The Lakes Division Tournament Champs – Back (left to right): Manager Tom Erpelding, Hoot Gibson, Randy Rothenbuehler, Tom Lorgan, Doug Warwick and Tom Koshar. Front (left to right): Larry Maggard, Dennis Colbert, Dennis Kennedy, Jesse Washington and Gary Alexander. (Courtesy of Cyndy’s Surveillance Services)
Larry Wolfe
A double-elimination, three-day, season-ending tournament was held in April with the Wolfe & Associates team, managed by Tom Erpelding, cruising to the Lakes Division Senior Softball Championship by sweeping three games by an accumulative score of 50-15!
Here’s how the tournament unfolded. In the opener, the Wolves warmed up by besting the Core Photographers squad, managed by Bill McCoy, by a 9-5 score. Trailing 5-4, the Wolves posted a five spot in their last at bat to pull out the win. Tom Lorgan paced the way with four hits for the winners. He was supported by Manager Erpelding and Division Batting Champ Gary Alexander, who each stroked three singles. Frank Rouse had a perfect four-for-four day for the Photographers.
Rookie Manager Bill Jacobson’s Young Realty team then topped Manager Gary Hillabolt’s A-1 Golf Carts boys 16-11. The Young Realtors were the top seed in the tournament after winning the Spring League pennant. Seven different players banged out three hits each for the winners. Joe Commisto and Jim Entwistle each had four hits in the losing cause.
On the second day of the tournament, the Wolves got into high gear, crushing the Young Realtors 20-8. Dennis Colbert and Hoot Gibson led the way with perfect four-for-four games. The A-1 Golfers then eliminated Core Photography, winning 27-19. Mike Torreano bashed out five hits for winners and was ably supported by Terry Zeltinger, Joe Commisto, Gary Hillabolt and Gordon Beraud who each had four hits. The overall team on-base percentage for the game was an astounding .736! Frank Rouse, Bill McCoy, Randy Rothenbuehler and Tom Koshar had four hits each for the Photographers.
On Championship Friday, the Young Realtors eliminated the A-1 Golfers 15-11, earning a chance to redeem themselves against the Wolves in the championship game. Doug Warwick led the Realtors with four hits.
The Wolves jumped out to an early 5-1 lead and continued to pile it on, winning the contest by a score of 21-2. Four players had four hits each for the winners: Manager Erpelding, Doug Warwick, Jesse Washington and Dennis Kennedy. The Realtors managed only eight safeties as a team, compared to 31 by the winners. This game was definitely not a “nail biter!” Congratulations to the Wolfe & Associates championship squad.