- April 19, 2024
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It’s beginning to become sort of like a dynasty for Team Flagler, the competitive softball traveling team featuring players in their 60s.
Team Flagler, which is currently ranked No. 7 in the state, traveled to Altamonte Springs Aug. 3-4 to compete in the Florida Half-Century Senior Softball tournament. The team won the top bracket in its age group.
Team Flagler started the weekend by defeating 10th-ranked AAG Mustangs (Winter Haven), 19-7.
Outfielder John Martellucci and pitcher Jim Zgorzelski led the team, each with three hits and three runs scored. Shortstop Steve Bolter added two hits (double, triple) and four RBIs.
Things got harder, though. In Game 2, Team Flagler rallied for nine runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to knock off ninth-ranked Stancils Photos (Clearwater Beach), 20-18, in a thriller. First baseman Bill Collum had four hits, including a double and a home run, to go with two RBIs; outfielder Tom Knott added four hits and four RBIs. Bolter again had a big game, scoring four runs and driving in three RBIs on three hits.
The second day of the tournament began with a 14-1 win over the 12th-ranked Florida Hitmen (Sarasota). The win was bolstered by Zgorzelski’s pitching effort and superb defense. Catcher Jim Jividen and first baseman Joe Herbert each drove in three runs.
In the final game and game that would determine the bracket winner, Team Flagler faced No. 3 PSL Construction (Wildwood), a team Flagler had no beaten since early 2012. But times are changing.
Team Flagler, as the lower seed, led off the game and scored six runs in the first inning. That was all the run support Zgorzelski needed, as Team Flagler went on to win, 11-4.
Team Flagler finished the tournament 4-0. Zgorzelski picked up three wins and a save. As a team, Flagler hit .601 and scored 64 runs; they allowed 30.
Offensive team leaders were third baseman Tom Baker, with an .818 batting average and seven RBIs, and Jividen, with an .800 batting average and eight RBIs.
Team Flagler will take September off and then compete in the Polk County Florida Half-Century tournament, which will be the first weekend of October.
Team Flagler is 10-2 in its last three tournaments, capturing the title in all three.
After Polk County, Team Flagler will be off to the ISSA U.S. Championships in Myrtle Beach, S.C., which will be played at the end of October. There, the team will try to follow up its ISSA U.S. Southern Championship with another win.
Although Team Flagler is waiting until October to play as a team again, they won’t be idle. After resting the month of August, players will face off against each other in the Flagler County senior softball league, which begins next month. The league, which is for players 55 and older, is always looking for players.
Go to http://www.eteamz.com/flaglerseniorsoftball/.
SIDELINES
Palm Coast Soccer starts in September. Sign up at pdaflorida.org.
Palm Coast Soccer is the recreational branch of PDA Florida and will operate under the structure and guidance of PDA Florida's coaches.
PDA Florida will also hold a free clinic Aug. 17, at Indian Trails Sports Complex.
Players ages 4-6 will be 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Players 7-12 will be 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Register online at pdaflorida.org.
