The 2024 Codger season ended on a sour note for the Crabapples Restaurant (CA)
team and Coach Gary MacDonald. But after a great 2025 spring draft the CA team rolled
right into the regular season and ripped off four straight victories on their way to
capturing the league title with a stellar15-6 record. This secured Crabapples the number
one seed in the playoffs where they took down NH Swain Builders by the score of 14-4.
Meanwhile Falmouth Toyota secured the number two seed and they defeated East End
Tap by the score of 19-11. In round two the Apples were shining bright as they dissected
Mulcahy Family Chiropractic for a resounding 17-2 win. Toyota kept pace with CA as
they battled it out with the On The Water team and came out on top, sinking OTW by the
score of 15-11. Both Crabapples and Toyota were sitting pretty in the winner’s bracket
with 2-0 records. The teams faced off on August 28 th with some high stakes; the winner
would advance to the finals and the losing team would drop into the elimination bracket.
It was a well-played game but it was Toyota who had their engine fine-tuned as they just
cruised by Crabapples by the score of 11-8. Toyota got off to a great start in their big win
as they scored five runs in the first. Leadoff hitter Peter Killelea started it with a double,
Brian Faria and Mike Faria followed with singles. George Brennan had a double and
Carl Milde finished off the 5-run inning with an RBI single. They increased their lead to
6-2 as John led off with a single and Tim Nolan moved him around with a hit. Peter
Cahill also had an RBI single. They increased their lead to 8-2 in the third with a huge
two out rally. Peter “K” singled, and then Brian and Mike Faria had RBI hits.
Crabapples countered with four runs in the bottom of the 3 rd but Toyota got one back in
the 4 th to make it a 9-6 score. In the bottom of the 6 th Crabapples cut the lead to 9-8. In
the top of the 7 th Toyota got to important insurance runs to increase the lead to 11-8 on
hits by John Muckstadt, Mike Faria and “Hutch” to close out the scoring and the game.
Crabapples regrouped from that tough loss and slugged their way to a big win over On
The Water, the score was 19-13 as both teams gave it their all. Crabapples win advanced
them into the championship finals where they would face a tough task; to be the 2025
champs they would have to defeat Toyota twice to win the double elimination tourney.
Game one of the finals was on September 9 th and Crabapples showed they just
might have the firepower to win it all as they pounded out a 17-5 win over Toyota.
Going into the bottom of 4 th inning Toyota was clinging onto a 3-2 lead. That’s when
Crabapples exploded for seven straight hits and a walk to score the 5 runs per inning limit
allowed in senior ball without even making an out. Quite an impressive run. Leadoff
hitter Angelo Tracanna started off the big rally with a hit and Sean Obeirne also got a hit,
Martin Lara then walked to load the bases. What followed was four straight hits as Doug
Bigham, Keith Baker, Steve Senior and Gary MacDonald all had hits. Rob Blomberg
then finished it off with another base knock to drive in the 5 th run that gave his team a 7-3
lead. Toyota answered back with two runs to cut the lead to 7-5 in the top of the 5 th .
Those three runs however did not slow down Crabapples as they sliced and diced their
way to another five run inning to build their lead up to 12-5. Bruce Eaton started it this
time as did Andy Winters, both had hits. After a fielder’s choice out Crabapples had five
more hits and another walk to knock Toyota down to the canvas. Angelo, Sean and
Martin all had hits. Toyota was forced to walk the dangerous lefty slugger Doug
Bigham. Keith and Steve both made them pay as they rapped out hits. This time it was
Steve who drove in the 5 th run to end the inning. In the 6 th the Crabapples defense
clamped down and put the boot on Toyotas tire as they did not score. Crabapples
continued to chomp down on Toyota like an Alaskan King Crab as they put up another
five-run inning to take a commanding 17-5 lead. This time it was player-coach Gary Mac
who started the big rally with a walk. After a fielder’s choice out, three straight hits came
off the bats of Bruce, Andy and Dave. Toyota got the 2 nd out but just could not close the
door as Sean and Martin drew walks. Doug finished it off as he drove in the 5 th and final
run. Unfortunately for Toyota they could not get anything going in the top of the 7 th and
Crabapples closed out the big win by the score of 17-5. Since this was a double
elimination playoff it set up the deciding “If” game. As in “If” the undefeated team loses
the first game in the finals, it forces a winner take all second game. So on to the “If”
game we will go!
After 84 regular season games and another 14 intense playoff games it all came
down to one measly game, one more game for all the marbles. Or in this case one game
for the glory and joy of raising the Cape Codger perpetual trophy. Cause let’s face it,
nobody’s playing for marbles - most of us seniors have already lost a good portion of our
marbles! The championship final took place on Wednesday September 10th .
Crabapples was the home team and took the field feeling confident they could
carry over their momentum from their 17-5 win and hold down the powerful Toyota bats
for a second straight night. The first inning went according to plan as SS Doug Bigham
snared a hot grounder and threw out the runner at 1B as Jim Boushell made the grab. The
second batter hit a vicious line drive that Keith Baker gloved for the 2nd out. Toyota then
got a big hit, a triple from Brian Faria. The next batter cracked another shot to the hot
corner, with at Keith 3B, he fielded it and made the throw to first baseman Jim “B” who
had to come off the bag but made a nice tag to get the runner for the 3 rd out. The
Crabapples defense was sure on point to start the game. But just as they did in the
previous game Crabapples got off to another solid start as Angelo Tracanna and Sean
Obeirne singled. Power hitter Martin Lara received an unintentional “intentional” walk
as Toyota proceeded cautiously and loaded the bases with no outs. It was a good
percentage move but it backfired as SS Doug Bigham made them pay. He launched a
gap shot double that drove in all three runners. Mike Faria then got the first out as he
snagged a line drive headed for center field to save a run. Steve Senior moved Doug over
to third with a single. Gary MacDonald then punched an RBI single into right field to
drive in the 4 th run that gave his team a 4-0 lead. Jim singled but third baseman Ray
Murphy got the 2 nd out and then second baseman Lonnie Lippsett got the 3 rd out on a pop
up. Neither team scored in the 2 nd inning. For Crabapples outfielder Steve Senior caught
the 1 st out, pitcher Rob Blomberg got the 2 nd out on a pop up and third baseman Keith
Baker ended the inning with another catch. Toyota shut down Crabapples in the second
as SS Mike Faria threw a runner out at 1B, as did third baseman Ray Murphy who made
a nice throw to 1B to get the 2 nd out, the 3 rd out was a fly ball to right fielder John
Muckstadt. In the third inning Toyota could still not break through as Andy Winters
caught a fly ball. Ray Murphy hit a line drive to right center but Gary Mac tracked it
down for the 2 nd out. Steve followed that up catching a short fly to right center.
Crabapples added a run in the 3 rd as table setter and leadoff man Angelo singled to left
field. Sean singled and then Martin hit a bullet back to the pitcher Thomas “Hutch”
Hutchinson who made a great play. He knocked it down to get the first out as the run
scored. Lonny Lippsett got the 2 nd out on a force out and “Hutch” made another stellar
play knocking down a grounder and getting the runner out at first. You might say
“Hutch” was the Chef and was letting Crabapples know that the kitchen was closed!
Despite his fine plays after three innings Crabapples increased their lead to 5-1.
If anyone was thinking that Toyota would go quietly into the night they were
WRONG! Toyota threw a haymaker at Crabapples in the top of the 4 th . Two straight hits
by Ed Dibona and John Muckstadt breathed some life into the Toyota offense. Leadoff
hitter George Brennan ripped a line drive to right but Steve Senior was there to make the
catch. Peter Killelea then had an RBI single to drive in a run as did Brian Faria. Up next
was Mike Faria and he came through with a 2-run single to cut the lead to 5-4. John
“Muck” finished off the rally with an RBI single to tie the score at 5-5. We got a ball
game folks! Crabapples responded with a rally of their own as they immediately retook
the lead with two runs. Steve Senior led off with a single and Gary MacDonald followed
with a single with a hard grounder that bounced off an infielder allowing Steve to
advance to third. Then in the bottom of the 4 th Crabapples played some smart situational
ball as they made two productive outs count. Jim Boushell drove in a run with a Sac fly
as did Joe Bradley as they regained the lead at 7-5. Mike Faria shut the rally down as he
snared what looked like a sure line drive base hit up the middle but he made a highlight
reel catch to end the inning.
In the 5 th inning “Hutch” had a leadoff single, but a fly out to right and force out
from Martin Lara to Doug Bigham got the out at second base. The next batter fouled out
to end the inning. Crabapples increased their lead to 8-5 as they pushed across one run.
Bruce Eaton drew a walk to get it going. Andy Winters singled but the next batter forced
Andy out for the first out as Mike Faria made the play. The next batter lined out to Ed
Dibona for the 2 nd out but Sean Obeirne singled in the run to make it 8-5. Mike Faria got
the last out to end the 5th .
Toyota couldn’t get anything going in the 6th inning as Ray Murphy hit a
scorching line drive that Martin Lara made a nice play on for the 1 st out. The 2 nd batter
popped out to first baseman Jim Boushell for the 2nd out as pitcher Rob Blomberg was
keeping the dangerous Toyota hitters off balance. Then Keith Baker made what was
probably the best and toughest catch of the game as the batter hit a pop foul down the
third base line. Keith turned towards the fence in foul territory and with just sheer hustle
and determination he tracked down the ball and made a sensational diving and tumbling
catch as he fell to the ground clutching the ball. An amazing play for sure. That catch
definitely inspired Crabapples as they came off the field with fire in their eyes. That
translated into hits and runs as they picked up four huge insurance runs to build their lead
back up to 12-5. Doug Bigham who had injured his leg just an inning earlier singled. He
was struggling to run but hobbled/limped his way to first base. Just a gutsy performance.
Keith Baker then doubled, setting them up with 2 nd and 3 rd , no outs. Lefty Steve Senior
came through in the clutch with a 2-run RBI single. Gary MacDonald singled to move
Steve over to third and then Jim Boushell joined the party with another RBI single. Joe
Bradley also drove in a run to make it a seven run lead. Rob Blomberg walked but Mike
Faria put an end to the rally as he caught a line drive and then got a grounder for a force
out throwing to Lonnie Lippsett at second base. Mike as usual was everywhere and made
several outstanding plays throughout the game.
It all came down to the last inning as Toyota faced a big deficit, they needed at
least seven runs to tie the game and eight to take the lead. They were certainly capable of
doing it, they just needed to string a bunch of hits together. Crabapples was bracing for a
desperation Toyota rally because they knew there would be no quit from the Toyota
team. Crabapples got the all-important first out as SS Doug Bigham fielded a grounder
and made a good throw to1B despite his injured leg. Leadoff hitter George Brennan then
singled to get the rally going. Peter Killelea then hit a shot to right field that looked like a
solid single but Steve Senior cut it off and fired to 2B for the second out. It was another
huge defensive play for Crabapples. Brian Faria one of the best clutch hitters in the
league then did what he does best, he smashed a double to put runners on second and
third to give his team some life. Mike Faria then drove in Pete with a single. John
Muckstadt then drove in Brian with an RBI single and they had two runs in. They had to
keep it going because they still needed a bunch more. The next batter hit a long fly to left
Field but Sean Obeirne was there to make the catch to end the game. Final score
Crabapples 12 Toyota 7. Toyota put up a good fight but just couldn’t get enough runs as
the Crabapples defense only allowed them to score in two innings, five in the 4 th and two
in the 7 th . They played well but came up five runs short.
Toyota and Crabapples shook hands, congratulated each other on a great season
and then the celebration began for Crabapples! Their first championship since 2021 and it
was well deserved. CONGRATS to both teams!