Fricker's/SSS 70's team ends
2014 season on a high note!

The Sylvania Fricker's traveling team, coached by Bruce Anderson, wrapped up play at the SPA Great Lakes NIT at Pacesetter Park, finishing second in the '70's AA bracket. The team finished with a 5-3 record, losing 19-18 to the Dayton Legends in the finals.

LEADING HITTERS: Jerry Pickett set the pace with a .680 BA, followed by Anderson, .654, Doug Dillard .630, Dave Shumway .615, Reggie Madden .600 and Gerry Haniak .560.

SPA NIT OPENER! The Fricker's team took the field, July 31 against the Mississauga Legends, winning 20-8. Doug Dillard, Pat O'Boyle, Reggie Madden and Harry Stoddard had three hits each. Don Lange and Stoddard each had an ITPHR.

GAME 2-The bats stayed hot, and the defense was excellent with Doug Dillard and Reggie Madden roaming far and wide to make catches. Jerry Pickett, Bruce Anderson and Dave Shumway had three hits each. Jim Nickelsen was outstanding at SS.

GAME 3-Fricker's defense had problems, as the team lost to the Olde D's 18-17. Fricker's led 17-15 in 7th. In the bottom of the inning, the Olde D's scored three to win.

GAME 4-The Indy Classics were no match for the Fricker's squad, losing 18-1 in a 5-inning game.Pat O'Boyle, Jim Nickelsen, Gerry Haniak and Dave Shumway each had three hits. Infielder, Shumway, new to the team this year, turned in another fine performance. Don Lange, up the middle made several really fine plays.

GAME 5- The Chicago Gray Sox banged out an 18-4 win in 5-innings and eventually dropped out of the tournament - they are a AAA team that slipped below the radar.

GAME 6-Fricker's, now in the losers bracket, bounced back with a very fine game, defeating the Olde D's 15-14. The Sylvania team was down 14-11 in the bottom of the 7th. Dave Shumway hit a gapper for a triple. Reggie Madden, Jim Nickelsen and Bruce Anderson singled. Jim Burnor, got on with a f/c, Anderson out at second. Jerry Pickett blooped a ball into right, hit the chalk and rolled down the line. Burnor kept on running and scored the winning run. Gerry Haniak had a "golden glove" game at first.

GAME 7 - Fricker's once again faced an old nemesis; the Mississauga Legends. Pitcher Jerry Keefe, leg injury, struggled through seven innings - the defense rose to the occasion, and the bats stayed hot for a 19-12 win. Dave Shumway had a big game, going 4/4. Anderson and Haniak went 3/3. Jim Dunlavy made a fine, running, over-the-shoulder catch in r/c to end the game. Now on to the finals.

GAME 8 - The Dayton Legends, undefeated, won the AA bracket in the bottom of the 7th, scoring two runs for a 19-18 win. This season, it has come down to the Legends and Fricker's in the tournament finals with each team winning two out of the four contests. Top hitters: Fricker's Doug Dillard 3/4 with a ITPHR, Pat O'Boyle 3/4 with a triple, Jerry Picket 4/4 and Don Lange 3/4.

WINNING SEASON! The Fricker's/SSS team had an excellent run - winning the Dayton, Ohio and Barberton, Ohio tournaments and finishing second in the Columbus Heart of Ohio and the Sylvania Great Lakes contests. "I love this team!", shouted Jim Dunlavy. "Excellent players and solid, good people. I hate to see this season end.", Jim added. Everyone agreed.

WHAT A CATCH! Fricker's L/C fielder Doug Dillard races back to make an over-the-shoulder catch in NIT action at the SPA Great Lakes July 31 event.

HOT BAT! Fricker's Jerry Pickett led his team to a runner-up spot in the Sylvania Great Lakes NIT with a .680 BA, (17/25).

SOLID PLAY! Fricker's third baseman Pat O'Boyle charges a shot at third for the put-out in NIT play at Pacesetter Park.