2007
TESCO Earns Third Straight Title



2007 marked another increase in interest as the Glenwood Circuit expanded to ten teams. Right from the start the GBL squads showed that his was going to be a very competitive season. Solid pitching dictated much of the success again this season with several outstanding new wings touring the circuit. The ten team circuit produced one of the most competitive seasons since the switch to wood bats in 2003.

Perennial powers Nagy's Tree Farm, Harrington, ECCA, and the Bison earned playoff spots, while young squads Miller's Erie Hard Chrome and Knox Law made solid strides and won a few big games. Rookie Squad Akerly Towing managed a couple big upsets and set the stage for a bright future in the GBL. New entrant Butera's Towing from the Jamestown/Dunkirk region of New York showed right away that they entered the league to play, earning a second place regular season finish as well as a trip to the Championship Series in their inaugural year. In the end it was the veteran TESCO squad that overcame a shaky start to claim the Regular Season Pennant as well as the team's fourth League Title.

Akerly Towing entered the league as the youngest squad and managed a 6-12 record including upsets against powerhouses Nagy's Bulls and Butera's. Miller's Erie Hard Chrome earned a deceptive 6-11 record, and was in the hunt until the final weeks of the season. Knox Law made some serious strides with the addition of several young players and a couple veteran performers. The Lawmen finished at 7-11, just out of the final wild card spot.

The Bison finished the regular season with a 9-9 mark and fell in the wild card series despite a one game lead to the Bulls. Bison Head coach Tim Campbell was named Skipper of the Year for his work leading the second year squad into the post season. ECCA Payroll Services returned to the postseason for the third straight year and earned a 10-8 regular season mark to capture the first wild card spot. ECCA Slugger Dave Gnacinski was voted the league's Most Valuable Player for his outstanding season. Dave led the league in Home Runs, RBI's and Batting Average with a mark of .474 to also secure his first batting title. ECCA fell in a close series with Harrington in the Wild card Series.

Harrington Industrial Laundry, in its eighteenth season, earned a 11-7 mark to grab the final playoff spot and was able to advance to the Playoff series on the strength of its victory over the Bison in the Wild card series. Harrington fell to TESCO in three games. Nagy's Tree Farm also fought for a playoff spot and capped their excellent regular season with a 12-6 record. The Bulls were in the mix for first place all season, but ultimately gave up a one game lead in the Playoffs to fall to Butera's Towing.

Butera's Towing made the commitment to travel all the way from the Jamestown area to compete in Erie several times a week and was rewarded with a second place regular season finish (including a 1st round playoff bye) and a 14-4 record. Butera's defeated Nagys in the Playoff round and earned a Championship Series spot in their first GBL Season. Several Butera's players were honored with All-Glenwood awards, and Josh Melquist was voted the Rookie of the Year for his work at 1st base.

TESCO battled back from a shaky start to claim the regular season Pennant en route to their third straight title, and fourth overall. Matt Palisin earned the Ed Smrekar Award for his work on the mound. TESCO defeated Harrington two games to one in the Playoff Round to advance to the Championship Series for the fifth straight season. The fifteen year veteran squad swept the powerful Butera's team to claim the 2007 Title.



Dave Gnacinski (ECCA) was voted the Most Valuable Player (Earned the Triple Crown)

Matt Palisin (TESCO) earned the Ed Smrekar Award for Pitcher of the Year

Mark Tupek (SS - Nagy's Tree Farm) was voted Gold Glove

Josh Melquist (1B - Butera's Towing) was voted Rookie of the Year

Tim Campbell (The Bison) was voted Coach of the Year