San Antonio Seniors Softball League Teams Bring Home Three National Championships

San Antonio seniors are proving they have what it takes on the ball field, bringing home three national softball championships in just one year’s time.  The Alamo City Legends are the current Senior Softball League National Champions after winning the 60+ AAA Softball Players Association (SPA) tournament in Dalton, Georgia over the Sept. 11th weekend.  Eleven teams from around the country competed in this division and the Alamo City Legends went undefeated. The Legends defeated BIG Daddy's/Indiana Legends 19 to18 to win the championship title.  They also defeated Ideal development Concepts from Georgia the USA Patriots from Oklahoma and another Texas team, the Dallas Spurs.

The Most Valuable Player on the Alamo City Legends team is Tom Suda.  All American selections are Rocky Crews, John Beard, Jack Boykins, Elias Garza, Dale Stollewerk and Richard Kieholz.  The 2010 coach of the year is Robert Marchilar. Other outstanding Legends team members are Eddie Arevalos, Denis Abernethy, Arturo Castillo, Alan Crosby, Mike Dillard, John Fey, Gary Neil, Mike Salazar, Earl Satterwhite, Fred Gonzales and Rudy DeLaCruz.

Early this year, the Texas Tornados won the Tournament of Champions (TOC) 60+ AA tournament in Lakeland, Florida and last Oct. the San Antonio Crackers won the Senior Softball USA (SSUSA) 70+ AA championship in Phoenix.

The Alamo City Legends, the Texas Tornados and the San Antonio Crackers are just three of 23 teams participating in the San Antonio Seniors Softball League. SASSL is a non-profit organization that promotes physical and mental fitness in seniors through athletics and encourages adults over the age of 50 to participate in sports.

As an amateur sports organization SASSL conducts year round softball leagues for men 50+ and fosters national and international competition. The motto of the organization is "no player left behind.”  Regardless of proficiency the league places participants on a team so they can enjoy the benefits of physical and mental fitness achieved through participation in sports.

“The Parks and Recreation Department is committed to helping our citizens stay active and fit throughout their lifetime so we will continue to foster relationships with organizations such as the San Antonio Seniors Softball League that assist us in achieving our goal of encouraging active and healthy lifestyles,” Parks and Recreation Director Xavier Urrutia, says.

More talented players compete in the San Antonio Senior Games, Texas State Senior Games, the National Senior Games (NSGA), the Softball Players Association (SPA) and Senior Softball USA (SSUSA) tournaments.  Currently there are over 400 senior males ranging in age from 50 to 87 playing on 23 different teams in four age brackets (50+, 60+, 65+, and 69+).

League competition takes place from March through November each year. Playoffs at the end of the year involve all teams in a double elimination format. All games are held at Normoyle Park, 700 Culberson.

An annual awards banquet honors winning teams and coaches as well as individuals and companies that have contributed to the success of the organization. Fees are kept low in order to encourage participation regardless of income.

Pictured: 1st row L/R = John fey, Denis Abernethy, Fred Gonzales, Mike Dillard, Richard Keilholz (AA), John Beard (AA).  2nd row = Edward Arevalos, Dale Stollewerk (AA), Rudy DeLacruz, Jack Boykin (AA), Earl Satterwhite, Mike Salazar, Robert Marichalar-Manager.  3rd row = Rockey Crews (AA) Tom Suda (MVP), Elias Garza (AA).
Not pictured = Gary Neill, Alan Crosby, Arturo Castillo (AA = All American)

For more information on SASSL call Bill Altman at (210) 872-8135 or visit www.sassl.org.

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