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LEGENDS / VINTAGEFOREVER YOUNG

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BY GLENN MILLERRoy Hobbs Baseball

TSP Fire manager Bart Zeller is the Moonlight Graham of the Roy Hobbs World Series.

Thanks to the 1989 film “Field of Dreams,” every baseball fan knows about Graham, who played in one big-league game and did not bat. Graham’s cameo came on June 19, 1905, when he played an inning for the New York Giants.

Few fans likely know about Zeller and his inning in the bigs without an at-bat.

Zeller’s inning came on May 21, 1970. He caught one inning for the St. Louis Cardinals in a game at the Philadelphia Phillies.

“I’m always compared to Moonlight Graham,” Zeller said. “That or Crash Davis.”

Crash Davis was the career minor-league catcher from another baseball

movie, “Bull Durham.”That inning remains a treasured

memory for Zeller. He broke camp with the Cardinals at the end of spring training. For weeks all he did was throw batting practice and warm up pitchers.

Then one day Cardinals Manager Red Schoendienst called bullpen coach Bob Millikin.

“He looked at me and said, ‘You’re in there,’” Zeller, 77, said.

Bart Zeller: One day in the sun

Photo By: Rob GiffenRandy Pavlak, taken down by a stroke in March, returned to the diamond Thursday with his 2017 Kenmore Eastern Brewers teammates and his Cincinnati Colts teammates as well; he threw out the first pitch before their game as his teammates celebrated his appearance and his progress

toward returning to the field.

see ZELLER on page 3

BY GLENN MILLERRoy Hobbs Baseball

Randy Pavlak didn’t play shortstop, bat or run on Thursday after he was wheeled on to Field No. 1 at the PDC.

He wasn’t the winning pitcher. Or the losing pitcher.

No, not from his wheelchair. But his appearance throwing out first pitches to his father Dick and a colleague (Tom Allio) was a monumental triumph. As photos were taken, Christine Pavlak rose from kneeling and kissed her 60-year-old

Randy Pavlak’s 1st pitch just 1 step toward healing

husband on top of his head.Such moments on a sunny Florida

morning seemed unlikely six months ago.

Pavlak suffered a serious stroke on March 15 while driving on I-675 near his Sugarcreek Township, Ohio, home. He was able to pull off on an exit ramp. The retired fire chief and paramedic was saved by the neighboring Washington Township fire department.

What followed was 64 days in a hospital, including the first 18 in intensive

care. His prognosis was uncertain.Yet, on Thursday he was back on

a baseball field. His ability to speak is returning. His strength and mobility are improving.

He’s not playing again but he is in much a better place than he was six months ago.

“It’s good for his morale,” said his 87-year-old father, Dick Pavlak, who started for the Cincinnati Colt .45s against the Kenmore Eastern Brewers.

see PAVLAK on page 6

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STANDINGSLegends DivisionFinal Pool StandingsSeed AAA Division W L PCT RA RA41 Nova Scotia Monarchs 5 0 1.000 11 52 PSOF Rangers 5 0 1.000 26 133 Texas Stars 5 0 1.000 27 194 Huntsville Cardinals 4 1 0.800 17 75 Chicago Knights 4 1 0.800 23 126 Oakville Golden A’s 4 1 0.800 25 137 Windy City Warriors 4 1 0.800 21 148 Summa Ortho Brewers 4 1 0.800 21 169 Cuyahoga Indians 4 1 0.800 42 1610 Omaha Indians 4 1 0.800 31 1711 Lansing Blue Jays 4 1 0.800 40 2212 Orlando Blazers 4 1 0.800 44 2313 St. Louis Patriots Red 4 1 0.800 47 3314 Bahama Breeze Islanders 2 3 0.400 37 2415 *St. Louis Patriots Blue 2 3 0.400 47 2216 *Massachusetts Chiefs 2 3 0.400 41 27

Notes: St. Louis Patriots Blue & Massachusetts Chiefs down from AAAA and seeded at RH Discretion; BB Islanders won 2017 AA and play AAA by rule. Rest of

seed-matchups adjusted per RH Discretion.Seed AA Division W L PCT RA RA41 Staten Island Bombers 3 2 0.600 28 192 Wright Field Reds 3 2 0.600 37 203 Minnesota Bandits 3 2 0.600 30 214 Steel City Hawks 3 2 0.600 33 235 Bergen Yankees 3 2 0.600 37 236 Aurora Islanders 3 2 0.600 46 287 Atlanta Astros 3 2 0.600 47 288 Carolina Rockies 3 2 0.600 50 359 Boston GoodFellas 3 2 0.600 56 3810 Americans Baseball Club 2 3 0.400 21 1511 Baltimore Thunder 2 3 0.400 26 1612 Charlotte Kings 2 3 0.400 42 2213 South Chicago Yaquis 2 3 0.400 41 2314 Carolina Thunder 2 3 0.400 42 2515 Midwest Pirates 2 3 0.400 39 2616 Salem/Pitt Warlocks 2 3 0.400 44 27

Notes: Several matchups adjusted to avoid rematches from earlier in the weekSeed A Division W L PCT RA RA41 Long Island Athletics 2 3 0.400 44 28-142 Banana Sharks 2 3 0.400 44 28-203 New Jersey Railriders 2 3 0.400 43 304 DuPage Indians 2 3 0.400 64 405 St. Louis Grays 1 4 0.200 40 236 Ohio Indians 1 4 0.200 46 257 Chicago Blues 1 4 0.200 54 338 Kodak Reds 1 4 0.200 52 339 Chicago Giants 1 4 0.200 50 3510 Tuscaloosa Tornados 1 4 0.200 60 3511 Pensacola Barracudas 1 4 0.200 57 3812 Minnesota Goats 1 4 0.200 64 49 Non Playoff Teams W L PCT RA Kennebec Cubs 0 5 0.000 51 Michigan Stars 0 5 0.000 58 Rhode Island Waves 0 5 0.000 74 Bridgewater Cardinals 0 5 0.000 83

Vintage Division Final Pool Standings Seed AAAA W L PCT RA RA41 Vintages Baseball Club 5 0 1.000 13 82 MBI Baseball 5 0 1.000 25 173 Sacramento Solons 4 1 0.800 17 94 Minnesota Bees 4 1 0.800 16 125 Washington Titans 4 1 0.800 31 13

Notes: RH made decision to make this a 5-team division. 4-5 play Friday, winner plays 1 Saturday AM, while 2-3 play Saturday AM; Championship Saturday afternoon.Seed AAA W L PCT RA RA41 DHBA Athletics 4 1 0.800 34 242 Youngstown Astros 3 2 0.600 40 213 San Antonio Texans 3 2 0.600 31 214 Michigan Stars 3 2 0.600 42 235 Asheville Sox 3 2 0.600 42 246 Midwest Nine 3 2 0.600 41 257 Maine Woods Baseball 3 2 0.600 56 308 Raynham Baseball Club 3 2 0.600 55 349 TSP Fire 3 2 0.600 48 3510 ASBA Indians 3 2 0.600 48 3611 Nova Scotia Monarchs 3 2 0.600 54 3712 Naturals 3 2 0.600 66 4013 Livingston Dodgers 2 3 0.400 36 2114 USA Volkers Group 2 3 0.400 33 2515 Kent Mudhens 2 3 0.400 45 3216 Toledo McGuire Insurance 2 3 0.400 46 34

Notes: Youngstown Astros seeded 2 by virtue of victory over San Antonio in head-to-head

Seed AA W L PCT RA RA41 North Coast Nationals 2 3 0.400 56 352 Houston Colt .65s 2 3 0.400 55 363 St. Louis Braves 2 3 0.400 55 394 Kenmore Eastern Brewers 2 3 0.400 65 405 Philadelphia Brewers 2 3 0.400 61 446 Potomac Senators 2 3 0.400 71 477 NorCal Antiques 2 3 0.400 67 518 Wilmington NC Thunder 1 3 0.250 63 429 Lehigh Baseball 1 4 0.200 53 3310 Tallahassee Classics 1 4 0.200 52 4011 Cincinnati Colt .45s 1 4 0.200 63 4012 Silver Foxes BB Club of R. I. 1 4 0.200 57 4213 Baltimore Baseball Club 1 4 0.200 69 5314 Philadelphia Gray Rocks 0 5 0.000 65 49

Forever Young Win Loss PCT RASouth Dakota Rushmores 5 0 1.000 18San Diego Padres 4 1 0.800 21Avengers 3 2 0.600 19Tri-Cities 2 3 0.400 37National Spirit 2 3 0.400 38Kent Mudhens 2 3 0.400 53New England Red Sox 1 4 0.200 45New Jersey Cardinals 1 4 0.200 46

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ZELLERcontinued from page 1

Zeller’s mind was racing.“This is really happening,” Zeller

recalls thinking as he prepared to catch the bottom of the ninth.

At the time Zeller was two months shy of turning 29. Surely, he would get a chance to hit. Oh, he had a couple of close calls in the first weeks of the 1970 season when he might pinch hit. Circumstances snuffed out his chances.

It used to bother him not getting to hit. Not now.

“I was so happy that I got in a game,” Zeller said. “I can actually say I played in the big leagues no matter if it was half an inning or a third of an inning.”

His big-league “career” ended June 8, 1970 when he was released. The Cardinals liked Zeller so much they kept him on as a bullpen coach. He played in the minors in 1971, but after being run over by Don Baylor in Rochester his career was over.

“I can still remember that,” Zeller said. “That is a vivid picture in my mind him coming down the third base line.”

That was the end of the line.“What it did for me, said, ‘Hey, you

had your day. You played 9 years. You had your day in the sun but it’s over.”

His day in the sun included that one inning in the bigs.

Not many people can say that.

Photo By: Tom GiffenTSP Fire Manager Bart Zeller intently following the action from his dugout.

LEGENDS AAAA PLAYOFF

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VINTAGE AAAA PLAYOFF

HIGHLIGHTS

see HIGHLIGHTS on page 7

Tuesday 53’s Americans Baseball Club 6, Michigan Stars 4 – TP3 Americans: PITCHING: D. Miller 5.1 IP; R. Henderson 2.2 IP; D. Darrah 1 IP, SV; BATTING D. Miller 2/3, RBI; R. Kluba 2/3, RBI; M. Bobadilla 2/4; L. Hancock 2/4; R. Hogarth 1/4, 2 RBI Wednesday 53’s Americans Baseball Club 5, Chicago Blues 3 – JB2 Americans: PITCHING: R. Hogarth 9 IP, 2 ER, 7 K, CG; BATTING: S. Larussa 2/4, RBI; G. Pack 2/3; R. Kluba 2/3, 2B, 3 RBI 53’s Huntsville Cardinals 11, Chicago Knights 1 – PDC4 Cardinals: PITCHING: G. Dover 4 IP, 2 H, 3 K, 0 ER, W,; J. Sikes 0 H; P. Adams 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R; BATTING: G. Dennis 4/4, 2 3B, 2 RBI; T. Simmons 2/4, R; R. Alvarez 2/2; B. Hill 2 RBI

53’s Oakville Golden A’s 6, Minnesota Bandits 5 – PDC5 A’s: PITCHING: D. Oelke 5 IP, 2 ER; R. Fisher W; T. Lessard SV 53’s Omaha Indians 9, Staten Island Bombers 5 – CL3 Indians: PITCHING: S. Spurgeon 5 IP, 1 H, W; D. Calvert 3 IP, SV; BATTING: A. Cotton 4/5, 2B, 3 RBI; J. Breeling 3/3, RBI, 2 R; B. Peck 2/4, RBI, R; D. Calvert 2/4; J. Neaman 2/3, RBI 65’s Midwest Nine 21, Raynham Baseball Club 16 – PDC4 Nine: PITCHING: J. Johnson 6 IP, 7 ER, 8 H; BATTING: J. Smutnick 6/6 4 RBI, 3 R; L. Sample 3/5, 4 RBI; K. Gregory 4/6, 2 RBI, 2 R; J. Johnson 3/5, 2 RBI, 4 R 65’s TSP Fire 16, Nova Scotia Monarchs 11 – TP-S Monarchs:

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LEGENDS AAA PLAYOFF LEGENDS AA PLAYOFF LEGENDS A PLAYOFF

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Roy Hobbs President Tom Giffen visited Randy Pavlak in June and can see progress.

“Four or five months ago this was a dream,” Giffen said during the ceremony.

Now, the dream is a reality. He was able to toss baseballs a few yards toward his father and another one to former teammate Tom Allio.

“Close to tears in my eyes,” Allio said of catching a pitch from his friend. “I mean I love the guy as a teammate and a friend. He’s a special person. His belief in God is strong and that will sustain him.”

Pavlak is the varsity baseball coach at Dayton Christian High and had been working on building batting cages on the day of the stroke. He was on his way home for tools when the stroke hit.

Christina Pavlak said he suffered a hemorrhagic stroke. According to stroke.org, only 15 percent of strokes are of that variety, but they account for 40 percent of deaths.

Pavlak has come a long way.“He gets better all the time,” Christina

Pavlak said.Day by day, week-by-week, month-

by-month, the improvement continues.“This is just one more step,” Giffen

said during the pre-game ceremony, “in this young man’s return to the field.”

VINTAGE AAA PLAYOFF ViNTAGE AA PLAYOFF PAVLAKcontinued from page 1

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BATTING: R. Knight 3/3; K. Hotchkiss 2/3 65’s Vintages Baseball Club 9, Kent Mudhens 3 – CL6 Mudhens: BATTING: W. Currence 2/3, 2B Thursday 65’s Asheville Sox 13, Houston Colt. 65s 3 – PDC2 Sox: PITCHING: H. Smithson 8 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, W; BATTING: B. Jensen 3/4, 2 RBI; C. Blackburn 3/4, RBI; G. McDonald 3/4, R; S. Pope 3/5, 2 RBI; T. Pressley 3/5, 2 RBI; R. Alexander 1/2, 2 R 65’s Nova Scotia Monarchs 18, NorCal Antiques – CL3 Monarchs: BATTING: R. Knight 2/3, 2B, 3B; J. Morani 2/2

65’s Midwest Nine 13, Philadelphia Brewers 8 - TP-S Nine: PITCHING: L. Bailey 8.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 4 K; BATTING: L. Sample 4/5, 2 R; K. Gregory 2/5, 2 RBI, 3 R; M. Waldner 3/5, 3 RBI; J. Verderber 2/4, 2 RBI, 2 R

HIGHLIGHTScontinued from page 4

VintageAsheville Sox - 13, Houtson Colt . - 3DHBA Athletics - 13, Michigan Stars - 1Kenmore Eastern Brewers - 10, Cincinnati Colt .45s - 4Kent Mudhens - 14, Baltimore Baseball Club - 6Lehigh Baseball - 15, Philadelphia Gray Rocks - 2Maine Woods Baseball - 5, Livingston Dodgers - 3MBI Baseball - 9, Minnesota Bees - 7Midwest Nine - 13, Philadelphia Brewers - 8North Coast Nationals - 15, Tallahassee Classics - 9Nova Scotia Monarchs - 19, NorCal Antiques - 9Potomac Senators - 14, Silver Foxes BB Club of R.I. - 8Sacramento Solons - 16, ASBA Indians – 3San Antonio Texans - 13, Naturals - 3Toledo McGuire Insurance - 17, Potomac Senators - 13USA Volkers Group - 10, Silver Foxes of R. I. - 3Vintages Baseball Club - 8, Raynham Baseball Club - 5Washington Titans - 20, TSP Fire - 9Youngstown Astros - 12, St. Louis Braves - 1

Forever YoungAvengers - 8, National Spirit - 5San Diego Padres - 15, New Jersey Cardinals - 4South Dakota Rushmores - 13, Kent Mudhens - 8Tri-Cities - 10, New England Red Sox - 2

RESULTS

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Welcome to the 30th renewal of the Roy Hobbs World Series.

As the Hobbs internal family talked about what to do to make #30 special, we decided to ask participants – after all you are the ones who make the Roy Hobbs World Series special – why it is special to them.

We received many, many comments and stories, thank you.

Please enjoy …30 30 30 30

Jay Harrington, Wilmington Thunder: Back in 2004 a bunch of us guys had the idea to try and recapture our youth. Mission accomplished!  Being from Boston, the opportunity to play where the Red Sox train – well, does feeling like a kid in a candy store mean anything to you?  WOW!! Thanks for allowing me to play when the umpire says, “PLAY BALL”!

Dick Hill, Maine Boston Braves: When I step across the baseline, I feel as young as the memories that emerge. A big reason for the memories, I am still using the same glove my dad gave me when I started playing at the age of 7. Grammar school, high school, Babe Ruth, prep school, town teams, college, Canadian pro team, Red Sox (minors); back to town teams and Roy Hobbs 55 to 70 years later.  Every November while playing at Roy Hobbs --- the stories shared with other players, are epic. We all relive our greatest moments. Our lives between the lines become vivid again and keep us young.  When is our next hit or great play. It may be on the next pitch. Baseball in November is our fountain of youth. We want to win when between the lines; but when the last out is recorded; more memories have been made and many recalled. But most of us are discussing when is the next game.  I want to be back between the lines.

JD Hinson, Carolina Rockies/Asheville Sox: Baseball has been a major part of my life for the past 48 years.  I enjoy the camaraderie with players from all over the world. I love hearing stories about the positive impact baseball has on so many lives.  I love bringing our baseball team from the mountains of NC to play in this tournament as we continue our quest to win a Roy Hobbs World Series Title.  The Roy Hobbs World Series is important to me because it provides an opportunity for me to continue playing baseball. I enjoy meeting old friends and making new ones as we strive to win games and fulfill our life long dreams.  November is my favorite time of the year and I look forward to all aspects of the Roy Hobbs World Series.

Darryl Johnson, Naturals: As a kid, I loved baseball. Like many, I turned to other forms of recreation when family

and career were priorities. Decades passed. Then in 2006, a Green Bay add appeared announcing a 25+ league was forming. Because I had been a really good softball player, I

thought I’d give it a try. On the phone with the league director, I hyped my abilities to throw, field, and hit. As he was registering me, he eventually asked my d.o.b. It’s 3/1/1945. Suddenly, he paused. So, I stated the obvious...”That’s right, I’m 62”. He then pissed me off by trying to talk me out of playing. Nonetheless, I paid the player fee, and they were obligated to place me on a team. I played every Sunday and had lots of fun, leading the team in hits. Later that summer, I heard about the RHWS. Wondering how I would compete with players my own age, I entered the player pool. The Chicago Spirit contacted me. I have enjoyed making friends from many different

places. Adding new age divisions keeps us returning. Quality fields, nice weather, affordability, 6 championship wins, attentiveness by the staff, memories.  I want to play into my 80’s.