MBL

Milwaukee Baseball League Playoffs

Championship Weekend Schedule
Saturday, August 18th at 2:30pm at Harden Field in Zablocki Park (37th and Howard): O'Brien's / Milwaukee Harley Davidson v PJ's Royals
Saturday, August 18th at 2:30pm at Zirkel Field in McCarty Park (84th and Cleveland): Leff's / Spancrete v Kasper's

All league managers and players, as well as, the public are asked and invited to attend a game and support our players.

Open Division Championship
O'Brien's / Milwaukee Harley Davidson 12 Johnny V's 2
O'Brien's asserted it's position as regular season division leader by jumping on Johnny V's early, scoring eight times in the first two innings to take control of the match. Leadoff hitter Chris Vogt did what good leadoff hitters do and got on base three times on the day, while clean up man Tim Heling got two knocks and scored three times driving in one. The bottom of the O'Brien's order supplied some of the biggest production with Jason "JP" Peters having two hits and erstwhile gloveman SS Doug Dollhoph getting three hits. Dan Wilfrath went six solid innings allowing five hits and two runs, before giving way to staffmate Jim Veilbaum to closeout. O'Brien's captured a third consecutive Division Championship with the win. Manager "Fireman" Jim Rinelli leads his team to a semi-final match-up on Saturday, August 18 at 2:30pm at Harden Field (Zablocki Park) against the ignited Royals.

Minor Division Championship
Kasper's 7 South Milwaukee 6
In a battle of titans, defending league Champions Kasper's overcame the disadvantages of playing back to back days and being the away team to beat top seeded South Milwaukee Arcade. South Milwaukee struck first scoring three runs in the second on consecutive hits by League MVP candidate Justin Biever, Adam Beiver, Steve Sosalla and Vince Farina. Kasper's kept it close in the third scoring two hits by Tony Landgraf, Rich Galeski and Matt Mundt. Kasper's tied it in the fourth and again in the sixth after South Milwaukee scored in the fifth. South Milwaukee staked a final inning advantage scoring twice in the bottom of the sixth, on consecutive two out hits by Jason Bielejeske, Matt Thomas and Mike Lassard. In the top of the seventh, mid-game substitution Greg Zielonis led off with his second hit and was followed by Matt Mundt who was hit by pitch. Sam Schaar then singled to drive in a run and bring Kasper's within one run. Kasper's capitalized on opportunities and Andy Pergaade's single gave Kasper's a one run lead when he drove in Keith Comp. Tony Landgraf finished what he started and closed out the game for the complete game victory setting down the side in order in the bottom of the seventh. Kasper's goes to the Championship weekend to defend their title on Saturday, August 18th at 2:30pm at Zirkel Field against American Division Champion Leff's / Spancrete.

American Division Championship
Leff's / Spancrete 6 Club Paragon / Milwaukee Sporting Goods 5 (nine innings)
In their second extra inning game in as many days, Club Paragon ran out of gas and succumbed to a strong Leff's team. It took nine hard fought clean innings for Leff's / Spancrete to defeat Club Paragon 6-5. Andy Bartosch scored the winning run on an infield single by Terry Dittrich with two out in the bottom on the ninth. Leff's Jim Plaisted got the win, going six strong innings of relief after a solid start by Ryan Schneider. Leff's moves onto play defending league Champions Kasper's on Saturday, August 18th at 2:30pm at Zirkel Field for a spot in the league championship game.

National Division Championship
PJ's Royals 10 Franklin Barber Plumbing 4
The Royals overcame playing back to back days and away team disadvantage to defeat a deep Franklin team. The Royals offense struck early scoring five runs in the second on five consecutive hits by Scott Rappl, Steve Rappl, Kyle Birchbauer, Steve Zevnik and Mike Paradowski. Adam Miller was solid throughout on the mound for the Royals as he stymied Franklin rallies in the 4th and 5th allwoing only four runs total. Royal's SS Jeremy Kroll and DH Steve Rappl each had two hits, and cornermen Scott Rappl (1b) and Kyle Birchbauer (3b) had three knocks each to lead the balanced offense. The Royals move on to play the top seed remaining O'Brien's / Milwaukee Harley Davidson in match-up of former division rivals on Saturday, August 18 at 2:30pm at Harden Field.

Open Division Semi-Finals
Johnny V's 9 Long Wongs 0
This game was much closer than the final score indicates. After five innings, Johnny V's held a 1-0 lead in a pitching duel between two of the league's best pitchers in V's Mike Gramarossa and Wong's Joe Brand. Gramarossa dealing mostly placed fastballs held Long Wongs potent offense to one hit through five, while Joe Brand had a no-hitter going through five despite the 1-0 deficit against Johnny V's equally potent offense. Johnny V's got some breathing room in the sixth, keyed by Rob Weist's two run scoring single on a liner to right just over the Wong's second baseman. In the bottom of the sixth Long Wong's attempted to rally. Kirk Spano led the inning off with a single. Tom Mortonson then blasted a drive to the deep left centerfield gap, only to have Eric Lubarsky make a great running catch taking away extra bases. Brand then followed with a blast to center that Wiest tracked down on the run again taking away extra bases. In the 7th, past balls, errors and walks, set up Tony Lubarsky to seal the deal for Johnny V's. On a 1-0 pitch, Lubarsky launched a no doubt grand slam home run to the left field power alley. Gramarossa went the distance throwing the 2 hit shutout. Long Wong's season ended at 11-7. Johnny V's advances to play regular season Champion O'Brien's / Milwaukee Harley Davidson.

Minor Division Semi-Finals
Kasper's 12 Colonel Hart's 5
Defending Champion Kasper's controlled the game throughout, although expansion team Colonel Hart's hung around for the first several innings. Kasper's advances to play powerhouse South Milwaukee Arcade in a dramatic match-up of South Milwaukee teams.

American Division Semi-Finals
Club Paragon / Milwaukee Sporting Goods 5 Varsity Club 4 (8 innings)
A valiant pitching effort by Mike Jelecic lead the way for the Phillies playoff win. Not only did he pitch eight complete innings, he slapped a long shot into center, which moved Andy Budd from second to third, and allowed Steve Laabs to drive in the winning run. Club Paragon moves on to face top seeded Leff's / Spancrete.

National Division Semi-Finals
PJ's Royals 10 over Supreme Builders 5
The Royals move on to face regular season division winner Franklin Barber Plumbing.

Final 2007 Manager's Meeting: Sunday, September 23 at 6:30pm at Long Wongs for 90 minutes. We have to discuss league alignment/expansion, budget and select the league team, Pitcher of the Year and MVP.

Potential manager's of new teams for 2008, please plan to attend a December 9th meeting. We are preferrably seeking teams with some geographic identity, for example, a northshore team, southwest side team, southeast side team, an east side team or a Wauwatosa area based team. We'd prefer teams that have links to High School booster clubs or alumni, and access to a diamond to use 2-4 times per year.