Cape & Islands News

Cape Cod senior softball players take home the coveted Triple Grand Slam

Team to receive star treatment at the State House Thursday

BOSTON - Senator O’Leary (D-Barnstable) and Representative Sarah Peake (D-4th Barnstable) welcome the World Champion Back Office Associates 70+ Softball All-Stars to the State House.

The Back Office Associates 70+ All Stars completed its best season ever in 2008 by winning Senior Softball USA’s coveted Triple Grand Slam in the 70 plus AA Division at the World Championships in Phoenix, Arizona.

By winning the Eastern, National and World Championships in the 2008 season, the team from Cape Cod finished its eighth year of existence on top of the world. The team played in eight tournaments over all, won seven and placed second in the other. Competing in sixty local and regional double-headers during the 2008 season, Cape Cod completed the season with fifty-one wins and nine losses.

"I'm very proud of each and every member of the team for bringing home this championship,” said Rep. Sarah Peake. “I stand in awe of their athleticism and their abilities."

"Cape Cod is carrying on Massachusetts’s reputation for being #1 in sports. We’ve got the World Champion Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots, even the Bruins are making us all proud this season and now we can add the World Champion Back-Office All-Stars to that list," said Senator O’Leary. "I’m thrilled to have them up at the State House and am hoping I can get a few pointers on my swing."

The Back Office team is made up of players from the Cape Old Timers Softball League on Cape Cod. The League has more than 280 seniors playing in four age divisions, with players ranging from age 57 to over 80. The average age on the World Championship team for the 2008 season was 73.

The team is sponsored by Back Office Associates, an international computer firm with its main office in Harwich on Cape Cod.

"I'm very proud of each and every member of the team for bringing home this championship,” said Rep. Sarah Peake. “I stand in awe of their athleticism and their abilities."

The team has had a stellar record with a solid 2006 season and winning the Eastern and National Championships in 2007. However 2008 marks the first Triple Grand Slam accomplishment for the Back Office All-Stars.

The 2008 Team roster was as follows:

• Dick Sullivan – Manager, first baseman
• Bernie Powers – Asst. Manager, outfielder
• Bill Page - first pitcher, MVP
• Chris Sweeney - a rangy shortstop
• Joe Wignot - hard hitting outfielder-first baseman
• Tony Fucci - new leadoff hitter and outfielder
• Jim Parmelee – left field
• Vince Van Norman – third base
• Nate Koppel – middle infielder
• Jack Ferrie - speedy outfielder
• Hank Baldassarri - a speedy outfielder
• JimVanBaalen- a post ’05 addition, a versatile outfielder and infielder whose hustle and consistent hitting, would prove to be key in 2008.
• Mike Onnembo, - Outfielder turned pitcher also a strong hitter
• Tom Fazio - veteran infielder
• Ed Demeo - versatile infielder, heavy hitter
• Bob Parsons - designated hitter known as ‘Mr. Clutch’
• Steve Ramsay - starter/reliever
• Dan James - Steve’s catcher/ third baseman
• Ed Gorrigan - Consummate team player and outstanding first baseman would anchor the infield until health issues put him on the shelf for the Phoenix trip.

The team will spend the better part of Thursday at the State House where they will have a tour, some photo-opportunities, lunch and will hopefully be recognized by both chambers of the legislature.

The team was also committed to community service and pledged as a group to work on a housing project for Habitat for Humanity during the Spring of 2009, along with individual members committing time and efforts to various charities and local organizations.

The team will be moving up to the AAA Senior League for the 2009 season.

Release courtesy of Senator O'Leary's office.