Hannington’s wins Senior Softball Triple Crown

Hannington’s World Softball Champions 55-Plus Division: Front (l-r) Tim Veo, Mike Faria, Manager Paul Casey, Ken Day, Dan Sides, Mike Swinamer, Paul Frijon; back (l-r): Curt Snow, Fred Shields, Larry Moone, Glenn Wilbur, Marvin Sims, Andrew Harmon, Bill Curry, Kevin Lipsett, Mark “Woody” Davis, Wayman Lee

The Hannington’s Bay State Bombers softball team, sponsored by Canton Attorney Glen Hannington, was one of 337 teams from across the United States and Canada that descended upon Phoenix, Arizona in late October to compete in the 2011 Senior Softball World Series. On Sunday, October 23, Hannington’s emerged from the 55-plus division as winners of the USA National Championship, the Senior Softball World Championship, and the coveted Triple Crown of Senior Softball, having previously won the Eastern Nationals in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The Sports Center team of Rhode Island, with three Hannington’s players — Ron Kenyon, Kevin Hayes and Joe Guiducci — also won the world championship in the 50-plus division.

For the Bombers, player/coach Paul Casey got the tourney off to a good start by pitching Hannington’s to a 23-12 victory over the Arizona Rangers. Larry Moone delivered a key hit to ignite a five-run third inning on the way to the win. Casey also had a two-run single while Bill Curry had four hits. Paul Frijon, Marvin Sims, Wayman Lee, and Glenn Wilbur all had three hits to lead Hannington’s.

Next up was the one-game, winner-take-all for the national championship, pitting Eastern champion Hannington’s against the Western national champs, the Sigillo Cellars of Tacoma, Washington. Last year, Hannington’s lost this game by one run to Spot Bar and Grille (OR), but they were not to be denied in 2011.

The fired-up Hannington’s squad exploded for five runs in each of the first three innings and later withstood a Sigillo rally to capture the title by a score of 26-14. Homeruns by Danny Sides, Tim Veo and Andrew Harmon paved the way offensively while pitcher Kenny Day held the Sigillo bats in check. Veo and Kevin Lipsett both had four hits while Davis, Wilbur and Curry had three apiece. Curt Snow made several defensive plays late in the game to thwart Sigillo rallies. Sides, Day, and shortstop Mark “Woody” Davis combined to turn three double plays as Hannington’s was crowned the national champs.

But the celebration was short-lived as the Bombers then began their chase for the world championship, earning the second seed and a first-round bye. The first game in the tournament saw Hannington’s facing off against Scrap Iron of Colorado. The Bombers pounded out 23 hits and soundly defeated Scrap Iron 20-7. Frijon and Mike Swinamer each had four hits and Curry added three hits.

Hannington’s then squared off against CC Over from Boise, Idaho. The Bombers got off to a slow start, trailing at one point 5-1 early in the game, but the bats and gloves came alive to capture a 15-6 win. Sides had a three-run homerun while Swinamer and Mike Faria each had three hits to pace Hannington’s.

The semifinal of the winner’s bracket saw Hannington’s facing off against the perennial powerhouse Drillers from El Paso. This game was a slugfest from start to finish with Hannington’s eventually holding off their powerful rival by a score of 27-21. Harmon, Davis, Lipsett, Sims, Wilbur, Curry and Faria all had three hits while winning pitcher Lee chipped in with two clutch hits. Freddie Shields scored seven runs, and third baseman Faria dazzled the crowd with several spectacular plays in the field.

Next was the finals of the winner’s bracket against the top-seeded Los Angeles Titans. Hannington’s jumped ahead early, keyed by a 350-foot grand slam off the bat of Sims en route to a 19-10 victory. Sides and Wilbur each had home runs while Frijon and Wilbur each made outstanding catches in the outfield to hold the Titans at bay.

The Titans then squeezed out a close win over the Drillers in the loser’s bracket final to earn a rematch against Hannington’s. In the first game of the finals, Hannington’s built early leads of 9-4 and 14-11. The Titans staged a frantic seventh inning rally, scoring five times to hand the Bombers their only loss of the tournament 16-14.

With all the momentum riding with the Titans in the winner-take-all finale, Hannington’s rose to the occasion, posting a convincing 14-1 victory to secure the world championship trophy. Hannington’s led from start to finish, showcasing a suffocating defense while pounding out 22 hits on offense. The game featured superb fielding by Day, who started two double plays, along with the second/short combo of Sides and Davis, who spun two additional double plays. Davis, Curry, Swinamer and Sides each had three hits while Faria was again outstanding at third base. Coach Casey received the traditional Gatorade shower and the celebration was on.

For the tournament, Hannington’s went 7-1 and scored 157 runs. The champs batted .658 as a team with eight different players hitting over .700, paced by Curry, who hit a sizzling .913. Curry was named co-MVP of the tournament along with Faria, who batted .708 and made some outstanding defensive plays at third base.

The All-Tournament selections were Sides (.782), Davis (.760), Veo (.754), Wilbur (.743) and Sims (.736).

The keystone combo of Davis and Sides, along with the outfield featuring Frijon, Harmon, Sims, Wilbur and Curry all turned in solid defensive performances. Speedster Freddie Shields scored 37 runs in the tournament while three different pitchers won games for the Bombers: Day (4-0), Lee (2-1) and Casey (1-0).

“I wish I could have given All-Tournament selections to all the players, because they all deserved it this weekend,” said Casey.

Hannington’s players each received Miken bat bags for winning the national championship, Tanel softball spikes for winning the Triple Crown, and gold world championship rings for winning the tournament. The Bombers will also have their names forever engraved on the perpetual Triple Crown winner’s trophy.

The team and its fans celebrated with a private dinner on a deck at the Wrestler’s Roost Steakhouse, overlooking the city of Phoenix. Coach Casey declared afterward, “This was a team effort by many of the elite senior softball players from Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It is a tribute to these players, all with families and jobs, that they make the commitment to stay in the kind of physical condition necessary to compete at this level. The players all come from years of competitive softball and have quickly jelled as a team.”

Casey added, “The Hannington’s national and world championship victories, along with Sports Center winning in the 50 division, shows the caliber of softball played in the Massachusetts/Rhode Island area, much of it based in Canton with Hannington’s EMass team.”

The players also acknowledged the tireless effort of coach and general manager Casey in assembling the team and organizing everything from travel and entry fees to schedules and more. Moone and Snow, two of the founders of the Bay State team, also helped with the organizational and coaching duties. The team would also like to thank Attorney Hannington for his sponsorship and support throughout the year.

For Hannington’s, the national and world championship victories cap off a storybook season, which saw them winning every tournament they entered, including qualifiers in Palmer, Syracuse (NY), Warwick (RI), and the Eastern Nationals in Raleigh. The Hannington’s of Canton league team, with many of the same players, also won its fourth consecutive EMass championship.

Next up for Hannington’s is a trip to the Tournament of Champions in Winter Haven, Florida, where the 2011 winners of all qualifying tournaments gather for a yearly showdown in early February. Hannington’s will attempt to become the first 55-plus team ever to win the Triple Crown and the Tournament of Champions in the same year.

According to Hannington’s of Canton team manager Joe DeFelice, all the Hannington’s teams will be celebrated with a year-end banquet, sponsored by Attorney Hannington on Saturday, November 19, at the Brookmeadow Country Club in Canton. This will be Hannington’s 25^th year of softball sponsorships. This year’s guest speakers will be former Red Sox player and NECN analyst Sam Horn and Red Sox public announcer Carl Beame.

Representatives of the Cape Cod Baseball League, of which Attorney Hannington is on the board of directors, will also be present at the banquet.

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