Tournament wrapup

Senior Softball World Championships Update: Monday, Oct. 20, 2003

Oct. 20, 2003 – Senior Softball-USA

The oldest senior players began competing in the 2003 Senior Softball World Championships in Mobile Monday at both West Mobile County Park and Medal of Honor Park.

Two US National Championship games highlighted action. In an extremely tight game, Western National champions Fairway Ford, Placentia, CA, squeaked a victory over Eastern National Champs Dixie Gas of North Palm Beach, FL, 10-9 in the 65 Major-Plus Division.

The Eastern Champs in the 70 Major Division exacted some revenge for the East. Mitchell's Construction of Red Lion, PA, solidly beat a strong California Gold Rush -n the Western National Champs - 14-6 to win the US National title in the 70 Majors.

The All Japan Team got its first taste of American competition, losing to the Houston Texans 19-4, and Miller's 65s of West Bloomfield, MI, 22-6.

Star of the Day:

Al Salem is a rookie at age 80 on the Tremont Hotel team. Salem plays shortstop with a fluid motion and confidence that belies his age. Salem, who bats third, went 2 for 4 in the first game and 2 for 3 in the second game Monday.

"I love the game of softball and I've been playing it since I was in the Air Force in World War II," said Salem, "and I hope to be playing it until I'm 100."

"The team has become like family because we have played together for so many years," said Salem.

The team sponsor, Bill Smith, 81, of Washington DC, agreed with Salem.

"The camaraderie of the team and the sport is great," said Smith, "that's why we have been supporting senior softball teams since 1991."

Smith said the team last won a World Championships in 1998 in Chicago as a 75+ team and is looking forward to winning it this year as an 80+ team.

"Competition keeps us young," said Smith.

Senior Softball World Championships Seeding Scores: Monday

80 Division:

First Federal, FL, 5 vs Tremont Hotel, VA, 2

First Federal, 10 vs Tremont, 3

75 Division

Tremont Hotel 75s, VA, 19 vs So. Cal. Chiefs, 5

F.C. Industries, FL, 12 vs AC Delco, FL, 9

Tremont 75s, 15 vs AC Delco, 11

Senior Friendship Centers, FL, 21 vs So. Cal Chiefs, 9

FC Industries, 13 vs Texas Diamonds, 9

Senior Friendship, 12 vs Texas Diamonds, 5

70 Major Division

Mitchell's Construction, PA, 16 vs Long Island Tigers, NY, 13

California Gold Rus, 10 vs Car Center Roadrunners, MD, 3

Mitchell's, 5 vs Georgia Peaches, 2

California Gold Rush 13 vs Long Island Tigers, 4

Car Center Roadrunners, 18 vs Georgia Peaches, 8

70 AAA Division

Texas Spirits, 6 vs Houston Golden Eagles, 6

Cape Cod 5, MA, 9 vs Houston Golden Eagles, 8

Texas Spirit, 16 vs Pensacola 70s, 0

Louisville 70s, KY, 11 vs Harrah's St. Louis Rookies, MO, 4

Cape Cod, 12 vs Texas Senior Rangers, 7

Houston Golden Eagles, 13 vs St. Louis Rookies, 6

Texas Senior Rangers, 10 vs Pensacola 70s, 9

65 Major-Plus Division

Fairway Ford, CA, 20 vs Dixie Gas, FL, 12

Florida Investment Properties, 15 vs Mitchell's Construction, MD, 14

Fairway Ford, 18 vs Florida Investment, 7

Dixie Gas 24 vs Mitchell's, 2

65 Major Division

Emerald City Masters, WA, 17 vs Cash 4 College, NJ, 11

Thousand Oaks Panthers, CA, 15 vs Keller-Williams Realty, MI, 10

New York Statesmen, 15 vs Papa Nick's FL, 8

Cleveland 65s, 18 vs Texas Classics, 16

Cash 4 College, 18 vs Keller-Williams, 14

Thousand Oaks, 17 vs Emerald City, 10

Cleveland 65s, 11 vs NY Statesmen, 4

65 AAA Division

Houston Texans, 19 vs All Japan 65s, 4

Miller's 65s, MI, 34 vs Carolina Blue Sky's, NC, 19

Miller's, 22 vs All Japan, 6

Carolina Blue Sky, 24 vs Houston Texans, 15

Minnesota 65s, 6 vs Icemen, KY, 5

Tri-County Office, MD, 19 vs Florida Jaguars, 15

Icemen, 12 vs Florida Jaguars, 11

Minnesota 65s, 15 vs Tri-County, 2