The annual ECBA summer convention was held in Woodstock, MD June 17-23, 2013, the seventh consecutive at the rural confines of the home of Larry and Sandy Fryer. In attendance were 9 of the 12 league members, to wit:

 

  

L to R: (standing) Al Ringland, Mark Gratkowski, Jim Sebastian, Warren Ringland
 

2^nd Row: Steve Pow, Larry Fryer, Thomas Beltz
 

Back Row: Kevin Fisher, James Beltz
 
 

250 games were played during the week-long festivities, which included the annual wiffle ball homerun derby, East vs. West game, and the presentation of the championship bat from incumbent ECBA champion (James Beltz, T’Runners) to the new (Jim Sebastian, Surf).
 

Per tradition, father and son team, Warren and Al Ringland drove in from Texas, arriving Tuesday at noon, with Californians Jim Sebastian and Kevin Fisher flying in Monday afternoon. Pennsylvania attendees, Jim and Tom Beltz arrived Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Marylanders’ Steve Pow played 35 games on Wednesday and Thursday, prior to departing for his gala 30^th birthday party weekend, and Mark Gratkowski was engaged all week, turning in a stellar 2^nd place finish in the convention standings.
 

Team, Manager	Wins	Losses	Pct.
Jerseys, Warren Ringland	45	30	.600
Mayhem, Mark Gratkowski	30	25	.545
Bootleggers, Tom Beltz	29	26	.527
Sickies, Al Ringland	26	24	.520
T’Runners, Jim Beltz	28	27	.509
Comets, Steve Pow	16	19	.457
Sabres, Larry Fryer	18	22	.450
Fisher Cats, Kevin Fisher	33	42	.440
Surf, Jim Sebastian	25	35	.417

 

Team	Wins	Losses	Pct.	GB
Trailrunners	68	42	.618
Comets	43	32	.573
Sabres	68	52	.567	5
Bootleggers	68	62	.523	10
Mayhem	62	73	.459	18.5
Mass Maniacs	48	112	.300	45

 

Team	Wins	Losses	Pct.	GB
Jerseys	59	41	.590
Sickies	53	42	.558	3.5
Skanks	30	30	.500	9
Fisher Cats	52	58	.473	12
Surf	48	62	.436	16
Fan Four

 

With a full week of brotherhood and 250 games, it is difficult to choose from the many highlights as THE best. However, the Maryland Mayhems’ consecutive scoreless streak of 38 innings being quickly matched by Jim Beltz’s powerhouse Trailrunners, was one. In the midst of this streak, brother Tom noted Jim was so affected, he was “shaking his head like an old man”, as Tom mimicked the behavior to the delight of those in the basement at the time. In honor of this “feat”, Jim Beltz was presented with a bobblehead doll in his likeness. Jim (aka Willie Lutz) exclaimed, “How come I get this, Mark did it too!”

                                               

In the 2013 wiffle ball homerun derby, Jim Beltz ousted the 2012 champion, Larry Fryer in the finals by a hefty 12-4 margin.

The West beat the East 7-6 in four innings, with Kevin Fisher hitting a 3-run homer in the 4^th. Mark Gratkowski blasted two homers for the East in a losing cause. Warren (Wilbur Wood) Ringland fanned 8 batters in his four innings of work.
 

Pictured below is Jim Beltz, sporting the homerun derby champion’s Burger King crown.

 

 

Other highlights of the convention included the previously mentioned Mayhem scoreless streak. After winning 20 of his first 30 games against the West, the Mayhem were swept by the Boots, incurring the 38 inning consecutive scoreless streak. While statisticians demanded a tie-breaker by thirds of innings in comparing the T’Runners later accomplishment, we now know the “people’s choice” went to Jim Beltz.
 

Equipped with not one, but two iPads for the convention, Kevin Fisher was aptly nicknamed, “iPad Man.”

It was another sublime week of brotherhood for the longest running (39 years) PBM league in the country! Begun in 1974, the ECBA continues as the premier Strat-O-Matic league in the world.