach Jim Fedor, Dave Brownfield, Rich Puckett Not pictured: Steve Mattin, Bruce Florea