Published: August 16, 2008 11:33 pm            

Softball Scene: At 64, Federle still going strong in slowpitch

TERRE HAUTE — As one softball season after another slips by, there seems to be one thing that remains constant: 64-year-old Chuck Federle just keeps on playing slowpitch softball.

Playing for the Indianapolis Classics last weekend, Federle and his teammates won the ISA 65-and-over world championship at Bridgeton, Mo. Federle, who turns 65 later this year, started in left-center field in all five of the Classics’ games.

The Classics earned wins over Akron, Ohio (twice), Champaign, Ill., and Kansas City during the tournament. They defeated Kansas City 23-18 in the championship game. Their only loss was to Kansas City in pre-tourney position play.

Congratulations to Chuck Federle on another year of softball.

• • •

The final standings are in for the Terre Haute Parks and Recreation leagues and the above-mentioned Federle’s name plays prominently once again. As a member of Beef O’Brady’s and Tabco, Chuck was a member of the Tuesday/Wednesday Group A and Group B league champions.

In Group A Tuesday/Wednesday league action, Beef O’Brady’s finished 12-0. In the Group B Tuesday/Wednesday league, Tabco earned league honors with a 10-2 mark.

Also playing for the Tabco/Beef O’Brady’s squad were Geoff Martin, John McDonnall, Brad Bilyeu, Ron Allen, Jeff Biggs, Travis Mason, Jay Etling, Nate Hall, Josh Hall, Ryan Nichols, Cody Gaskins, Steve Beeler and Scott Moore.

I might note that Martin, McDonnall, Bilyeu and Federle all see the half-century mark (50 years of age) in their rear-view mirrors.

In coed action, First Financial took league honors with an 11-1 record. Playing for this squad were Bryan Archer, Scott Boerner, Jason DeSanto, Eric Favre, Lenny Leclercq, Billy Nevill, Erik Smith, Justin Thompson, Nicole Fougerousse, Jackie Gustafson, Laura McCrea, Jeannine Mellish, Amanda Payne, Maegan Payne, Kacee Reynolds, Lindsay Starwalt and Kasi Thatcher.

The First Financial team is slated to participate in the ASA novice coed state finals Sept. 5-7 at Kokomo.

• • •

In NSA Super State action last weekend, the Budweiser/Clabber Girl team finished fifth in the 27-team affair. Budweiser/Clabber Girl recorded wins over Rockwood Trucking (33-27), Street Kids (21-15) and C&C Sports (23-11). It lost games to Team Worth (18-3) and Moondawgies (20-16 in eight innings).

Leading offensive contributors for the local squad were Jason Payton (15 of 21), Kevin Kull (12 of 18), Darren Buck (11 of 18) and Jason Long (10 of 15).

Budweiser/Clabber Girl is scheduled to compete in the NSA regional tourney next weekend at Indianapolis’ Midwest softball facility.

The local DeHart Rentals team also participated in the NSA Super State, finishing with a 0-2 mark. DeHart Rentals definitely had the most difficult tourney draw. In its opening game, it played eventual Super State champion Brady’s and then played a powerful Street Kids team in its first losers’ bracket game.

DeHart Rentals also plans to play in the above-mentioned regional tourney.

• • •

Hope Downey, Angie Robins-King and Kim Chaney recently returned from Florida after playing for the second-place finisher, Kimball International, in the ASA women’s 35-and-over national tourney. Kimball International ended up with a 3-3 record.

• • •

Statistics were unavailable for the recent Terre Haute Fire Department vs. Police Department fundraising softball game. Rumor has it that the Fire Department doused any hopes of Police Department supremacy with a convincing victory.

I hope to be able to provide further documentation in next week’s column.



See ya at the park.



John Benton can be reached by phone at (812) 877-2566.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.