55 + Washington Titans Complete 3-Peat, Remain Undefeated and Defend Baseball World Series Titles

For the 3rd straight year, the Washington Titan's 55+ baseball team has won the top-level AAAA Legends division of the Roy Hobbs World Series. 43 teams from various parts of the continent were classified into 5 different competitive levels. Bart Waldman was the winning manager, assisted by Marlin Appelwick. The 3-Peat included 3 wins over the DC Classics (from the other Washington) 10-0 in pool play, 10-7 in the quarterfinals, and 3-0 in the final game.

The Titans 60+ team which won the top level AAAA Classics division in 2010 and again in 2011, overcame adversity (due to illness or injury to 3 of its starting infielders who were also top hitters) and battled through the single elimination play-offs to win the silver medals in the 2012 finals. Team manager was Mic Stump whose assistant Pat Weber and infielder Gerry Slick were also unable to attend. Five members played on both teams: Bob Jarrett, Randy May, John Moelhman, Dave Reynolds and Bart Waldman.

Other members of the Titans 55+ team are Charles Jeffers, Mike Kutchta, Wes Lewis, Steve Myers, Marc Mullins, Rick Nasci, Mark Patterson, Glenn Powers, Steve Rapkoch, Rich Seiler, Doug Springford and James "Amigo" Wright.

The 60+ Titans and families pose with their hard-fought silver medals after the 2012 Roy Hobbs World Series AAAA Classics championship game on Saturday, Nov. 17 at Lee County Stadium in Ft. Myers Florida. Photo courtesy of Lynda Olerud. (click to enlarge)

Additional players on the Titan's 60+ team are Sam Ceci, Ken Ellerbeck, Tom Krause, Dan "Doc" MacDougall, Dave Mathews, Jim Moore, John Olerud, Ron Staples, Dave Vincent, Bill Williams and Dan Wombacher. Players on the 60+ roster but ill or injured and unable to participate were Bill Ralston and Mike Slattery. They were joined on the DL by Sam Ceci who suffered a series-ending injury during the first playoff game of the double elimination tournament.

For the past 24 years, the highly prestigious Roy Hobbs Tournament has been held annually from mid October to mid November in the Spring Training facilities of the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox as well as other Lee County Parks sports venues (all 90 foot bases, 66.5 foot mounds) in Ft. Myers, Florida. Thousands of men and women aged 25 and over from around the world play in the 4 weeks of hardball tournaments. From May to September most of the Titan players participate in the Puget Sound Senior Baseball League for men and women ages 21 and over. For information on adult and senior baseball, visit www.pssbl.com and www.royhobbs.com.

John Olerud, Sr., whose namesake son played for 17 years in the major leagues, is one of the Titan catchers. He's pictured with his wife Lynda (right), mother Alice (center) and sister Cathy (left), who were among many families and friends supporting the team. Photo courtesy of Lynda Olerud.

WHY WASHINGTON TITANS ARE WINNERS

By Helena Reynolds

Wife of Dave Reynolds, Closing Pitcher of the 2012 Roy Hobbs AAAA Legends World Series Championship Game

I’m only a Washington Titan’s wife

who may not know much ‘bout the game…

…but I have ideas why Washington Titans

have earned their Roy Hobbs claim to fame

My husband’s a pitcher and plays first and third

Now that he’s referred to as “Gramps”

Our Washington Titans teams, Legends and Classics

are both Roy Hobbs World Series Champs

The Fifty-five Legends and Sixty-plus Classics

have overcome adversity…

The Legends won 7 of the past 8 years

and the Classics are now two for three

So what does this Washington Titan’s wife do?

She watches those masses of games

She has thoughts on what helped the Titans successfully

earn all 9 titles they’ve claimed

They’re talented, strong & extremely hardworking

They’re in shape and strive to build muscle

Their personal egos are blended to one,

they’re committed to “team”… and they hustle!

“How Ballistic Base-Running Could Force a Fumble”

The theory is simple to show

A fielder, surprised by a hustling Titan…

…may be forced to hurry his throw

Easy Play, Can ‘o Corn are the terms for sure outs

“Run it out!” the coaches all shout

But some players dawdle while heading to first…

… expecting that they’ll be thrown out

In every case, after hitting the ball

a Titan base runner expects…

…that he can out-run any infielder’s throw

by b’listically running like heck!

While gloving a seemingly routine ground ball

infielders are caught by surprise…

…to see a quick Titan a’ bustin’ for first

with a determined look in his eyes

It might cause a bobble, an error, a drop

In football they call it a fumble

It may cause a wild throw or possibly worse…

…it may force a fielder to tumble

A crowd who observes Titans charging to first

may jump up and holler like crazy

A can of corn catching outfielder may find…

…that his concentration gets hazy

And if he, by chance, takes his eye off the ball

to see why the crowd is absurd…

…that routine fly ball may just sail out of reach

while the Titan base runner rounds third!

Yes b’listic base-running could force a fumble

at first it sounds somewhat insane…

…but forging ahead even though things seem hopeless

just might change the score of the game

I’m only a Washington Titans’ wife

who may not know much ‘bout the game…

…but I have ideas why Washington Titans

have earned their Roy Hobbs claim to fame

The Washington Titans are “home grown” they say

Most all live in Washington State

Some members have played with each other for decades… team unity helps us relate

Another huge factor in Titan’s success are

our wives and significant others…

…and fans who join in with our own families,

our siblings, kids, fathers and mothers

I’m only a Washington Titans’ wife

who may not know much ‘bout the game…

…but these little theories could help build our lives

b’yond baseball and all of its fame

Ballistic Base-running down life’s trodden paths

regardless of imminent “outs”…

…will help keep us moving and getting ahead

in spite of the negative doubts

And if doubts cause actions that threaten our lives

in ways that show life isn’t fair…

…our hard-working unified family habits

help triumph o’er pain and despair

I’m proudly a Washington Titans’ wife

who thinks sports have valuable tools…

…to help us develop life-skills and choose actions

that keep us from becoming fools

A life that is healthy and happy and fun

is a worthy goal t’wards which to strive…

…for goal-setting planning and actions equip us to

not just survive but to thrive

If we work whole-heartedly in all we choose

we’ll overcome times we’ve been wronged…

…we’ll be a success and victorious in life

and then can help others grow strong

In closing, this poetic effort extends

beyond baseball for this Titan’s wife…

…discov’ring why Washington Titans are winners

combines baseball lessons with life!

© 2012 by Helena Reynolds Used with Permission