Winter 2015 Edition Senior Softball News WINTER 2015 EDITION Volume 28 • Number 3 Seniorwww.seniorsoftball.com SoftballMORE THAN JUST A GAMENEWSAMERICA’S LARGEST CIRCULATED SENIOR SOFTBALL PUBLICATION PERMIT NO. 339 PERMIT Sacramento, CA U.S. POSTAGE PRSRT-STD PAID INSIDE: Photos by Jack Eberhard 546 Teams: 4th Record in a Row LAS VEGAS By Ross McCulligan and Anthony Ramos Softball News Report WINTER WORLDS in Phoenix LAS VEGAS – The World Masters Draws 178 Teams ROLLS AGAIN! Championships made an indelible mark on this Page 8-9 9 INDUCTED ALL 9 WIN US, CHINA, JAPAN, gambling mecca attracting a record 546 teams Into National Hall TOURNAMENT Triple Grand TAIWAN of Fame PLAYERS Slam Compete in Third Pacific from across the nation and many foreign ports. Page 13 and MVPs Page 16 Rim Championships The largest tournament in senior softball his- Page 17 Page 21 Please See Page 12 WINTER SSUSA's Softball Tour in Italy Needs No Translation for Youngsters NATIONALS in Florida Softball News Report of SSUSA players from throughout Kicks Off 2015 ROME – Most of the young boys America at the site of the 1960 Olym- Page 18-19 here had never seen a bat or glove pics. or a softball before a glorious recent The boys exuberantly ran – as October afternoon. only 10-year-olds can move – to their They had just finished a sport new grandpa-aged friend who was they DID understand – soccer – on a showing them the strange objects of nearby field at the Olympic Complex his sport. In just a few moments their NORTHERN here, when they spotted Don “Ike” uninhibited enthusiasm washed over CHAMPIONSHIPS Eichten, 77, from Minnesota. Ike, who was laughing and emptying Last TOC Tournament Ike had just finished winning the his bat bag, telling the boys to take a of 2015 Page 20 Julius Caesar Softball Tournament closer look at tools of softball. Photo by Ann Neckers with the USA Blue team made up Please See Page 22 "Ike" Eichten with his new Italian friends. LLBSP $219.95 ea. 2015 Dudley Lightning Legend Series Balanced, 13” Barrel, 34” • 26-29 oz. LLESP $219.95 ea. 2015 Dudley Lightning Legend Series End-Load, 13” Barrel, 34” • 26-28 oz. LLESP12 $219.95 ea. 2015 Dudley Lightning Legend Series Advanced Player’s, End-Load, 12” Barrel, 34” • 26-29 oz. FRKBKS $249.95 ea. 2015 Miken Freak Black Maxload (1 YEAR WARRANTY) 34” • 26-30 oz. MMULT2 $209.95 ea. 2015 Miken Ultra II Big Cat Mike (NO WARRANTY) Macenko Endload 34” • 26-30 oz. SPU2M $209.95 ea. 2014 Miken Ultra II Maxload Two-Piece 13.5” Barrel, (NO WARRANTY) 34” • 26-30 oz. 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And it was adopted a number of rule changes Al Murray, left photo, was all the fault of our fearless leader, here in December, including changing Terry Hennessy. elected into the SSUSA Hall regional requirements for teams for of Fame as a Manager, and In the final address of the 2015 the first time in 15 years, opening the Audie Hollis, top left, and convention, this man from whom I’ve door for deaf teams to play, allowing Clyde "Poindexter" Phillips, always and only seen strength, deter- 75 and 80 division teams to pick up top right, were elected as SSUSA Hall of Fame Players. mination, decisiveness, and courage, younger players, and making the “flip- allowed us to catch a glimpse of the flop” rule mandatory in all games. fear he is feeling about this fragile In addition at the ninth annual existence we call life. In emotional SSUSA/ISA Convention, three people of the Rules Committee. “Because “Northeast State.” words, he asked us to give him some were inducted into the SSUSA Inter- our rules already were in good shape, SSUSA staff was instructed to time to focus on his fight against national Hall of Fame (Bill Ruth of most of the discussion involved study other potential regional changes cancer. Washington for Lifetime Achieve- tweaking existing rules rather than based on player population densities Allowing himself to be vulnerable ments, Michael Boone of New Jersey creating new ones. and report back to the committee by before us all was courageous in itself as 2015 Player and Chuck Towne of “We thank everyone who provided June, opening the door for changes in because most men want to hold on to Texas as 2015 Manager). input, and we are pleased to see that other playing regions. the image of indestructibility with its Audie Hollis of Florida and Clyde the early feedback has been positive,” In other action, the committee bravado that struts undaunted, in order “Poindexter” Phillips of California said McGuire, who was unanimously confirmed Cornerstone of Oregon as to save face. were voted into the 2016 SSUSA Hall elected Rules Chair for 2016. the winner of the 50 Major division in But then Hennessy has always of Fame as players and Al Murray of Perhaps the biggest move by the the 2015 World Masters Champion- faced adversity with blunt honesty, Florida was elected in the 2016 man- SSUSA Rules Committee was to open ships following a protest of the team’s and the courage associated with ac- ager category. the door to new regions for teams. roster. The committee found the team countability. The old Truman adage “We had some great rules discus- The committee ruled that the North- complied with all requirements listed of “The Buck Stops Here,” could sions this year, sparked by suggestions east states of Connecticut, Maine, in the 2015 SSUSA Official Rulebook. easily have sat on his desk because from players, managers, tournament Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Here is a summary of Rules Com- Hennessy’s way has not been to point directors, Senior Softball staff and Rhode Island and Vermont be merged mittee action (for a full listing, please the finger, make excuses, or “pass the umpires,” said Donna McGuire, Chair with New York to form a single buck.” Continued on Page 5 Rather than wallow in self pity before us, he chose to put the spotlight Softball Back in Olympics in Tokyo 2020? on all of you who have sent him en- TOKYO _ Softball and baseball The International Olympic Com- softball,” said World Baseball Softball couragement, and then pointed to the may soon be returning to the Olympic mittee will make the final selections, Confederation President Riccardo precious appreciation of life depicted games following a recommendation but the sports that they approve will Fraccari. “On behalf of WBSC and by Louis Armstrong’s “What a Won- by Japanese officials that they as well be included in 2020, but not for per- our athletes, I would like to thank derful World.” as four other sports be added to the manent status as yet. Tokyo 2020 as well as IOC President This is our leader, and whether 2020 Tokyo Summer Games. Softball and baseball are counted Thomas Bach, whose Olympic Agen- you’ve disagreed with him, loved him, In addition to softball and base- as one sport by the International da 2020 vision has paved the way for or wanted to put him on the dunk tank ball, Olympic officials here want to Olympic Committee. They were both this extraordinary opportunity. and plunge him, he has marched forth add surfing, skateboarding, karate dropped from competitions in 2008 “The entire baseball and softball assertively and wisely over the years and sport climbing to the Games. If and have tried to get back into the world is excited and ready to cross the giving all us ball players much joy and all goes as expected, the additions games ever since. It was expected that Olympic home plate. But above all, I fulfillment. would bring in 18 events and add 474 they would have a good chance in am happy for all our male and female How about we all take a moment athletes to the Games. 2020 due to Japan’s love of the game. athletes who today can see there is to stop what we are doing and take a The sports that did not make the “Tokyo 2020’s decision to pro- a real chance to fulfil their greatest listen to the song that is giving him cut this time around included bowling pose our sport is a ‘home run’ and dream of representing their country in Continued on Page 10 and squash. giant leap forward for baseball and the most important sporting spectacle there is -- the Olympic Games.” Tokyo 2020 proposed having six teams each in baseball and softball, 4 Senior Softball News Winter 2015 Edition How to Choose End Load or Balanced Bat By Art Eversole Ever notice that a heavier bat, such as a 30-ounce stick, may seem to swing easier than a 28-ounce bat? How can that be? It all has to do with what the physics guys like to call the “MOI” or “Moment of Inertia.” MOI in softball terminology is simply how heavy a bat feels when held in your hands and how difficult it is to swing.