Last weekend in Jackson, Michigan was the Greater Michigan APBA Baseball Tournament, one of the premier regional tournaments in the country. Pastor Rich Zawadzki is the heart and soul behind GMABT and from what I hear, he hosts a fantastic tourney.
This year, 44 participated in GMABT. Of those, Jeremy Smith came out on top. Jeremy’s 1930 Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the 1967 Philadelphia Phillies managed by Phil Vento.
Congratulations Jeremy!!
Rich sent a press release with all the relevant info about this year’s tournament.
8th Annual Greater Michigan APBA Baseball Tournament
As always, we had a great time on Saturday, March 5, 2022 at Loomis Park Baptist Church for the 8th Annual Greater Michigan APBA Baseball Tournament.
We had 1 “day of cancellation” due to sickness; which as any Tourney Director will tell you can “throw you.” Fortunately, I had prepared for such an eventuality; so, with 2 managers on standby, I was able to fill the cancellation, and give the other standby manager my spot. This was actually great, just being able to handle logistics, answer questions, chat, and not have to worry about squeezing in 8 games.
We started off with Dunkin Donuts Coffee and a local legend, Hinkley’s Donuts. Yum!
We had 44 managers, as well as our GMABT scorekeeper, Stray Corrado. Stray is the oil in the machinery of the GMABT. He makes it run smooth, and makes me look good, which, is not easy.
Just check out the GMABT website.
My wife, Kerry, whom I affectionately call “Blondie,” is THE unsung hero of the GMABT, making absolutely amazing soups, and desserts for all to enjoy, and myself made a total 47.
We had 8 folks (myself included who had attended all 8 GMABTs (They are denoted below with an asterisk).
We had 6 Divisions (4 with 8 teams and 2 with 6 teams), each named along with our theme for a manager whose winning % was .525 or less. All 6 Division Winners Dana Ed to the Playoffs along with 2 Wild Cards (1 from each side of the bracket)
Bill Virdon Division
1. Patrick Cox – 2016 Colorado Rockies (.463)
2. David Wetherbee – 1962 St. Louis Cardinals (.515)
3. Greg Tews – 1977 St. Louis Cardinals (.512)
4. Michael Hernandez – 1973 Atlanta Braves (.472)
5. Zach Zavela – 2016 Houston Astros (.519)
6. Camron Shaffer – 1968 Chicago Cubs (.515)
Dick Williams Division
1. Al Shock – 1930 Detroit Tigers (.487)
2. Robert Mosher – 1985 Montreal Expos (.522)
3. Michael Coon Jr. – 2008 Los Angeles Dodgers (.519)
4. * Randy Egan – 1997 Colorado Rockies (.512)
5. * John Roels – 2005 New York Mets (.512)
6. * Dick Butler – 1947 Cleveland Indians (.519)
7. Dave Rueck – 2006 Houston Astros (.507)
8. * Bob McCurdy – 1967 Atlanta Braves (.475)
Hal Lanier Division
1. Kevin Weber – 1968 Cincinnati Reds (.512)
2. Joe Schall – 1996 Chicago White Sox (.525)
3. Zander Robetoy – 1985 Detroit Tigers (.522)
4. * Jeremy Kelley – 1922 Cleveland Indians (.500)
5. Paul Zeledon – 2005 Florida Marlins (.512)
6. Devin Coon – 1987 Kansas City Royals (.512)
7. Jeremy Smith – 1930 Pittsburgh Pirates (.519)
8. John Gedwill – 1981 Chicago White Sox (.509)
Hank Bauer Division
1. Scott Skellie – 1984 St. Louis Cardinals (.519)
2. * Jack Beckman – 2010 Detroit Tigers (.500)
3. Butch Newton – 1979 Los Angeles Dodgers (.488)
4. Jeffrey Niemi – 2007 Atlanta Braves (.519)
5. Ed Trojanowski – 1997 Houston Astros (.519)
6. Kirk Weber – 2007 Chicago Cubs (.525)
7. Dan Pierce – 1980 Oakland A’s (.512)
8. Michael Coon Sr. – 1987 Cincinnati Reds (.519)
Jack McKeon Division
1. Thomas Tucholski – 2004 Chicago White Sox (.512)
2. Norman Zavela – 2018 Washington Nationals (.506)
3. Phil Vento – 1967 Philadelphia Phillies (.506)
4. James Scherf Jr. – 2014 Toronto Blue Jays (.512)
5. Andy Rumple – 1996 Cincinnati Reds (.500)
6. Ken Krider – 1982 Pittsburgh Pirates (.519)
Ron Washington Division
1. Randy Steinman – 1973 New York Mets (.509)
2. * Ron Emch – 1976 Detroit Tigers (.460)
3. Kyle Daniels – 1970 Chicago Cubs (.519)
4. James Scherf Sr. – 2014 Cleveland Indians (.525)
5. Brian Wells – 2000 Arizona Diamondbacks (.525)
6. Mark Hanisch – 1918 Pittsburgh Pirates (.520)
7. Robert Wininger – 1964 Minnesota Twins (.488)
8. Jim Magnanti – 2010 Colorado Rockies (.512)
Elite Eight
1967 Atlanta Braves (4) – 5
Bob McCurdy
at
1973 Atlanta Braves (1) – 13
Michael Hernandez
1930 Pittsburgh Pirates (3) – 18
Jeremy Smith
at
1997 Colorado Rockies (2) – 5
Randy Egan
2014 Cleveland Indians (4) – 4
James Scherf Sr.
at
1997 Houston Astros (1) – 1
Ed Trojanowski
1967 Philadelphia Phillies (3) – 2
Phil Vento
at
2000 Arizona Diamondbacks (2) – 0
Brian Wells
10 Innings
Final Four
1930 Pittsburgh Pirates (3) – 4
Jeremy Smith
at
1973 Atlanta Braves (1) – 3
Michael Hernandez
2014 Cleveland Indians (4) – 1
James Scherf Sr.
at
1967 Philadelphia Phillies (3) – 4
Phil Vento
Final
8th Annual Greater Michigan APBA Baseball Tournament
Final
1930 Pittsburgh Pirates (3) – 9
Jeremy Smith
at
1967 Philadelphia Phillies (3) – 3
Phil Vento
Congratulations to Jeremy Smith!!!
2023 9th Annual Greater MI APBA Baseball Tournament (GMABT)
Saturday, March 4, 2023
9:00 AM
$25.00 Entry Fee
$20.00 Cancellation Fee
Loomis Park Baptist Church
2301 North Elm Road
Jackson, MI 49201
Theme: Revealed on Monday, March 7, 2023
With affection and gratitude,
Pastor Rich Zawadzki
Congratulations again, Jeremy! And nice work Rich and Stray! Both of you have contributed a lot to the APBA community! Thank you!
photo credit: Pastor Rich
