FALL 2016 EDITION Volume 29 • Number 2 Seniorwww.seniorsoftball.com SoftballMORE THAN JUST A GAMENEWSAMERICA’S LARGEST CIRCULATED SENIOR SOFTBALL PUBLICATION WORLD MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016 PREVIEW: Our Coverage Includes the US National Games List and a Calendar of Events PAGES 16-21 East, West HEALTH TRENDS Winners to Rumble FOUNTAIN Top teams in the East battled to rep- resent their region in OF GOOD LIFE Raleigh, while their Searching for Percentage of the Population That Is 65 and Older counterparts in the West vied for regional the Secrets Low High honors in Sacramento. Softball News Report INSIDE: The winners of the People are living ISA SENIOR Eastern Nationals will WORLD SERIES play the winners of the longer, but many also are Page 13 Western Nationals in a suffering from chronic one game winner-take- health problems. Some SOCAL Source: CHAMPIONSHIPS all National Champion- lucky people – like those 2014 - 2015 Page 14 ship Game during the American playing softball at age Community World Masters Cham- Survey MIDWEST 85 -- are not only living CHAMPIONSHIPS pionships in Las Vegas. Page 22 Teams winning longer, but much more the US National Game importantly, they are liv- Here's Where 19.8% SOUTHERN and the World Masters Registered Senior 2.6% - 7.4% CHAMPIONSHIPS Continued on Page 12 2.2% - 2.5% Page 22 win the coveted Triple Softball USA 1.3% - 1.8% Grand Slam. Players Live .8% - 1.15% TEXAS STATE .3% - .7% CHAMPIONSHIPS .06% - .21% Page 23 0% - .04% NORTHWEST CHAMPIONSHIPS Page 24 NORTHEAST CHAMPIONSHIPS PAGE 9 Page 24 ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHAMPIONSHIPS Page 26 Source: Senior Softball USA NORTHERN Database of all current players CHAMPIONSHIPS Page 27 PAGE 10 Fall 2016 Edition Senior Softball News 3 NewsBriefing CARL’S CORNER 10 To Be Inducted Into HOF By Carl Gustafson Softball News Report others said of Brotherton: “Mike’s on field managerial A Life Lesson The National Senior “When Hugh comes to the abilities start with his eye Softball Hall of Fame class of ballpark, he comes with un- for recognizing talent. His Writing about wives is 2016 has been announced and bridled enthusiasm, a positive success has been proven by like tip-toeing through a mine those to be inducted in Las attitude, and ready to give 100 bringing together such tal- field. A long tail cat in a room Vegas during the World Mas- percent to the team.” – Jack ent, mixed personalities and full of rocking chairs has ters Championships include Hudson coaching them to act like a nothing on me. some of the most well-known “Hugh has been an out- team, play like a team and win But this story is just too participants in the sport. standing member of The Cen- like a team. Mike is known tempting a subject. At the first Included in the class ter for Sight team for years and respected not only by his tournament I organized and are the founder of the first – on and off of the field.” – team but throughout the coun- ran, I had a team with at least 85 team in the sport (Hugh Norman Ellis try as a class act and standup half a dozen wives drinking Brotherton), one of the key “Hugh has the most guy who loves this sport.” cognac in the stands scream- Las Vegas Senior Softball amazing spirit and a pure ing obscenities in this order: Association organizers of the love of the game. His career first at the poor umpire, then World Masters Champion- in softball speaks for itself, at the other team who hadn’t ships (Bob Gregorich), and winning multiple national and brought any wives to defend one of the leading players in world championships.” – Fran them; next at their own oblivi- the Northeast and a SSUSA Dowell ous husbands who seemed to National director (Michael “He hits a long ball, runs be quite used to it, and then Boone). well, and plays his defensive finally they turned on each In total, five players, one position well. In addition, he other because one of them manager and four pioneers in does a super job of pitching.” held her pet cat in her lap, and the sport will be inducted at – Hal Olver Michael P. Boone another one had a dog on a the WMC this year. dropped leash that chased the Player Those honored include: cat onto the field. The Middlesex, N.J., resi- When the umpire tried to dent has played senior softball grab the dog, it bit him on the for 10 years starting with thigh. Promotion Sportswear before As tournament director, it creating Sweet Construction was my job to do something. Co. out of New Jersey at the I’d rather face down Clint Major level. Eastwood than six drunk H.P. “Dutch” Detwiler wives. But I took a breath and Mike Trusty Jr., 2010 NSSHOF Inductee, marched over to the biggest Photos Courtesy of NSSHOF Manager says “Mike’s performance in Senior Softball has been one. I thought I saw a tattoo of The Riverside, Calif., Attila the Hun on her bicep. Hugh Brotherton exceptional in all areas and he resident has been in senior is one of the most recognized I knew that if I said the Pioneer Player softball for 12 years and has wrong thing, fire would ignite Senior Softball USA chief players on and off the field.” won 19 world or national David Barnes, NSSHOF the alcohol in her throat and executive officer Terry Hen- championships. He manages she would spew flames at me nessy calls Brotherton “a true Class of 2013 goes on to Summy’s 55, a Major Plus say, Michael is an outstand- with medieval intentions. So I pioneer in our sport, an excel- team that won the SSUSA swallowed hard and said with lent player and manager – and ing hitter and gifted middle Triple Crown. It was his sec- infielder which contributes to all the courage I could muster: a wonderful ambassador for ond Triple Crown. all of us.” Here’s what many his team’s success. Continued on Page 9 Ken Lipinski said that Continued on Page 5 4 Senior Softball News Fall 2016 Edition Pre-Swing Motion Creates Added Bat Speed By Art Eversole bat feel lighter before you swing: This action is performed as you wind up Here’s a quick tip for improving your 1) Moving your bat to an almost and deliver the bat to the incoming ball. hitting before you step into the batter’s vertical position unweights the bat, Also, don’t step away from your hands box: Add a pre-swing action so the bat will 2) When striding forward into the when you stride, but let your hands travel feel lighter allowing you to swing faster, be ball with a weight transfer; this also un- with your body toward the pitcher. This able to wait longer, and be quicker to the weights the bat as it’s in motion moving technique also is putting the bat in motion ball with more power. forward toward the pitcher. overcoming stationary inertia. So what makes the bat feel heavy and Understand that a batter can start in the Remember, a stationary holding to swing slower? As we know the majority flat behind the head bat position as long as position of the bat without the pre-swing of the bat’s weight is in the barrel region. when during the pre-swing the bat is tipped activity will make it much more difficult to The farther the bat barrel is away from up toward a vertical position. This action get the bat up to your maximum bat speed your hands, the heavier the bat will feel. will make the bat feel lighter during the as you’re battling the bat’s inertia proper- One way to make the bat feel heavy is batter’s windup motion. The pre-swing ties. Performing this pre-swing action and to place it straight back behind your head movement makes the bat feel lighter due to technique will allow you to actually swing in a level position. Don’t let the bat rest the center of mass of the bat being brought faster as you free up the dead weight of on the shoulder when assuming your ready closer to your body when it’s in the vertical the bat. Increasing bat speed will add exit position to hit. Again this heavier feel- position. speed to your hits making for more base ing is due to the majority of weight being Here’s a real life example to help hits and long bombs. toward the end and particularly if the bat understand how the bat feels heavier when So, if you want to swing faster, you is end-loaded. To swing at the ball from the barrel is held horizontally: Try holding must free up the barrel by waggling it like this position requires a large overcoming of and extending a straw broom out in front of in golf before address and bringing it to inertia of the weight of the bat. your body while gripping it from the end near vertical during the pre-swing. The Hitting experts refer to this pre-swing of the handle. Then ask a friend to place purpose here is to get your bat moving phenomenon as the unweighting of the bat a small brick on the broom’s straw area before you begin your body rotation which that comes prior to the actual swing. Oth- while you’re still holding the broom. You’ll begins after the front foot has landed.