Jun 13, 2009, 1:45 pm
Paladin55’s

The Paladin 55’s led by our own Vince Overfelt (NMSU Grad) have placed themselves as genuine competitors in the MSBL’s National Division  55 Wood Bat.  This year could be the year for yet another National Championship for the Paladin 55’s.  The final and top divisions of MSBL competition are The National Divisions,  they are the pinnacle of amateur baseball divisions.  Winning a National Division Championship truly places a team at the top of the heap.
After winning the National Championship in the American Division Wood Bat in 2007 @ the Phoenix World Series, Paladin 55’s were eligible to enter the invitation only National Division starting in 2008.
2008 started off with a “Kick-Off Classic” tournament Win in Las Vegas (5-0) and a 3rd in the Memorial weekend Las Vegas Open two months later.
This set up a World Series entry into the prestigious National Division at the PHX World Series for 2008 in the mens wood bat division.
To test the waters so to speak, Vince loaded the Paladin 55’s up with a 30+ man roster to see how the Paladin 55’s could compete in this new upper division and to test some new players in an already talented lineup.
The Sacramento Tribe won the National Division World Series in 2008, as the Paladin 55 team made the playoffs and were defeated by a tough Kansas City team.  Paladin 55’s did beat the Champion Sacramento team in regular play but couldn’t get past Kansas City to advance further.
2009 started again with the “Kick Off Classic” in Vegas where the Paladin 55’s made it to the Championship game after defeating a very loaded and talented San Diego Berry’s team 6-2.  Paladin 55’s again faced the National Champions Sacramento Tribe and lost again.
Two months later over Memorial Weekend at the Las Vegas Open, Paladin 55’s Won the Open by defeating a loaded Fogg City (San Francisco) team in 10 innings for the Championship after defeating the San Antonio Rangers the day before.
Now the Paladin 55’s have established themselves as A team to beat to win a National Division tournament in the MSBL.
The Paladin 55 roster carries an array of talent spanning the USA from New York to Seattle.  New Mexico players, Arizona, Texas, Utah, California, Washington State, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and New York City round out the Paladin 55 team geologically.
There are 11 (and soon to be more) New Mexico players on the Paladin 55 team, so New Mexico is where the Paladin 55’s call home.
Vince Overfelt, Steve Neece, Alfredo Martinez, John Barnes, Ray Cordova, Greg Ingwaldson, Lee Hunter, Paul Rizzo, Bob Mele, Darrel Creel, and Tom Beck round out the New Mexico roster.

Jun 12, 2009, 1:21 am
If you plan on playing in Tues and Thurs Night wood bat games make sure you give Vince your $50 for umpires dues. If you play more than 1 game and dont play you may be asked to leave 2nd game. Umpires are only people making money in this wood bat league.