It took three games to settle one semifinal series and two in the other, but the Montgomery 50 & Over Softball League championship matchup is set.

Dragons and Team Camo will meet in a best-of-three championship series after advancing through semifinal play Aug. 29 at Berea Park.

Dragons opened the day against Orange with a tightly contested 1-0 victory in the first game of their best-of-three series. Howie Bauscher delivered the decisive hit, giving Dragons the early advantage in a game dominated by strong defense.

After crediting his team’s defensive effort, Bauscher also praised Orange for its competitive play.

“Hats off to the Orange team, too. They played a great first game, too, and they battled. And in game two, they started with the lead, so hats off to them,” Bauscher said.

Dragons carried that momentum into the second game, but Orange jumped out to a 3-0 lead.

Ron Lewis Jr., who pitched for Dragons, said his team chipped away at the deficit one hit at a time before taking control of the game.

“We prevailed. We went down 3-0 in the beginning of the game. And then, hit by hit, we got ourselves back in the game and never looked back,” Lewis said.

With the series victory, Dragons earned another opportunity to compete for the league championship. The team will now face defending champion Team Camo.

The other semifinal matchup between Camo and Gray also required a deciding game.

Camo took the opening game 7-4, but Gray answered with an 8-3 victory in the second game to force a winner-take-all third game. Camo responded with an 11-5 victory to claim the series and a spot in the championship.

George Hammer, the league’s acting president and one of its on-field umpires, said the competition is only part of what keeps players coming back.

“Being at our age, you like to play the game, and if you can keep playing it, that’s what the fun is, and it’s camaraderie,” Hammer said.
The league also has made efforts to ensure it has a future by allowing younger players to join the older veterans.

Teams may have up to three players ages 47, 48 or 49 on their rosters. Hammer said the adjustment gives the league an opportunity to bring in younger players who can eventually take the place of longtime players when they retire.

“They’ll come, show up every Saturday when they can, and just have fun,” said Hammer, who also plays in a 60-and-over league.

The league’s field at Berea Park is named for Ron “Magic” Lewis, a former team president and pitching standout who continues to maintain the diamond.

Now Dragons and Camo will have a championship to play for.
The two teams will meet in a best-of-three series beginning at 10 a.m. Sept. 12, with Dragons seeking to take the title from the defending champions.