Phoenix World Series, 2023:

The Des Moines Bruins made a semifinal run in the 45+ Cactus Division.  The team finished 4-2 in pool play, losing only to an upper division team & the eventual champions from Southern Cal.  After a quarterfinal victory over Bakersfield (for the 2nd straight year), the Bruins took a 4-0 1st inning lead in their semifinal, only to run completely out of gas to the eventual runner up, Colt 45s from San Diego.

Team members included:

Current MIBL members:  David Case, Scott Etzel, John Linden (Mgr), Jason McPherson, Brian Reese, Jon Resler, Brian Schueller, Joe Smith, Jon Williams
Former MIBL members:  Guy Koenig, Jon Merrigan, Randy Vernon

Other teammates:  Rufus Bennett (Dubuque), Joe Denney (CA), Nick Gelos (CA), Scott Goodman, injured (CA), Rob Miller (CA), Scott Nickason (CA)

Others participating:

Phil Smith with the Milwaukee Rattlers (70+) the week of October 16-21.  Phil started two of the team's first five games, winning one & losing one.

Keith DeWitt, Tim Kirgan & Bobby Williams with the Rochester Redwings (55+) the week of October 23-28.

Joe Bauman, Phil DeVan, Gary Frank, Tim Kirgan, Jim Pizinger, Pat Scholer & Bobby Williams with the Sonoma County Cardinals (60+) the week of October 30-November 4.  (They are joined by five Eastern Iowa players...Tom Arnold, Dan Dupont, Marty Pitz, Dean Steffen & Van White...along with New York's finest, Dave Prong.)  The Cardinals had a very successful week, finishing runner-up to the DC Mustangs.