TEAM WINS SPA 50 MAJOR DALTON WORLDS
DALTON, GEORGIA – JIM FERGUSON and his RATED ATHLETICS 50 MAJOR softball team added a new twist to HORACE GREELEY'S famous quote, “Go WEST young man, Go West...” to find fame.
FERGUSON and his gang instead went EAST and ended up winning their first ever WORLD SENIOR SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, the SPA 50 MAJOR WORLDS in DALTON, GEORGIA JULY 17-20.
“We had won a few local and regional tournaments in the West and the BLACK ATHLETES SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION (BASA) WORLDS in ATLANTA three years ago, but nothing this big,” FERGUSON said, “This is really special considering this is only our second year in the SPA organization.”
The RATED ATHLETICS team made the move to SPA two years ago when FERGUSON said the other organization they played with unfairly (in his opinion) moved the team to MAJOR PLUS.
“There was no way we were a major plus team, we had all the facts, results and info that showed it but they moved us to MAJOR PLUS right before a big tournament and they wouldn't listen,” he explained, “I decided to call RIDGE HOOKS at SPA with the same info and he agreed to let us play MAJOR in 2013.”
Apparently FERGUSON was correct about his team because at the DALTON WORLDS in 2013, they went 2-and-2 and gone. But that was then and this is now and the result is a WORLD TITLE.
“A big difference to this year from last,” FERGUSON said, “Last year we came in unprepared and paid the price. This year we were ready and knew what to expect.”
It didn't start off that great as the RATED ATHLETIC lost its first pool game to MONSTER SOFTBALL 12-11 before winning the second game 34-33 over the ATLANTA MONARCHS.
After that it was , “KATIE BAR THE DOOR” as the CALIFORNIANS knocked off HERRINGTON SERVICES (27-12) and the number one seed MONSTER SOFTBALL (26-8).
That was followed by a 34-11 thumping of LIGHTHOUSE LOOKOUTS and the GOOD TIMES 20-15. The party ended shortly thereafter when GOOD TIMES came out of the losers bracket to force an “IF” game with a 42-30 win.
“Man, can the GOOD TIMES hit the ball,” FERGUSON said, “They must have hit twenty home runs but of course a lot of them became singles when they reached their home run quota.”
For the “IF” game, FERGUSON and the others decided to try a new strategy. They went with three outfielders, over loaded one side and had TOURNAMENT MVP PITCHER FREDDIE RIVAS pitch the ball flat and inside.
The strategy worked as the home team RATED ATHLETICS won the “IF” game 30-25.
“What a team effort,” Ferguson said, “ Guys were making tremendous defense plays. Coming up with key hits and RIVAS was just outstanding with his pitching and defense.”
ALL-AMERICAN second baseman RUDY RAGADIO carried the big stick in the title game with a pair of grand slam homers.
RIVAS, who won all five bracket games also batted .848 for the tournament with six homers. Defensively, after he pitches he drops back to second base giving the team another additional infielder.
Joining RIVAS and RAGADIO (.636) in the gold glove and ALL-AMERICAN parade was third baseman CLIFF “COWBOY” MCLAUGHLIN (.666) , a professional stunt man.
His “stunt background” certainly helped as FERGUSON said, “COWBOY stood on his ear many times during the tournament making defensive plays others just dream about making.”
Others receiving ALL-AMERICAN recognition were K.T. THOMPSON (CF), SS GREG BOVERO and R.J. JOHNSON.
JOHNSON batted .757 with six round trippers. THOMPSON was at .692 with eight home runs while BOVERO in addition to hitting .692 sparkled on defense throughout the tournament.
Of course you don't win a tournament with just a few All-STARS, you need a whole team of them.
“Exactly,” FERGUSON said, “Everybody played like an ALL-AMERICAN at DALTON, it was just a shame we couldn't give everyone ALL-AMERICAN recognition because each player deserved that honor.”
Others on the team are: RON CHENIER (RF,.714), BARRY MORTON (p,2-0), FERGUSON (LF, .769, 9 HR'S), KEN HILL (,652, 5 HR'S, MGR), RAMON RUELAS (2B/OF, INJURED), the team “ROOKIE”,CARLOS RIVERA (.577, 4 hr's), SCOTT “MR. INTENSITY” CAMERY (.657) and CHRIS YAP, pinch hitter extraordinary who went 7-for-7 in that role.
One of the biggest assets to the team is catcher ARNIE VICE. VICE not only shines on the field with his .720 average and 7 home runs but also off the field.
VICE is the owner of the RATED ATHLETICS sports outlet which is the team sponsor. He isn't the only “VICE” the team has either.
ARNIE's wife EVE is like the team's traveling secretary taking care of all the travel plans and such. With her help the team was able to rent cabins in the backwoods of DALTON, where they relaxed fishing, swimming and partying.
Joining EVE as the team's chief cooks and special cheerleaders were wives PAULA FERGUSON. AILICIA RUELAS and KAREN MCLAUGHLIN.
“This was just a great all-around experience for us,' FERGUSON said, “The winning was great but secondary to our team being able to be together and celebrate as a family.”
“And as far as SPA and RIDGE HOOKS goes, one of the best decisions we have made was to align with SPA. They mean it when they say, “it is the player's association.” It was a tremendous experience and we look forward to returning in 2015.”