Summer 2014 Edition Senior Softball News SUMMER 2014 EDITION Volume 27 • Number 2 Seniorwww.seniorsoftball.com SoftballMORE THAN JUST A GAMENEWSAMERICA’S LARGEST CIRCULATED SENIOR SOFTBALL PUBLICATION Unraveling Your Social Security Options By Jack Sirard or so are highly hopeful of joining INSIDE: percent or more of their income Softball News Report them one day. Home renovations for aging from Social Security. ifty-nine million Ameri- How important is Social Baby Boomers. No doubt about it, the benefi ts cans – including tens of Security to the economic fabric of Page 16 program is massive by any mea- thousands of senior softball America? Consider the following: surement and no doubt far exceeds playersF nationwide— currently ■ Nine out of ten individuals income of the elderly. what its proponents expected receive Social Security benefi ts in age 65 and older receive Social ■ Among elderly Social Secu- when it was created back in 1935. one form or another. Security benefi ts. rity benefi ciaries, 52 percent of When you listen in on practi- On top of that another 250 ■ Social Security benefi ts rep- married couples and 74 percent cally any conversation about So- million to 300 million Americans resent about 38 percent of the of unmarried persons receive 50 Please See Page 20 PART 1 PART 2 PART 3 PART 4 INVESTING Planning? It’s a Understanding Your Why the First Year of Tips on What to Do — and How Retirement Home Run Social Security Options Retirement Is So Costly to Give Back to Your Community NO. 339 PERMIT IN YOUR FUTURE Sacramento, CA U.S. POSTAGE PRSRT-STD PAID INSIDE: CAL CUP: First Time in SoCal; 76 Teams Compete Page 5 Timothy Sabin MIDWEST CHAMPIONSHIPS: Rain Shortens Tourney in Shawnee, Kansas A Unique Page 10 Quest: TEXAS STATE Photos by Senior Games Photos CHAMPIONSHIPS: Houston Sizzles To Umpire in The Sacramento Flash second baseman tags a 50 Shades of Gray runner during a close play in 50 AAA action. for Second Year Every State Page 16 ATLANTIC COAST By Ross McCulligan CHAMPIONSHIPS: 206 Teams 75 Teams from 8 States Softball News Report Vie in Virginia In 1997, fueled by his Page 17 love of sport and life, Tim- Battle in Reno NORTHWEST othy Sabin embarked on By Ross McCulligan CHAMPIONSHIPS: the adventure of a lifetime: Softball News Report Jim Sherman Memorial th Draws 43 Teams He resolved to travel the RENO – For the 27 con- Page 18 United States and umpire secutive year, Senior Softball- at least one game in each USA returned here for its second NORTHEAST the 50 states. CHAMPIONSHIPS: largest tournament of the year. Syracuse Tourney Sabin’s quest involved 206 teams made their way to the Grows 30 Percent something that few, if any, outskirts of the Sierra Nevada to Page 19 ever have attempted. Over compete for the spot as division the last 18 years Sabin, a champion. Please See Page 9 Action was hot in the 50 Men's Majors, left, and the 50 Women's, right. Please See Page 12 2 Senior Softball News Summer 2014 Edition MMULT2 $209.95 ea. 2015 Miken Ultra II Big Cat Mike Macenko Endload 34” • 26-30 oz. (NO WARRANTY) SPU2M $209.95 ea. 2014 Miken Ultra II Maxload Two-Piece 13.5” Barrel, 34” • 26-30 oz. (NO WARRANTY) SPU2S $209.95 ea. 2014 Miken Ultra II Maxload Two-Piece 13.5” Barrel, 34” • 26-30 oz. (NO WARRANTY) MSU2 $189.95 ea. MIKEN ULTRA II (NO WARRANTY) 34” • 27-30 oz. *SPECIAL* TWLSP1 $99.95 ea. 2012 Combat Sports Twilight, End load and Balanced available, 11.5” BARREL, 34” • 26-28 OZ. 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Little did They go on to tell you their team they know how Clarke’s kind gesture usually hits the hide off the ball, add- ing, “I don’t know what happened, would act as a catalyst for a remark- just one of those days.” able creative opportunity. There are better reasons why a Clarke introduced Gebard, also a team doesn’t hit than a strange day Senior Softball player, to other local hexing the team. It usually has more musicians who bonded over music to do with the pitching and defense of and eventually one common desire: the winning team, along with bad base to make a documentary fi lm. Un- running on the losing team. sure of the subject of their fi lm, they Good defenses give you three outs found their inspiration when Gebard, Filming for the documentary "The Fall League" began in the 2013. only, and no free bases, while most while talking about the recreational defenses allow four or fi ve outs per inning and a free base or two. Good Senior Softball league he played in, adventure for Clarke, Gebard and a women that the documentary follows defense isn’t dependent upon spec- remarked, “everybody in the senior team of local musicians/artists into love the game and everything that tacular plays either. leagues is a survivor who has a story the world of Senior Softball. Their goes with it. The Fall League began Players who make unbeliev- to tell”. documentary fi lm, The Fall League, fi lming in the 2013 season. able plays often make equally horrid This remark began an extensive endeavors to show how the men and mistakes allowing the ball to go to the Continued on Page 4 wall and clear the bases. When a team knows whether or not to throw behind the runner to stop Kansas City Legend Gary Sloan Dies at 69 the batter from turning fi rst and going Softball News Report received his undergraduate degree and served as a Sports Information Offi cer on to second, or throw ahead of the Gary Lawrence Sloan, 69, of Kan- law degrees from UMKC and man- in Saigon. runner and nail him, it can shut down sas, a commanding hitter and skilled aged a successful law practice. He is survived by his wife, Anna; the inning. pitcher, suffered from a heart attack Gary served in the U.S. Army children, Kelly, Bryan, Michelle and When the base coach sends a run- and passed away at his home on June ner to die at home plate with an .800 as a signal corps offi cer and First Julie; grandchildren, Jordan, Taylor 28. power hitter coming up, it can not Lieutenant in Vietnam. His love of and Parker; mother, Elizabeth; and only end an inning or a rally, but it can Gary played for the Kansas City sports showed through even then as he siblings, Bruce, Norma, Jill and Jan. destroy momentum, morale, and lose Fire 65 team since 2012 and was one the game. of their leading hitters. At six feet four I constantly see third baseman inches tall, Gary was confi dent on standing six feet off the base to re- the mound and intimidated opposing ceive an outfi eld throw allowing the batters. “We all enjoyed playing with runner to arrive safely when the ball Gary. He was always dependable and actually beat him. The guy will blame one of the best hitters on the team. A the throw never seeming to realize that good .700 hitter even at 69,” said his the outfi elder is probably throwing at CATCH manager Jim Jenkins. him assuming he is on the bag, or so he doesn’t throw to an undefended Gary was well known in the EVERYTHING bag. Kansas City softball community as Control Rods give nger tip control When you get beat by a team with well and considered a legend; hitting with comfort good fundamentals nothing stands out a home run out of the Royals Stadium WITH THE because they fi nd many little ways to in 1980 during a Home Run hitting Firm Heel Pocket for more durability beat you and make it look routine. It’s contest. so nondescript that in refl ecting on GENERAL His love of softball, beer and “Control Rods” strategically placed the game all you can come up with is, blues was well known by his team- to give finger tip control and firmness. “Sheeze, we just didn’t hit today.” mates, family, and friends. No, you didn’t get four or fi ve Gary was also passionate about 888.822.3352 FIELDGENERALGLOVES.COM outs an inning and free extra bases. education and the written word. He 4 Senior Softball News Summer 2014 Edition Perspective Is Key in Fitness Training None who play the game can deny between working hard to perform our as is training. that softball is fun. Really, what’s not best while maintaining health and Focusing on our strengths can help to love? We gather outdoors with other preserving the fun of the game? us to realize our individual contribution players; swing the bat, throw the ball, run It’s all about perspective.