75+ TOURNEY IN MILWAUKEE

Feb. 1, 2010

By Donald H. Schambow

MILWAUKEE – ProHealth scored a narrow 12-11 victory over Casey Automotive from Palatine, Ill., to take the championship at the Greater Milwaukee Senior Sports Club’s fifth annual Senior 75+ softball tournament in September.

Trailing 11-8 after six innings, in a seven-inning game, Casey Automotive, managed by Stan Rausch, rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game. Henry Smith hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh scoring ProHealth’s winning run.

Also representing Milwaukee were the Meyer’s Restaurant team and Hoeppner Insurance. The AW of Roseville, Minn. team, managed by Tom Bullock, completed the tournament’s roster.

ProHealth, from Milwaukee, won a Round Robin with a 4-0 record. Casey Automotive was 3-1, Meyer’s Restaurant 2-2, Hoeppner Insurance 1-3, and AW of Roseville 0-4.

In 2002, a group of local softball players over the age of 55 organized under the name, Greater Milwaukee Senior Sports Club, with the mission of involving local players in tournaments. Discovering there were few tournaments for those over age 75, in 2005 the Greater Milwaukee Senior Sports Cub established the Milwaukee Senior 75 + Classic Tournament.

Milwaukee has an unusual number of 75 plus softball players and thus the Milwaukee area has been represented by three local teams. The tournament also has attracted teams from Minnesota and Illinois.

A committee consisting of Don Hoeppner, Don Bardonner, George “Babe” Schlinder, Al Behling and Don Schambow is planning the 6th Annual Milwaukee Senior 75 + Classic Tournament which is open to all 75 + teams and will be Sept. 15-16 2010. For Further information contact Don Schambow via e-mail: donaldschambow@aol.com

As evidence of the age of some of those participating, players have expressed interest in establishing an 80 + tournament.