Spirits Outlast Strangers for DFW ABA 50 Fall League Championship

(December 6, 2025 – Carrollton, TX) Christmas arrived a little early for the Spirits (50+) fall squad as the team cruised to an 11 to 5 victory over the Strangers to capture the DFW ABA 50 Fall League Championship on Saturday.

Following a 13 to 3 win over the Diablos, the Spirits awaited the Strangers from the other semi-final game and battled a short wait along with cool December temperatures before running 3 runs across the plate in each of the first three innings of the game to eventually pull away with an 11 to 5 win to secure another championship for the storied ball club.

Every player in the Spirits lineup hit safely at least once with Kirk Sipila and Brad Petty helping lead the way in the championship game. Sipila finished 3 for 4 with a run scored and a run batted in while Petty finished a perfect 3-for-3 with a run scored. Dee Mauldin doubled, scored, and knocked in 3 runs while Kevin Simmons and Todd Murrah each chipped in with 2 hits as well. Simmons finished 2-for-2 with a run scored, run batted in and a walk, while Murrah finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and a run batted in. Shawn Hunt also added a double with a run scored and a run batted in.

“Every guy chipped in for this win,” Shawn Lee mentioned afterwards. “It was truly a team effort, and more importantly, it was fun. Guys were tired, cold, ready to hang up the cleats for the season but these guys all showed up and balled out. Super proud of them and love every guy out here.”

The Spirits finished with 18 hits in the game and left 10 runners on base in a game that could have been much more lopsided. The true story of the day was starting pitcher, Mike Sopocy. Sopocy not only picked up the game one victory in the semifinal, but he also pitched a complete-game to secure the championship for the Spirits in game two. Sopocy finished with 7 innings pitched, allowing 8 hits and 2 earned while walking 2 and striking out 4.

“What can you say about that performance,” Lee continued. “It was ridiculous. We had a few other guys available but Mike went out there like he had something to prove. He loves moments like this when he can have the spotlight and help put the team on his back. He’s old school. He likes a cerebral game and that’s the way he tries to deliver to each pitch, and with Hunt at catcher calling a great game every step of the way, they’re a tough duo to beat. We’re blessed to have them along with Todd Murrah helping behind the dish as well. Hat’s off to some great hitting by our squad, but these guys truly were the difference in getting us over the hump!”

Sipila started the Spirits first inning with a one-out single and moved to third when Kellner reached on an error. Lee followed with an RBI single to score Sipila and moved Kellner to third before Kellner later scored on a wild pitch. After Lee moved to second on the same pitch, Sopocy flew out but Vince Parello kept the inning going with an RBI single to score Lee and the Spirits had a 3 to 0 lead. Simmons followed with a single but Ben Northcutt flew out to close out the first.

The Diablos tied the game in the top half of the second after Raul Ponce and Noel Rodriguez both singled. Jorge Perez reached on an error that allowed Ponce to cross the dish, and after Sopocy struck out Concepcion Garza, Estanislao Casas reached on an other Spirits fielding error that allowed Rodriguez to score. Sopocy was able to get Jose Martinez to ground out but Perez scored on the play and the game was tied at 3 to 3 before Jose Zapata grounded out to end the Diablos second.

The Spirits then rallied with 3 more of their own after James Hardt singled and Murrah flew out. Petty then singled and a double by Mauldin scored both runners to make it 5 to 3, Spirits. Kellner then singled home Mauldin to make it 6 to 3 before Lee flew out to close out the second frame.

Sopocy shut the Strangers down in the third and ghosts attacked again, putting up 3 more for the third straight inning. Sopocy led of the inning by reaching on an error and stole second before Parello flew out. Simmons followed with an RBI single good to score him. Simmons swiped second before Northcutt singled him home and then Northcutt was squeezed at second base moments later when Hardt reached on a fielder’s choice with the Strangers trying to turn a pair. Hardt moved to second on a wild pitch and then later scored when Murrah singled him home. The Strangers turned to Noel Rodriguez to replace Jaime Rangel at pitcher before he was able to get Hunt to ground out, but the Spirits held a 9 to 3 advantage at the end of the frame.

Both teams held the other scoreless for the next two innings before the Strangers began to make a little noise after picking up a pair of runs in the top half of the sixth inning. Wilmer Montoya singled with one out and moved to second on a wild pitch. He later scored on an RBI single by Reyes Salazar and after both Hector Guel and Ponce followed with singles, the Strangers were in business. Ponce was able to single home Salazar but Sopocy regained control and struck out Rodriguez before getting Perez to ground out to close out the top half of the inning.

The Spirits then replaced the two runs against them with two more of their own in the bottom of the sixth after Murrah singled with one out. Hunt’s double scored him before Petty added a single, and Hunt later scored when Mauldin grounded out to the right side to give the Spirits an 11 to 5 advantage in what would turn out to be the game’s final score.

Sopocy set the Strangers in order in the top half of the seventh inning including a strikeout to Garza before the Spirits took the field to celebrate.

“Hopefully we can reconfigure that long delay next season but it’s important to teams to be able to travel and compete in tournaments during the fall,” Lee continued. “We’re glad to have been given the flexibility to do that but man, that was a long delay. Can’t say enough about this team. It’s been a blast to be part of what seems to have been a long season with both the Spring and the Fall seasons. These guys made it fun though, and then traveling to play in tournaments was the cherry on top. Three championships during the 2025 campaign. We’ll definitely consider this one a successful one for sure!

The Spirits would like to thank the friends and family for their support and also thank area businesses for their consideration in helping the team raise funds during the season to contribute to the organization’s operations and philanthropy. Shout outs to both Ranger Fire, Inc. and Sam Pack’s Five Star Ford of North Richland Hills for your generosity. For more on Spirits baseball, stay tuned to www.spiritsbaseball.com.

Game Box Score

Ranger Fire, Inc. Players of the Game