2000 NABA

National Championship

Lowell OTB Over 30 team

All reports provided by Over 30 manager Mike Grill, now a resident of Arizona and formerly Lowell OTB Vice President and manager of several teams - Thanks, Mike.

Monday, October 9th

Game 1 - Lowell Over 30 vs. Colorado Reds

Tuesday, October 10th

Game 2 - Lowell Over 30 vs. Fresno Stars at Tempe

Game 3 - Lowell Over 30 vs. California Dodgers at Tempe

Wednesday, October 11th

Game 4 - Lowell Over 30 vs. Sacramento Blue Sox at Maryvale

Thursday, October 12th

Game 5 - Lowell Over 30 Portland Wet Sox at Ho Ho Kam Stadium

Team Roster

Coach Grill's Final Thoughts

Game 1 - Colorado Reds 8, Lowell Over Thirty 3

We played our first game against the Colorado Reds and it was not a pretty sight. The final score was 8-3. We gave up 5 unearned runs in the first inning and two more later on that ended up being the difference. We scattered 8 hits and had the bases loaded in the 8th inning, but were only able to get 1 run across the plate.

The Reds are a very good hitting team, and Frank Makos pitched an excellent game, getting the Game MVP shirt from the Reds. Defensively, Bob Wood made a diving catch in the 1st inning which the umpire called a trap. Warren Feller made a great play at third, moving to his right to grab a ground ball and then turning and firing to get the runner at first by a step. Don Bongiovi also made a nice catch tracking a fly ball down deep in right field.

We are scheduled for a double header on Tuesday, but are looking at torrential rains right now, so I don't know if we will get both games in.

Game 2 - Fresno Stars 10, Lowell Over Thirty 0

We played a double header in Tempe which was delayed 3 hours by rain. We lost the first game to the Fresno Stars 10-0. Again errors killed us. Warren Feller pitched the complete game and he did an excellent job. Frank Makos was the MVP for the 2nd time at Shortstop.

Game 3 - Lowell Over Thirty 7, California Dodgers 6

The second game was a different story. Ronny Perrin took charge on the mound and led the team to a 7-6 nail biter over a Dodger Team from California. Ronny was selected as the Game MVP tossing a 6 run, 7 hit, 7 strikeout complete game for the win. Offensively he went 2 for 3 with a single, triple, sacrifice and walk.

Our other offensive stars were:
Vinny LaCroix - 2 for 2 with a double and a single
John C. Saunders - 2 for 3
Warren Feller - 2 stolen bases

Defensive stars were:
Bob Kyle - Caught complete game after catching 7 innings in first game
Bob Wood - Run-saving diving catch in CF
Ken Rosenfeld - Run-saving diving stop of ground ball up the middle at 2B
Keith Davidson - Big scoop of low throw at 1st base to kill a rally in the 6th inning

Warren Feller has returned home and Tom Bartlett is leaving at noon on Thursday. Everyone else is here until the end. If we play like we can, wan win the next two games which looks like it should be enough to get us in the playoffs. There are 16 teams in our division and 8 will make the playoffs.

And that's all the news that's fit to print!

Game 4 - Sacramento Blue Sox 20, Lowell Over Thirty 7

Well, the news is not good. We had our heads handed to us today, 20-7. The only good thing about it was that no one was injured. The whole game felt like we were in the "Twilight Zone". Bob Kyle was selected as Game MVP. He has been a workhorse behind the plate. Nothing else noteworthy to report about this game, unfortunately.

We did get over to see part of the Over 40's game last night, so that was nice. It was great to see everyone, although over the past two years there are a lot of new faces.

Game 5 - Lowell Over Thirty 14, Portland Wet Sox 14

Our bats finally woke up this game and were able to score 14 runs. Unfortunately, so did the Wet Sox and the game was called for time after 8 innings with the score tied at 14. We were up 7-0 in the 5th, but they scored 9 runs to take the lead. Again, 5 errors enabled them to get back in the game. We came back with 6 runs in the 6th and they scored 1 in the 6th and 3 in the 7th to tie the game. So we went into the 8th inning tied, and scored one run to take the lead. Unfortunately the Wet Sox, also managed an unearned run in the bottom of the 8th, and that's how the game ended.

Vinny LaCroix, pitched a great game and was relieved by Brad Smith, who also pitched very well. Vinny was selected by the other team as Game MVP as he also went 2 for 3 with 2 doubles and an RBI.
Our other offensive stars were:
Frank Makos - 3 for 3, 3 RBI
Ronny Perrin - 3 for 4
Tom Bartlett - 1 for 2, RBI
John C. Saunders - 2 for 3, double, 2 RBI
Brad Smith - 1 for 2, sacrifice, RBI
Ken Rosenfeld - 2 for 3, 2 RBI
Steve Pitta - 2 for 3

Defensively, we had a tough time with the fly ball, losing a number of balls in the sun. The standout defensive players were Keith Davidson, who made some outstanding plays at 1st Base, and Ronny Perrin, who played errorless ball at 3 positions - Catcher, Right Field and Shortstop.

Lowell Over 30 roster

Drew Donahue    OF,C
Ron Perrin    P, IF
Bob Wood    CF, P
John C. Saunders    IF, C, RP
Frank Makos    P, SS
Tom Bartlett    OF
Warren Feller    P, IF
Vin La Croix    3B
Bob Kyle    C
Brad Smith    RP, IF, OF
Steve Pitta    1B, 3B
Keith Davidson    1B
Ken Rosenfeld    2B
Don Bongiovi    RF
John E. Saunders    Manager, IF
Mike Grill    Coach

Some final thoughts from Coach Mike Grill:

This was my first experience with tournament baseball, and it is not like OTB Baseball. Every team that was in the tournament was out to win. While the sportsmanship was generally good, it took a second seat to winning. When a team found another team's weakness, they did everything they could to exploit that weakness. Most teams had a minimum of 15-18 players, and many flew fresh players in later in the week. The players on these teams played other tournaments together as well as regular league games, so they knew each other very well.

So for any OTB Players who are thinking about coming out next year, and I strongly encourage anyone who can to do so as it is a great experience, I strongly suggest the following:

Stay in shape throughout the winter. We play a Major League schedule in the tournament, potentially 8 games in 6 days. Factor in the big difference in climate, and it is the single most debilitating factor affecting a player's ability to perform at 100% throughout the tournament. Ask any of the guys on the Over 30 team. I don't think anyone went home without a sore arm, pulled muscle, bruised hand etc.

Secondly, form the tournament team as early as you can (November is not too soon to start) and then begin practicing together at least a few times a month. This will help tremendously on the defensive side of your game and will also give you enough time to begin putting some money aside (especially if you can't find a sponsor).

Remember that there are teams in the tournament from all over the country and the Caribbean, who are here for just one thing, to win the Tournament Ring. Each Divisional Winner receives a ring which is replicated after the World Series ring. That is why they are here. There is nothing wrong with coming out to have some fun, but most other teams are not out to have some fun.

Despite being a National Tournament, the Umpires are also amateurs and with few exceptions, call the games like amateurs. They are underpaid and overworked (many called 3 or 4 games a day) and pay their own way out from all over the country, so the umpiring is only as good as the effort that each puts forth in to making it so.

Last, but not least is the fact that when you walk out on that field and in the footsteps, where Sammy Sosa, A-Rod, Mark McGwire etc., step each spring, it is one of the most wonderful and humbling baseball experiences an amateur may ever have. I know it is the closest I will ever be to the Major Leagues.

I would like to thank everyone involved for their huge effort. Our record is not reflective of the heart and blood that went in to every inning of every game.

See you next year,
Mike