The Chicago area Six-County Senior Olympic Games proved prosperous for Sun City. Three Sun City Softball teams and two Sun City Volleyball teams headed out to Schaumburg to compete.
Some of the Sun City Volleyball players left with success.
“The Huntley Heaters took the silver medal. The Fusion did not place. There were teams from Niles, Palatine, Elk Grove, and DeKalb among others represented. In pool play, the two Sun City teams played and the Huntley Heaters beat the Fusion Flyers 25-18 in a hotly contested match,” said John Roccosanto captain of the Fusion Flyers.
The Fusion Flyers that participated in the Olympics were John Roccosanto, Paul Flentge, Barry Cianciarulo, Don Wickersham, Bill Klingler, Jeff Gatti, Holly Rudolph, and Cary Niewold.
The team members for the Heaters were Ed Fabro, Captain, Scott Phillips, Nick Konnen, Dion Zinnel, George Goodhue, Dan Vital, Leo Brandenburger, Frank Yacono, Mike Fitzgerald, and Wayne Markett.
It was a warm, but competitive day at the softball event in Elk Grove. The Sun City Clippers, in the 70-year and older division, took the gold.
Glenn Groebli said, “This was our 10th year playing and we have taken the gold for 8 out of the 10 years. We have a bunch of good players. We had a good fielding day. We played good defense. A good defense is what you need to win the game.”
The Sun City Clippers were Fred Dryden, Phil Haugens, Jim Cremin, Glenn Groebli, Ed Fabro, Gary Heifner, Frank Yacano, Jack Sietsema, Tom Maley, Bob Lodewyck, Wayne Kreuger, and Tom Bischoffer.
Russ Darrow, from the 70 years and older Clarks Crusaders softball team, said, “We gave it our best with the two injuries. Yes, the scores were 2-13 and 2-9, but the competition was stiff. We’ll give it a shot next year with some awareness that the outfielders now know to play at the grass line and right field is a good place to hit for advancing the runners.”
Darrow added, “We did not know that the bases were 5 feet longer in distance between bases and the infield was larger. Many of our competitors, 9 out 10 didn’t even use gloves. Some of the players in the 70 and older have been playing for over 50 years and their skills are just as good I would guess as they were when they were younger except, they were slower. We had fun playing and we will be better prepared next year.”
Team members were Russ Darrow, Joe Mastrangelo, Larry Wojtas, Ron Chambers, Lon Purdy, Joe Nowak, Mark Lang, John Pratt, John Pickleman, Jim Weiss, Howard Matthews, and Bert Walker.
Gary Krewer, for the 60-year and older softball team, said, “The Huntley Heaters softball team from Sun City, sponsored by Commercial Heating and Air Conditioning, traveled to Elk Grove Village, played two games on July 10 and won the Gold Medal in the Six-County Senior Softball Tournament in the 60 years old division. Pitcher Rick Sebastian played great defense, gave up 3 runs and 8 hits and pitched the Heaters to an 11-3 victory over the Suspects.”
Manager Brian Schroeder Said “Our bats came alive.”
The Huntley Heaters are already looking forward to next year. Krewer said, “We will defend our gold medal and our Championship in 2020.”
Team members for the Heaters are Mike Anderson, Chuck Hund, Jeff Gatti, John Roccosanto, Brian Schroeder, Norm Richter, George Goodhue, Rich Pearl, Dan Quirk, Rick Sebastian, Gary Krewer, Pat McKay, Scott Phillips, Bob Cromm and Pat Klatt.
