Congratulations to the 2023 Philadelphia Wolves Fall Ball Champions

(Standing: Dan Ciecka, Devin Mood, Rob Grabel, Bruce Leto, Greg Dellavecchio, Pat Dunn, Ryan Austin, Matt Edelman, Sam Oliver, Steve Mercogliana
Kneeling: Paul Cotler, David Fred, Steve Gallagher, Ricky Tull, Marquis Sutton)

The Wolves would like to dedicate this championship season to loved ones who are battling or have recently passed. 

2023 S.J.M.S.B.L. Fall Ball East Division Championship Roster
#99 Ryan Austin - 1B
#35 Dan Ciecka - P/1B
#14 Paul Cotler - C
#12 Greg Dellavecchio - OF
#17 Pat Dunn - C
#31 Matt Edelman - P/1B/OF
#11 David Fred, Jr. - OF
#10 Steve Gallagher - P/SS
#52 Rob Grabel - P/1B/2B/OF
#27 Bruce Leto, Jr. - P/SS/OF
#20 Steve Mercogliana - IF
#28 Devin Mood - 3B/OF
#24 Sam Oliver - 2B/3B/SS
#34 Ryan Schaming - P/C/IF
#15 Brian Smart - OF
#11 Marquis Sutton - OF
#21 Ricky Tull, Jr. - P/2B/3B

Manager Rob Grabel
Player/Coach Bruce Leto, Jr.
Assistants/Other Personnel Ryan Austin, Dan Ciecka, Steve Mercogliana

2023 Season

The 2023 SJMSBL regular season has officially concluded, and the Philadelphia Wolves finished in first place in their first seaosn in the league. The team went 13-4 in the Mid Week Semi-Pro Division The Wolves had a mini bye into the semi-finals of the playoffs. They took on the Philadelphia Athletics, who defeated the Corinthians in the 4v5 Wild Card Game Monday, July 24th.

Game 1 of the semi-finals was played Tuesday, July 25th at Deere Field. The Wolves lost in crushing fashion, surrendering a 5-3 lead to the Athletics, eventually losing 8-6 after a rough 5th inning. The bats did what they could to come back, but it was too little, too late.

Game 2 was played Wednesday, July 26th at Notre Dame Field in Delran and the Wolves came back in dramatic fashion. The Athletics got out to a 2-1 lead and eventually growing the lead to as many as 7 runs, 8-1. The Wolves clawed their way back, nehind strong pitching from Walmsley, Leto and Fresta. They came back to make it a 1 run game in the top of the 6th inning before scoring the go ahead run in the top of the 7th on a Paul Cotler single. Another two runs scored on a wild pitch during an at bat where the A's pitcher tried to stall in order for the game to be called for darkness. The Athletics' efforts were all for naught, as the Wolves won 12-8, with Louie Fresta shutting the door in the bottom of the 7th inning in less than 5 minutes, as the umpires would have likely called the game for darnkess and reverted the score back to what it was at the end of the 6th, in essence, eliminating the Wolves on a complication.

Game 3 was played Monday, July 31st at Lindenwold Sports Complex. In a classic pitchers duel, Sean Ahrens and Steve Gallagher each went the distance, as the A's edged out the Wolves, 3-2 in a highly competitive game 3. The A's scored their runs on timely hits and defensive miscues from the Wolves, and the Wolves' late rally was cut short as the tying run was stranded on third base, winning run on second, on a 2-2 swinging strikeout.

All in all, while disappointing, the 2023 season can be looked at from a few different angles. Few will deem it a success, but there is plenty to build on. Setting a single-season record for wins (14) and getting a bye into the playoffs, the Wolves were the favorite to win the championship, but just came up short. In spite of this, the team boasted nine all star nominations (Cotler, Dellavecchio, Dunn, Gallagher, Gemberling, Oliver, Powlus, Schaming, Smart), the league leaders in innings pitched (Gallagher), ERA (Gallagher), saves (Powlus), extra base hits (Dunn) and home runs (Dunn). Patt Dunn took home team MVP and Silver Slugger, batting .500 on the season. Steve Gallagher and Bruce Leto won their second consecutive Pitcher of the Year and Infield Gold Glove award(s), respectively. Newcomers Brian Smart and Zach Gemberling took home Rookie of the Year and Outfield Gold Glove honors.

The team boasts a lot of accolades but is searching for that elusive third championship entering Fall Ball. They will be given the chance to defend their 2022 Fall Ball championship beginning Sunday, September 10th, 2023 at Berlin AA Field at 9:00AM as they take on the Dirt Bags. Manager Rob Grabel will be taking a back seat this fall, stepping out of Center Field and into the coaching box and dugout to manage the team. He has high expectations for his club, boasting arguably the deepest roster in team history.

The Wolves are also entering into the NABA Labor Day Tournament in Atlantic City, managed by Bruce Leto. Their first game being Saturday, September 2nd. The tournament will consist of 4 teams who will all face each other once in round robin play. The #1 seed will be awared a bye into the championship Sunday at 4:00 The wolves will face Nutmeg State Baseball and Teaneck Titans on September 2nd at Somers Point Field, followed by the Springfield Giants on Sunday the 3rd at Margate Field. If they qualify, the semi-final game will be played Sunday at 4:00 at Margate Field and the championship, Monday September 4th at 8:30AM at Margate Field.

We wish the team the best of luck in both the 2023 NABA Labor Day Tournament and 2023 SJMSBL Fall Season! For updates, follow us on twitter @PhilaWolves and on Instagram @philadelphiawolvesbaseball

2023 Outlook

The Wolves are coming off of their first full year of baseball post-covid. The boys won two championships in 2022. The Wolves were 13-0 in P.A.B. and 11-1 in S.J.M.S.B.L. Fall ball. As the focus shifts to 2023, the Wolves participated in a pre-season tournament (B.O.C.), posting an overall record of 3-1 and winning the final over the Philadelphia A's, 8-0 behind a complete game shutout from Steve Gallagher, last Fall's Most Outstanding Pitcher.

The team welcomes back a majority of the Fall roster, with two players returning after a brief hiatus. Also joining the team are a half dozen newcomers. The opening day 2023 roster will be led by Rob Grabel and Bruce Leto, Jr. as it has for the last few years. Pat Dunn returns after taking a season off. Tony Verdecchio, Chris Kirk, Paul Cotler, Enrique Nunez and Brian Smart join the fold as newcomers for 2023. Most of the 2022 team is returning, led by award winners David Fred, Jr. (Fall Gold Glove), Greg Dellavecchio (Fall Silver Slugger), Matt Edelman (Fall Championship MVP), Steve Gallagher (Fall Most Outstanding Pitcher), George Klein (Spring Gold Glove), Dylan Powlus (Spring Rookie of the Year) and Robert Walmsley (Spring MVP and Playoff MVP). Former Jays Ryan Austin and Sam Oliver return for their second year with the Wolves. James Clark and Szymon Cymbalski are back for another year, both of whom are great temmates and glue guys. Seasoned veteran Dave Harris will be embarking on his fourth season witht he team and Ryan Schaming, a valuable member of the 6 headed monster of a rotation the Wolves boast for 2023, will once again be wearing the green and silver.

The Wolves will be debuting in a new division, joining the Semi-Pro division of the South Jersey Mens Semi Pro Baseball League (S.J.M.S.B.L.), a league which the team has played in twice. A schedule will be released after the mid-April league meeting, and more details regarding the season will be soon to follow.

Congratulations to the 2022 Philadelphia Wolves on winning their second championship of the year!

(Standing: Greg Dellavecchio, Michael Samarco, Robert Walmsley, Zack Crosby, Matt Edelman, Mark Franchetti, Szymon Cymbalski, Geoff Smith, Samuel Oliver, James Clark, Ryan Austin, Bruce Leto, Dan Ciecka, Ryan Schaming
Kneeling: George Klein, Nick Nahrwold, Rob Grabel, David Fred, Mike Amoriello, Dylan Powlus, Steve Gallagher)

The Wolves completed the 2022 South Jersey Men's Semi-Pro Baseball season 11-1, including two playoff wins and a second consecutive championship! After falling in the 2021 SJMSBL Semi-Finals at the hands of Jersey Jays, the eventual league-runner up, the Wolves excorcised their demons of playoffs past and beat the Mount Ephraim Indians 12-2 in the Semi-Finals and the Clayton Angels 4-3 in the Championship!

Steve Gallagher toed the rubber in both games and delivered an excellent performance in Sunday's thriller of a 4-3 win. He spun a 4 hit gem over 6 1/3 innigns befgore giving way to equally impressive Dylan Powluis who finished the final 2 2/3 innings strong, allowing 2 runs (1 inherited) to score and keeping the Wolves in the game.

The real story of Sunday's win was the offense, particularly late in the game. Once the Angels' starting pitcher was lifted, the floodgates opened for the resilient Wolves, who scratched across a run in the 8th on a throwing error by the Angels Catcer which allowed Nick Nahrwold to score from third after David Fred, Jr. (pinch-running for James Clark, who pinch hit for Ryan Schaming, who pinch hit for Rob Grabel...it was a complicated 10 spot Sunday) stole second on the first pitch he was able to. This pulled the Wolves even after being held scoreless since the bottom of the 1st (Leto score on error). In the bottom of the 9th, with the deficit at 1, the Wolves clawed back into it and won. The inning began with Greg Dellavecchio reaching on an E6, continued with a Ryan Austin single and Rob Walmsley walk. Sam Oliver hit a chopper in front of the plate which turned into a double play. The Wolves, on their final of 9 lives, continued the rally on a scary Nick Nahrwold HBP, followed by a bases loaded HBP of Dylan Powlus and finally a pinch-hit, 2 out, full count, bases loaded game winning RBI single into left center off the bat of Matt Edelman, playing hero in the final game of his first season as a Wolf.

The Wolves dominance this season was aided by a division-best +68 run differential (107 Runs For, 39 Runs Against), made possible by the pitching staff and potent lineup. The staff, led by Steve Gallagher (1.72 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 6.63 K:BB) and Dylan Powlus (3.14 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 4.17 K:BB) had a league-best 2.61 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 3.52 K:BB ratio. They led the league in strikeouts with 109 and wins, of course, with 11.

Offensively, the Wolves slugged to a slash line of .318/.448/.422, which, if other teams correctly tallied H/FC/ROE, we'd be able to accurately rank, but are unfortunately unable to. I'ts best to assume the Wolves offense was the undisputed best unit in all of SJMSBL Fall Ball as they were second in runs scored with 107 to a team that played 8 more innings offensively than the Wolves did (due to mercy rule victories on the Wolves' behalf). Three Wolves hit .400 or higher (Brue Leto .459, Nick Nahrwold .444, Sam Oliver .407). An additional seven posted averages of .333 or higher (Ryan Austin .393, Greg Dellavecchio .387, Dyan Powlus .357, Michael Samarco .353, Rob Walmsley .353, George Klein .333). Eight Wolves posted an OPS of .900 or higher (Sam Oliver 1.151, Rob Walmsley 1.147, Nick Nahrwold 1.139, GregDellavecchio, 1.090, Bruce Leto 1.080, Dylan Powlus 1.071, Ryan Austin .933).

The Wolves slugged six home runs (Clark, Klein, Walmsley, Dellavecchio, Oliver, Samarco) and tallied 25 total extra base hits.

Defensively, the team had a .948 fielding percentage on 309 chances. Mark Franchetti, David Fred and George Klein led the way. George Klein was the only player with 10+ chances and 0 errors. There was only one error made by players who had fewer than 10 chances in the field.

As stated in the 2022 Summer championship post, many championships will follow, and the 2022 Fall Wolves are now enshrined in that territory forever. This Fall's champions are listed below

Congratulations to the 2022 Philadelphia Wolves Fall Roster

Manager Bruce Leto, Jr.
Bookkeeper Rob Grabel
Asisstants/Other Dan Ciecka, Ryan Austin, Mike Amoriello

#19 Mike Amoriello - C/OF
#99 Ryan Austin - 1B/2B/SS
#8 Andy Bender - C
#35 Dan Ciecka - P/1B
#7 James Clark - P
#4 Zack Crosby - P
#29 Szymon Cymbalski - 3B/OF
#12 Greg Dellavecchio - OF
#31 Matt Edelman - P/1B/OF
#44 Mark Franchetti - 1B
#11 David Fred, Jr. - SS/OF
#3 Steve Gallagher - P
#52 Rob Grabel - P/1B/2B/3B/OF
#6 Dave Harris - 2B/3B/SS
#45 George Klein - P/2B/3B
#27 Bruce Leto, Jr. - P/SS
#5 Nick Nahrwold - C/OF
#24 Samuel Oliver - 2B/3B/SS
#2 Dylan Powlus - P/OF
#10 Michael Samarco - OF
#34 Ryan Schaming - P
#36 Robert Walmsley - P/3B

Congratulations to the following players who were 2022 SJMSBL Fall Ball team award winners and finalists

11-1 S.J.M.S.B.L Champion Philadelphia Wolves

S.J.M.S.B.L does not hold voting or nomination for any awards in the Fall season.

The Wolves held a team-wide vote for team awards. Each player was asked to nominate two candidates for each award. For each award, players were asked to pick a first and second place nominee. First place nominations were worth 6 points and second place nominations were worth 3 points. Second and third place vote-getters will be named finalists, with anyone else receiving votes also recognized. 

Playoff award winners were solely chosen with managers' discretion.

2022 Fall Ball Team Award Nominees

Most Valuable Player
Winner - Dylan Powlus
Finalists - Bruce Leto, Jr; Greg Dellavecchio, Steve Gallagher, Rob Grabel, Sam Oliver
Others Receiving Votes - Ryan Austin, George Klein
(4 way tie for third, resulting 5 finalists instead of 2)

Cy Young
Winner - Steve Gallagher
Finalists - Dylan Powlus, James Clark
Others Receiving Votes - Dan Ciecka, Robert Walmsley

Silver Slugger
Winner - Greg Dellavecchio
Finalists - Bruce Leto, Jr; George Klein
Others Receiving Votes - Ryan Austin, Sam Oliver, Robert Walmsley, Michael Samarco

Rookie/Newcomer of the Year
Winner - Mike Amoriello
Finalists - Greg Dellavecchio, Steve Gallagher, James Clark
Others Receiving Votes - Nick Nahrwold, Matt Edelman
(2 way tie for third, resulting in 3 finalists instead of 2)

Infield Gold Glove
Winner - Bruce Leto, Jr.
Finalists - Mark Franchetti, Dave Harris
Others Receiving Votes - Mike Amoriello, Sam Oliver, George Klein, Rob Grabel, Nick Nahrwold

Outfield Gold Glove
Winner - David Fred, Jr.
Finalists - Rob Grabel, Dylan Powlus
Others Receiving Votes - Matt Edelman, Nick Nahrwold, Michael Samarco, Greg Dellavecchio

Congratulations to the following players who were 2022 Spring/Summer team and league award winners and finalists

13-0 P.A.B. Champion Philadelphia Wolves

Each of the 6 teams in P.A.B. nominated 1 player for each of the league-wide awards, which will be voted on by the players and managers of the league. Winners have yet to be announced

The Wolves held a team vote for team awards, with one player winning and as many as three additional players named as finalists.

League Award Nomineees
Most Valuable Player - Robert Walmsley
Cy Young - Zack Crosby
Rookie of the Year - Dylan Powlus
Infield Gold Glove - George Klein
Outfield Gold Glove - Rob Grabel
Manager of the Year - Rob Grabel

Team Award Nominees

Most Valuable Player
Winner - Zack Crosby
Finalists - Robert Walmsley, David Cage, Bruce Leto, Jr.
Others Receiving Votes - Pat Medycki, Rob Grabel

Cy Young
Winner - Robert Walmsley
Finalists - Dylan Powlus, Zack Crosby
Others Receiving Votes - None

Rookie/Newcomer of the Year
Winner - Dylan Powlus
Finalists - David Cage, Pat Medycki
Others Receiving Votes - None

Infield Gold Glove
Winner - Joe Mortimer
Finalists - George Klein, Bruce Leto, Jr.
Others Receiving Votes - Trae Jordan, Dave Harris, David Cage

Outfield Gold Glove
Winner - Rob Grabel
Finalists - Pat Medycki, David Fred, Jr.
Others Receiving Votes - None

Congratulations to the 2022 Philadelphia Wolves on winning the first championship in team history!

(In order of their heads: David Fred, Dylan Powlus, John O'Hara, Ryan Schaming, Dave Harris, Joe Mortimer, Sam Oliver, Rob Grabel, Pat Dunn, James Clark, Ryan Austin, Bruce Leto, David Cage, George Klein, Robert Walmsley)

The Wolves completed a perfect season, finishing 13-0! The season culminated earlier this afternoon with a thrilling 12-11 win in game 2 of the championship series over the Kensington Royals. The Wolves collectively would like to thank PAB and commissioner Calvin Washington for eveything they did this summer, as well as the other teams in the league for a competitive, fun season. 

Congratulations to the 2022 Champion Philadelphia Wolves. Many championships will follow, but there will forever only be one team that can say that they did it first. The champions are listed below.

Managers Rob Grabel and Bruce Leto, Jr.
Asisistant Coaches Geoff Smith and John O'Hara
Bookkeeper Selena Roman

#16 Ryan Austin - 1B
#18 David Cage - P/C/SS/OF
#21 James Clark - P/1B
#13 Zack Crosby - P/1B/OF
#17 Pat Dunn - C
#11 David Fred - 2B/SS/OF
#52 Rob Grabel - P/IF/OF
#6 Dave Harris - 2B
#3 Trae Jordan - C/OF
#16 George Klein - P/2B/OF
#7 Bruce Leto, Jr. - P/C/2B/SS/OF
#26 Pat Medycki - 2B/OF
#22 Joe Mortimer - P/IF
#24 Sam Oliver - 2B/3B
#8 Dylan Powlus - P/OF
#10 Ryan Schaming - P/1B/3B
#36 Rob Walmsley - P/3B
#2 Chris McGuire - P/1B
#27 Rob Tomkinson - LF

A special congratulations to David Fred Jr, Rob Grabel, Chris McGuire, Pat Medycki, Joe Mortimer and Geoff Smith; the only 5 players left from the Wolves inaugural season in 2017. Furthermore, we congratulate Pat Medycki, Rob Grabel, Chris McGuire and Joe Mortimer, who were on the 2-22 and 1-23 teams in 2015 an 2016, before the re-brand. This championship must feel pretty sweet for them. As the old saying goes, you must first learn to lose before you learn how to win.

Credit is also due to Luis Rosario, who co-managed in 2017 and 2018. Without him, the Wolves would have been another name, and possibly wouln't have existed.

One more special shoutout to Chuck Benner, Sr. who managed the team (pre-wolves re-brand) from 2013 to 2016. Without him, there quite literally wouldn't have been a team, meaning there wouldn't have been a Wolves inception in 2017.

With this 12-11 win on Sunday, August 14th, 2022, the Wolves' lifetime record is officially over .500 for the first time since the fourth game (win at home vs. Cardinals) of the inagural 2017 season, when they were 2-1-1. The Wolves lifetime record now stands at 44-43-7.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @PHILAWOLVES

The Wolves are proud to announce they will have 7 representatives at this year's All Star Game, as well as one alternate. This year's all stas were voted on by the players and coaching staff. 

The Wolves would like to congratulate the following players:

LHP Dylan Powlus - 15 votes

CF Rob Grabel - 14 votes

IF/RHP Bruce Leto, Jr. - 13 votes

RHP Rob Walmsley - 11 votes

IF/OF Pat Medycki - 8 votes

3B Joe Mortimer - 6 votes

OF/LHP Zack Crosby - 6 votes

1B/RHP James Clark (Alternate)

2B George Klein (Alternate)

IF/OF David Fred (Injury Replacement)

The team will be well represented in all facets of the game. The All Star Game will be played Sunday, August 28th at Frawley Stadium in New Castle County, Delaware, home of the Wilmington Blue Rocks. Join us in wishing luck to our 2022 all stars

The Philadelphia Wolves returned to competitive baseball in Autumn of 2021 after a 2 year absence due to Covid and reached the Semi-finals of the South Jersey Men's Semi-Pro Baseball League (SJMSBL) before untimately falling to the eventual league runner-up Jersey Jays. It was a successful season with yet another bittersweet conclusion. The team's playoff streak has reached an organization-high 3 years.

For a team starved of late-season success, the Wolves enter a new league in 2022 with championship aspirations. The new look 2021 rotation returned Ricky tull, Bruce Leto, Zack Crosby and Rob Tomkinson and was bolstered by newcomers Rob Walmsley, Ryan Schaming, George Klein, Dan Ciecka and Dave Tokarchik. A few have moved on but the 2022 pitching staff is as fierce as ever, boasting 2021 holdovers Walmsley, Schaming, Crosby, Leto and Tomkinson, while being joined by newcomers Dylan Powlus and David Cage, aswell as the return of Wolves original Chris McGuire, who is still among the team's all time leaders in innings pitched and games started.

The team shined in the Fall on the defensive side of the ball. The club returns 3/4 of its infield from last season, having only lost Ricky Tull. 2021 newcomers Dave Harris and GeorgeKlein aim to solidfy the 2B position, while Mark Franchetti, Joe Mortimer and Bruce Leto return at 1B, 3B and SS, respectively. Trae Jordan joins the fold this Spring as the team's new starting Catcher. The Outfield also remains generally the same, as Rob Grabel aims to anchor things in CF, flanked by any combination of Zack Crosby, Rob Tomkinson, David Fred and the returning Pat Medycki in the corners. Geoff Smith returns as head athletic advisor, bookkeeper and base coach.

The 2022 season presents many challenges with a large roster and many additions and subtractions, but adversity breeds champions. The Wolves' 2022 campaign begins Sunday, april 24th at 4PM at Tarken Rec, where they will face the Kensington Royals.