Washington Titans Defend Baseball World Series Titles

(Click for larger photo) The 60+ Titans pose after the 2011 Roy Hobbs World Series AAAA Classics championship game on Nov. 19 in Ft. Myers Florida. The final score was Washington Titans: 20, Toledo Mud Dogs: 2 in 7 innings. Photo courtesy of Lynda Olerud.

The Puget Sound-based Washington Titans successfully defended their 55+ Legends AAAA and 60+ Classics AAAA division titles of the 2011 Roy Hobbs World Series Baseball Tournament conducted from Nov. 6-12 and Nov. 13-19 respectively in Florida.

The Titan's 55+ team has won the top-level Legends division for 6 of the past 7 years (placing 2nd in 2009 and first in the other years). This year there were 39 teams playing in 3 different competitive levels. For the 2nd consecutive year, Bart Waldman was the winning manager, assisted by Greg Martin and Marlin Appelwick.

After managing the 55+ Titans team to 4 titles in 5 years (2005-2009) Mic Stump expanded the Titans to a 60+ team which won the top level Classics division in 2010 and again in 2011 (30 total teams). His assistant coach is Pat Weber.

Four players were members of both teams: Bob Jarrett, Marc Mullins, Dave Reynolds and Bart Waldman.

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.

Other members of the Titans 55+ team are Glenn Kost, Wes Lewis, Jim Lopez , Randy May, John Moelhman, Steve Myers, Rick Nasci, Mark Patterson, Glenn Powers, Steve Rapkoch, Rich Seiler, Doug Springford and James "Amigo" Wright. (Players on the 55+ roster but injured and unable to participate were Marse McNaughton and Charles Jeffers although Marse was able to play for the 60+ team a week later.)

Additional players on the Titan's 60+ team are Wayne Bauers, Sam Ceci, Ken Ellerbeck, Tom Krause, Dan "Doc" MacDougall, Dave Mathews, Jim Moore, John Olerud, Bill Ralston, Mike Slattery, Gerry Slick, Ron Staples, Dave Vincent, Bill Williams and Dan Wombacher.

For the past 23 years, the 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) in Ft. Myers , Florida. Men and women aged 25 and over from around the world play in the 4 week long tournament.

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.

WHY THE WASHINGTON TITANS WIN
(A wife's perspective in poetry)

Helena Reynolds (pictured here with her husband Dave) is a free-lance writer and is in her 22nd year as a Parks Program Coordinator for the City of Kent Senior Activity Center in Kent, WA.

By Helena Reynolds wife of Dave Reynolds, 2011 Roy Hobbs AAAA Legends World Series Champion Pitcher

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
meet most of the goals they pursue
The Legends won 6 of the past 7 years
and the Classics are now two for two
 
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 8 titles they've claimed
 
They're talented, strong and 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!

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© 2011 by Helena Reynolds  Used with Permission