SENIOR USA TEAM PLACES 2ND IN JAPAN, 3RD IN TAIWAN

Feb. 1, 2010

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – A senior team from the United States competed for the first time in the 2009 Asia Cup International Slow Pitch Softball Championships here in November.

The same team, made up of Senior Softball-USA players from throughout the country, competed the following weekend in the 11th Annual All Japan Champion Cup International Softball Tournament in Tanabe City, Japan. This was the ninth time a senior team from the United States has competed in the All Japan Tournament.

The Senior Softball-USA team placed third in Taiwan and second in Japan.

“The competition and camaraderie between the teams in both tournaments was magnificent,” said Terry Hennessy, manager of the SSUSA team. “But this was about much more than the games. We are very happy to help launch senior softball in Taiwan – and to continue to promote the sport in Japan with our friends there.”

In addition to meeting the Taiwanese and Japanese players at both the tournaments and at banquets, the USA team got a chance to sample some very interesting culture.

In Taiwan, the team visited the most extensive Chinese museum in the world, seeing artifacts as much as 6,000 years old.

The teams traveled to the top of Taipei 101, the second tallest building in the world, and walked among fantastic natural sculptures formed by wind and wave erosion from the East China Sea – and strolled down a marble gorge stretching 18 miles through the rugged rainforest.

In Japan, the team visited with the mayor of Tanabe City and exchanged gifts, before playing a series of exhibition games leading up to the All Japan Tournament.

The U.S. team made it to the finals of the Japan 60 division, before being defeated – ironically -- by a team from Taiwan.

Maynard Saugstad of Florida, who was also the oldest player at 84, was selected MVP of the Far East Tour. Bill Codner of New Jersey was selected Best Defensive player, and Bill Gorman of California was selected Best Offensive player.

Both the Taiwan and Japan softball officials have extended invitations for Senior Softball-USA to send a team to play in 2010.

More information will be available on the trip by June. Please call Susan Ruth, director of International Sports Holidays at 206-930-7091 or at susan@sports-holidays.net.