After winning the ISF tournament in June, the Joseph 60 team played in only one more tournament in 2009--World Championships in Manassas, VA. The team finished third in this tournament, losing to a Michigan team and a North Carolina team. The low point was giving up 12 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning in the semi-finals, losing 28-27. The team's normally strong pitching and defense evaporated during this melt down.
Injuries, health issues and aging of the team have resulted in canceling of additional tournament appearances in 2009 in the 60 major division. Currently the Joseph roster consists of 12 active players who are 65+ years of age. Two additional players, 65+, have been inactive over the past couple of years.
Plans for 2010 are currently underway. . . the team plans to move to the 65 major division next year. The VA ISSA tournaments will be the primary tournaments for the Joseph team in 2010, along with perhaps a couple of tournaments in SPA, Softball Players Asssociation. The team has no plans to compete in SS-USA because of the team rating dispute with that association.
Therefore, the team will require a few new 65+ players in 2010 to fill out the roster. We leave behind in the 60 division several players who will play for other 60 teams in 2010. After 2010, we're hoping to re-unite all the current roster players as they turn 65 down the road.
This blog site will be updated in late winter or early spring, after the new roster is solidified and the 2010 tournament schedule is in place.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Joseph Wins ISF World Cup, 60 Major Title
The Joseph Chevrolet 60+ Major Division team won the championship in their division at the ISF (International Softball Federation) World Cup Championships, Salem, VA in June, 2009.
This is the team's first tournament of the year. The team traveled to beautiful Roanoke Valley, VA and competed with four other strong 60 Major teams, mainly from the NE USA.
The tournament came down to a "scratch & claw" match between the tough Spicer (MD) team and the men from Joseph Chevy. The Spicer team had beaten Joseph in two of three games at the Winter Nationals, Ft. Myers, Fl in November, 2008.
In the ISF tournament in Salem, VA, the Joseph team drew Spicer in the round robin game the first day. The Spicer team prevailed and actually "run-ruled" Joseph in the first game. As luck would have it, Joseph drew the Spicer team in the first round of the eliminations. However, the Joseph men prevailed, turning the tables and "run-ruling" Spicer, knocking them into the loser's bracket. Subsequently, the Spicer team played themselves back to the championship game on Sunday at high noon.
The championship game was indeed like the "battle of the Titans", with both teams scratching and clawing, both offensively and defensively throughout the game. In the bottom of the 7th, with the game on the line, Joseph holding a tenuous lead, 24-22, Spicer was threatening to win the game. Their 3, 4, and 5 hitters were due up with only one out, runners at first and second base. Spicer had the Joseph team "on the ropes". However, their No. 3 hitter, hit a one hopper back to the pitcher who wheeled and threw to 2nd, then the relay to first base nailed the runner for a game ending double play. . . heart stopping softball.
MVP Frank Krawczyk led the Joseph team, hitting over .900, with (4) HR's and a 2.400 slugging average for five games. All of Frank's hits during the tournament were for extra bases. . . one of the finest offensive performances ever seen in senior softball. Other Joseph players named to the "All World" team were, Billy Winar (.890), Roy Hern (.820), Bob Bosse (.710) and Vince Melograno (.680). Vince had game winning extra base hits in both the semi-final and championship games.
Next up for the Joseph team are ISSA tournaments in Manassas and VA Beach. This abbreviated schedule was precipitated by the fact that the team is in transition this year from 60 year age division to 65. In VA Beach, the Joseph team will compete in the 65 age division.
This is the team's first tournament of the year. The team traveled to beautiful Roanoke Valley, VA and competed with four other strong 60 Major teams, mainly from the NE USA.
The tournament came down to a "scratch & claw" match between the tough Spicer (MD) team and the men from Joseph Chevy. The Spicer team had beaten Joseph in two of three games at the Winter Nationals, Ft. Myers, Fl in November, 2008.
In the ISF tournament in Salem, VA, the Joseph team drew Spicer in the round robin game the first day. The Spicer team prevailed and actually "run-ruled" Joseph in the first game. As luck would have it, Joseph drew the Spicer team in the first round of the eliminations. However, the Joseph men prevailed, turning the tables and "run-ruling" Spicer, knocking them into the loser's bracket. Subsequently, the Spicer team played themselves back to the championship game on Sunday at high noon.
The championship game was indeed like the "battle of the Titans", with both teams scratching and clawing, both offensively and defensively throughout the game. In the bottom of the 7th, with the game on the line, Joseph holding a tenuous lead, 24-22, Spicer was threatening to win the game. Their 3, 4, and 5 hitters were due up with only one out, runners at first and second base. Spicer had the Joseph team "on the ropes". However, their No. 3 hitter, hit a one hopper back to the pitcher who wheeled and threw to 2nd, then the relay to first base nailed the runner for a game ending double play. . . heart stopping softball.
MVP Frank Krawczyk led the Joseph team, hitting over .900, with (4) HR's and a 2.400 slugging average for five games. All of Frank's hits during the tournament were for extra bases. . . one of the finest offensive performances ever seen in senior softball. Other Joseph players named to the "All World" team were, Billy Winar (.890), Roy Hern (.820), Bob Bosse (.710) and Vince Melograno (.680). Vince had game winning extra base hits in both the semi-final and championship games.
Next up for the Joseph team are ISSA tournaments in Manassas and VA Beach. This abbreviated schedule was precipitated by the fact that the team is in transition this year from 60 year age division to 65. In VA Beach, the Joseph team will compete in the 65 age division.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
2009 Tournament Planning, Team Ratings
Joseph Chevrolet's 60 year old senior softball team is in transition in 2009. Ten of the (18) roster players are now eligible for 65+ age division. In 2010, five additional players on the current roster will be eligible for 65+.
So. . . in 2009, the plan is to play in (3) 60+ national tournaments and (3) 65+ tournaments, including two nationals, SPA and ISSA Winter Nationals.
Player/Manager Roy Hern has managed to keep virtually the same roster of Ohio/KY based players together for the past four years, dating back to their first tournament in November, 2005. Only a handful of guys have been replaced since then, but the core of the team remains the same. Those core players, still with the team today are: Bob Bostick, Marty Emerman, Dave Neiheisel, Dewey McVicker, Bob Bosse, Tom Snyder, Evan Francis, Dave Beamer, Rey Moore, Larry Oliver, and Joe Mazie. Other key players, added since 2005 include Frank Krawzyk, Vince Melograno, Billy Winar, Bob Williams, and Wayne Wightman. Six of these Joseph Chevy players are in various Halls of Fame. Two more have been nominated.
In 2009, the Joseph team starts the season in Salem, VA in the ISF National Tournament on June 12th. After traveling later to Columbus, OH, Detroit, Manassas, VA, Dalton, GA, and finally VA Beach, the team hopes to wrap up another successful senior softball season with several tournament victories. To date, since 2005, this team has won nine national "ring" titles which is an amazing accomplishment for any single team.
In 2008, the Joseph 60+ team was elevated to the highest division in senior softball, major plus. However, the team in 2008 only participated in one major+ tournament, the SS-USA Winter Nationals, Ft. Myers, FL. The team finished dead last in a strong field of major+ teams.
The Joseph team has protested this higher rating after playing its first three years in the lower "major" division. So far, the team rating committee has denied the protest, but the Joseph team is hopeful that individual tournament directors will recognize that the rightful team rating for this Joseph team is "major", not "major plus". At the core of the Joseph protest is the fact that some senior softball sponsors spend a lot of money recruiting players and paying their premier players' living and travel expenses. Naturally, these teams employ the best players in the country, taking unfair advantage of those legitimate amatuer senior teams. The Joseph management does not subscribe to this "play for pay" policy, and therefore cannot and will not compete at this level. More news later in the year . . .
So. . . in 2009, the plan is to play in (3) 60+ national tournaments and (3) 65+ tournaments, including two nationals, SPA and ISSA Winter Nationals.
Player/Manager Roy Hern has managed to keep virtually the same roster of Ohio/KY based players together for the past four years, dating back to their first tournament in November, 2005. Only a handful of guys have been replaced since then, but the core of the team remains the same. Those core players, still with the team today are: Bob Bostick, Marty Emerman, Dave Neiheisel, Dewey McVicker, Bob Bosse, Tom Snyder, Evan Francis, Dave Beamer, Rey Moore, Larry Oliver, and Joe Mazie. Other key players, added since 2005 include Frank Krawzyk, Vince Melograno, Billy Winar, Bob Williams, and Wayne Wightman. Six of these Joseph Chevy players are in various Halls of Fame. Two more have been nominated.
In 2009, the Joseph team starts the season in Salem, VA in the ISF National Tournament on June 12th. After traveling later to Columbus, OH, Detroit, Manassas, VA, Dalton, GA, and finally VA Beach, the team hopes to wrap up another successful senior softball season with several tournament victories. To date, since 2005, this team has won nine national "ring" titles which is an amazing accomplishment for any single team.
In 2008, the Joseph 60+ team was elevated to the highest division in senior softball, major plus. However, the team in 2008 only participated in one major+ tournament, the SS-USA Winter Nationals, Ft. Myers, FL. The team finished dead last in a strong field of major+ teams.
The Joseph team has protested this higher rating after playing its first three years in the lower "major" division. So far, the team rating committee has denied the protest, but the Joseph team is hopeful that individual tournament directors will recognize that the rightful team rating for this Joseph team is "major", not "major plus". At the core of the Joseph protest is the fact that some senior softball sponsors spend a lot of money recruiting players and paying their premier players' living and travel expenses. Naturally, these teams employ the best players in the country, taking unfair advantage of those legitimate amatuer senior teams. The Joseph management does not subscribe to this "play for pay" policy, and therefore cannot and will not compete at this level. More news later in the year . . .
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