The Long Beach Snakes, a new fastpitch softball club debuted on Sunday Feb 26, with double header exhibition victories, over the Long Beach Black Sox (3-1 & 4-3). The team will compete in the ASA A/B Southern California Travel League, in the Spring and Summer months, and a few other Southern California Tournaments, before the Nationals.
The pitching staff consists of veteran right-handers Ron Rupp, and Dave Blackburn. There is no lack of experience between the two, as they have combined to have thrown well over 3,500 ball games, throughout the last three decades.
Rupp spent 20 years touring as the star pitcher of the California Cuties Comedy 4 Man novelty softball show, and he still possesses one of the best change-ups in the sport today. Ron Rupp is also serving as GM of the Ball Club.
Blackburn is the ISC Commissioner of Streaming and Broadcasting, and is the Producer and Color Commentator of TV, and Internet broadcasts, from the annual ISC World Tournaments. In 2005, Blackburn was a Gold Medalist pitching for the Maccabi USA Fastpitch Club at the 17th World Maccabiah Games in Israel. Last summer Dave teamed with Matt Barnes to help pitch the Cowboys Fastpitch Club to the Summer and Fall League Championships of the Burbank Parks and Recreation City League.
Utility man Clayte Robinson of Santa Barbara will be the 3rd Pitcher when needed, and can play any position on the field. Robinson played for several years for the Santa Barbara teams The Bucks, Instant Replay, and The Islanders.
Helping Rupp to run the Snakes Ball Club on the field, is Player–Manager Barry Woolery, a seasoned, long time catcher from the San Diego Area. Another San Diegan is lead-off man Dean Bettencourt, who will patrol centerfield, and still possesses great foot speed at the age of 50. Dean holds the ASA “A” record for most hits in a National Tournament (20).
Proven offensive threats, and former teammates Shortstop Joe Vigil and Right fielder Phil Hiromerides will re-unite to co-anchor the Snakes offensive attack. Vigil was a 1994 ISC All World Selection, and a member of the US National Team Selection Camp in 1996. After taking a few years off away from ball, Vigil is ready to return to his role of terrorizing opposing pitching, with his unique slapper hitting style.
In 2000, Phil Hiromerides was ASA B National Tournament Highest Batting average (.600), when his hitting helped lead Fresno Team Lyons to the ASA B National Championship. Phil was also a Member of 2002 ASA A National Championship Fresno Team Lyons, and named team Offensive MVP in that Championship Year. Phil also took the last few years off, and is excited about his return to fastpitch action.
Another San Diego connection for the Snakes will be Alan Rohrbach and Aaron Owens who both bring veteran leadership to the team. Rohrbach still holds the distinction of being the first player to be named ASA Major All American, and ISC All World in the same season (1981). Alan won ISC World Championships in 1981 (Camarillo), and 1983 (Lancaster), and with 3 ISC All World selections, Rohrbach is a legitimate future candidate for the ISC Hall of Fame. To prove he can still lead a team offensively, in 2005, Alan had the highest batting average at the Over-50 ASA National Tournament.
Aaron Owens will play 3B, when he joins the team in April, after fully recovering from off-season shoulder surgery. Owens has played in numerous ISC World Tournaments over the past 15 years, on teams such as the El Cajon Rangers, Vista Bombers, Long Beach Painters, SLC Page Brake, SOCAL Bucks, and Houston HIS. Aaron was also formerly an ISC Player Rep from the Western Region.
The Aguilar brothers, Vincent and Bob Jr, both bring tremendously competitive attitudes and talents to the Snakes. Bob Jr will be the starting catcher, and Vincent will split time at first base, and DH. Both have great softball genetics as their father, Bob Aguilar Sr, was generally considered among the most feared power hitters to have played fastpitch softball, in Southern California, over the last half century.
Designated Hitter Ron Mendez may also join the team, if he can nurse some injuries back in shape. Left fielder Alan Leuthard is a former baseball player at the University of San Diego, who will be playing his first year in the ASA A/B Weekend Travel League. Utility players Ricky Rupp, Tim Williams, Steve Dye, and Designated Runner John Harkins round out the Snakes 2006 roster.
The team is still working on fundraising and sponsorship for this season. Anyone requesting info on the Long Beach Snakes Ball Club, in regards to scheduling or sponsorship, can contact GM Ron Rupp at Badronald23@aol.com.