News story

Senior Japan Teams Gain Strength, Confidence against US

March 1, 2004 – Senior Softball-USA

FUJINOMIYA, Japan ˆ The steady beat from more than 40 drums reverberated through the stadium as 20 senior teams, the mayor and several national Japan softball officials listened. Standing on the field, the teams could see the top of the legendary Mt. Fuji ˆ circled in the clouds ˆjust over the left field fence. But no one was looking.

Tiny figures enthralled the crowd.

Dressed in proper uniforms, five-year-olds from Sugita Kindergarten beat a medley of drums in perfect unison. The drum corps, led by a miniature Majorette pumping a baton with authority, played a number of traditional Japanese tunes.

"It was somehow fitting that these kindergarteners ushered in a tournament designed to make seniors feel like kids again," said Terry Hennessy, manager of the USA Blue team.

Once they took the field after the impressive opening ceremony, USA teams

suffered split fortunes here in November.

The USA Red team won the 70s Division and the USA Blue lost in the semi-finals of the 60 Division of the All Japan Champion Cup International Softball Championships.

The two USA teams and 18 Japanese teams competed in the two age divisions, playing in a $16 million softball stadium and facility in this fifth year of the All Japan Championships.

The USA 70s team put on a massive display of hitting power in the final game of the 70 Division Championships to defeat Bloon Eldery, a Tokyo 70s team, 34-3.

Players from seven states played on the USA Red 70s Team, led by MVP Pete Cecchini of Florida, Best Offensive Player Guy Grasso of Nevada, and Best Defensive Player Moon Mullen of California.

"I have never been to a country that has shown more hospitality than Japan," said Bob Mitchell, manager of the USA 70s team.

Mitchell, founder of Senior Softball-USA, brought the first USA teams to Japan four years ago and has played and managed two of the three winning USA teams (in 2000 and 2003).

The USA Blue 60s team started hot in the first day of the tournament, winning 10-2 and 9-2, but then their bats went cold in the semi-finals. The USA Blue 60s team scored only 3 runs to lose 5-3 to last year's champion, Higashiyodogawa from Osaka.

The MVP of the USA Blue team was John Chacon, Best Offense was Dan Minnick and Best Defense was Tom Adams, all of California. The USA teams promoted senior softball with exhibition games in Tokyo and at the Japan Physical Education University.

The tournament was sponsored by the Japan Federation of Health and Sports and Waseda University to promote senior softball in Japan. Senior Softball-USA has been working with the Japanese officials since 1999 to develop and promote the sport in Japan.