WINTER 2016 EDITION Volume 29 • Number 3
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WINTER 2016 EDITION Volume 29 • Number 3 Seniorwww.seniorsoftball.com SoftballMORE THAN JUST A GAMENEWSAMERICA’S LARGEST CIRCULATED SENIOR SOFTBALL PUBLICATION 564 Teams at World Masters Records Shatter Again in Las Vegas LAS VEGAS – The LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Championships once again set a Photo by Jack record in 2016 with 564 teams traveling to Eberhard Sin City. Over the course of the 13-day tourna- 6 Win Triple Grand Slam: PAGE 15 Please See Page 14 All Tournament Players: PAGE 16 TRENDS New Rules for 2017: Softball Emerging Quickly 1-1 Count for 40-Masters Softball News Report From Central China LAS VEGAS – Dozens of delegates at- Softball News Report tending the annual Senior Softball-USA Con- BAIJI, CHINA vention here debated a score of rule changes – Sometimes, hope that ultimately will affect thousands of players comes in the shape of Please See Page 5 a softball. This tiny village, INSIDE: SENIOR SOFTBALL not too far from the USA Island of the Dancing Tea Leaves, is tucked away in the hills of Central China. WINTER WORLDS in Phoenix Draws It is here, in a Record 209 Teams small elementary Page 12 school with only 36 2TOURNAMENT GUIDE17 students, that the The Baiji tee-ball team (about half the school's stu- dents) and coaches. spark of a sport none SENIOR SOFTBALL-USA,(916) 326-5303; 2701 FAX K(916) STREET, 326-5304; SUITE www.seniorsoftball.com 101A, SACRAMENTO, CA, 95816 young. ducing tee-ball and had seen before is They are the slowpitch softball to CLICK HERE glowing. The small WINTER smallest school in a 17,683 elementary FOR YOUR children here have 2017 NATIONALS pilot project in the and secondary stu- in Florida Starts embraced tee-ball TOURNAMENT 2017 Season Yueyang District that dents in 334 classes. GUIDE Page 18 with the unbridled last year began intro- passion of the very Please See Page 22 Winter 2016 Edition Senior Softball News 3 NewsBriefing CARL’S CORNER Minnick, Blackwell in 2017 HOF By Carl Gustafson Softball News Report winning 90 World, National almost 15 years ago, is also Thou Shalt Not LAS VEGAS – Dan Min- and Regional titles. Black- well known as an excellent nick was elected as player and well’s Sacramento Gold won manager. In addition, Hol- Whenever we have a Norm Blackwell as manager the Triple Grand Slam in dispute on the field, a small into the Senior Softball-USA 2016. Blackwell is a member paperback is pulled out of International Hall of Fame of seven Hall of Fames. some umpire’s pocket and here. They will be inducted at words are read. Those words Minnick of Southern the 2017 Convention. overrule whatever personality California had been selected Two players and a man- or emotion is present on the as an All Tournament player ager were inducted during the field. Without them we soon in 21 tournaments and his Hall of Fame Banquet here on descend into chaos, confusion, teams have won 11 National Dec. 2. contention, castigation, con- or World titles. In addition, Audie Hollis Jr. of Florida sternation and catastrophe. Minnick has been selected and Clyde Phillips of Cali- But, once these words are Best Offense or MVP several fornia were inducted into the From Left: Christine Lee, Terry read all goes back to law and times in his 16 International Hall of Fame in the Player Hennessy, Audie Hollis, Fran Dowell order with only the trailing competitions, beginning in category and Al Murray of grumble of, “Well, they ought 2003 in Ireland and Scotland. Florida was inducted in the lis has played internationally to make a rule against that.” Blackwell, 83, is one of Manager category. and spearheaded donations to Who is the “they” that the most decorated softball Hollis, who has competed help grow softball in several ought be making said rule? players in Northern Califor- at the highest level since he countries. It seems like the rule nia, and a manager of teams began playing senior ball Continued on Page 4 book has always been there, descended from Mount Sinai with Moses as an attachment to the Stone Tablets. Once it 3-Year Suspension for Ohio Manager is read by the umpire, it seems Softball News Report tered another ballpark with his park a third time. Hennessy as though God has spoken. A Senior Softball USA team and was told he had been opted not to forfeit the cham- But let me break it to you Appeals Board has upheld the ejected from the tournament pionship game because he gently: God didn’t write it suspension of the manager of and must leave. He again said Vicker’s actions should and neither did Jesus, Al- Gem City of Ohio for extreme refused to leave until threat- not result in a penalty for his lah, Mohammed, Buddha, or unsportsmanlike behavior, but ened with police escort. Later whole team. Mahatma Ghandi. And guess cut the suspension from 5 to Vickers snuck back into the In his appeal, Vickers what? It is a relatively recent 3 years. park and came out on the field said, “The 5 year suspension book that never stops being The 50 Major manager with them for awards after is very excessive for what written. of Gem City, Jamie Vickers, Gem City won the 50 Major happened. I feel a 1-year That’s right, it is dynamic, was originally ejected from Championship. probation is more than ample not static, and every year it is the World Masters Champion- Terry Hennessy, SSUSA for this reason. If SSUSA added to, subtracted from, and ships for kicking dirt on an chief executive officer, origi- tournament director had done more accurately written. And official. He refused to leave nally suspended Vickers for his job, none of this would the “they” who does this in until the director told him the one year for his actions after have happened.” the SSUSA…is you. police would escort him from the initial ejection, one year The incident involved a Now true, there is a rules the field. Vickers left the field for refusing to leave the field rule that allows the offensive committee composed of del- flashing the director the finger the next day and three years team to request the pitcher egates from all corners of the and shouting obscenities. for defying the ejection order move six feet left or right of The next day, Vickers en- and sneaking back into the Continued on Page 5 Continued on Page 5 4 Senior Softball News Winter 2016 Edition Awards: Phillips, Hollis, Murray Inducted Continued from Page 3 inspiration to other players Northern California. recovering from significant * Regional Director of surgeries and illnesses. the Year: To Southern Cali- Al Murray, 87, led his fornia Director Dan Haveron Center For Sight team to 56 of San Diego. championships. In 2013, after * Umpire of the Year: managing the Center for Sight To Florida Umpire In Chief 80s team for six years, Murray Joe Lelievre. and Hugh Brotherton wanted * Complex of the Year: to extend softball for not only To Princess Anne Athletic themselves, but for many Complex in Virginia Beach, other senior players who still From Left: Fran Dowell, Al Mur- Va. ray, Terry Hennessy From Left: Clyde Phillips, Carl wanted to play, and helped And, in a signature Gustafson launch the first 85 team and * Executive Director wood-bat game played at Big Phillips, an outstand- division in Senior Softball. Award: To the Sacramento League Dreams in Las Vegas, ing five-tool player from Other top awards an- Sports Commission for their the East Team beat the West San Diego, is one of the best nounced at the Convention help in developing both the 10-6. Teams were made up known players in the Top Gun included: Western Nationals and the of convention delegates from organization because of his * Award of Excellence: Northern California Champi- both ISA and SSUSA. power and consistent hitting. To Dale Eeles of Las Vegas onships. The next convention will Phillips had to overcome Events for his superb part- * Tournament Direc- be Nov. 28- Dec. 1, 2017. hip replacement surgery and nership in hosting the World tor of the Year: To National The location will be an- re-learn how to hit, providing Masters Championships. Director Doug Robbins of nounced in January. Appeal: Ejected Twice Continued from Page 3 any tournament functions, the mound if the sun is di- including the AWARDS CER- rectly in the eyes of the batter EMONY. Next, you blamed at the option of field director. the director for not doing his Vickers argued that the option job. The director’s job is to was up to the pitcher, not the represent all teams’ rights in director. He also requested a the tournament, and in this player representative on the case, that is what the direc- Appeals Board. tor did. Every team pays the The three-member SSU- same amount to participate in SA Appeals Board was made the World tournament, so you up of three National Directors, are not permitted any special including a player, who were treatment that is not given to not directly involved with the all teams. incident. The Appeals Board “Regarding the rule agreed that Vickers should involved: Whether you like a be suspended, but ruled that rule or not, you must respect the suspension should be one the rule and the director for year for each incident, or three doing his job ... Mr. Vickers, years total suspension. your unsportsmanlike con- The Appeal Board ruled: duct was not acceptable and “First of all, Mr. Vickers, will not be tolerated in Senior once you have been ejected Softball.” from a tournament, you are Vickers is suspended until not allowed to participate in Oct.