From the Memphis TN Commercial Appeal:
Over-50 softball team wins second national title
By Nick Zaccardi
July 23, 2007
[Mobile, AL] – The Memphis Po-Men, an over-50 fastpitch softball team, won the American Softball Association Men’s Seniors national championship earlier this month in what may have been the team’s final national tournament.
The third-seeded Po-Men defeated the No. 1 seed Texas Stars twice, including in the July 8 championship game, to win their second national title in four years.
They went 5-1 at the double-elimination tournament in Mobile, Ala.
About 6-to-8 players on the 17-man roster plan to retire, which puts the future of the team in serious jeopardy.
“It’s certainly one of the most recognized teams in the country as far as fast-pitch softball,” outfielder Robert Cooper said. “Quite a few of us, including me, are going to walk away and retire as national champs. You just reach the point where your body won’t let you do it. The sliding and running just takes a toll.”
The Po-Men are named after 64-year-old manager James Pope, who created the team more than 10 years ago.
Pope remains optimistic that his players could stick around for 2008.
“It depends on if everybody wants to commit to another year,” said Pope, who created the team about 12 years ago. “We haven’t talked about that yet. Last year was supposed to be our last year, and everybody decided in the winter to play another year. This time we’re in the same situation.”
Pope expects a final decision on 2008 plans in November.
As a result of the championship, six team members earned All-America honors: first baseman Larry Hunsucker, pitcher LeRoy Jolstad, outfielders Carl Mize and Danny Setchfield and infielders Richard Edwards and Gary Nilsen.
Jolstad threw a complete game in the championship as the Po-Men won, 2-1.
Copyright 2007, commercialappeal.com – Memphis, TN. All Rights Reserved.