INDOOR SOFTBALL IS LIVE AT ROSEMONT & SCHAUMBURG
The Feel Good Story of Senior Softball 2021 Melas Park
THE BATTLE OF THE NONAGENARIANS - MELAS PARK STYLE.
Apparently the following has been in editing for a couple weeks but we're excited to finally report the "Battle of the Nonagenarians".
The long awaited and highly anticipated pitching duel was held at Melas Park on the sun laden morning of Friday, October 1st. Al Silverman scoured the Phoenix area for 'The Best of the West" and flew in 93 year old youngster Mike Palizzi. The stage was set for the face off against the Midwest's favorite son the 90 year old youngster ace Don (SKIP) Kronberg.
The media was in a frenzy anticipating the clash. The crowd reportedly overflowed the stands on the now infamous 'B' diamond. S.R.O. was the sign of the day. Scalpers made a killing selling front row tickets.
The game finally started and lived up to anticipation. Both pitchers actually had a credible shot at a no-hitter... UNTIL the first inning. First and third basemen covered their respective lines like a junk yard dog guarding the meaty bone of a T-Bone steak. Middle infielders assumed the iron curtain, no holes defense. Outfielders floated through the gaps like they had wings on. Not an error was made... well until the 2nd batter.
In the end only one nonagenarian could take a victory lap. And yes, the Midwest's favorite son and winner of the 2021 Melas Park Cy Young (REALLY YOUNG) Award - Skip Kronberg walked away undefeated!
KUDO's to both gentlemen - Mike Palizzi and Skip Kronberg. You're an inspiration to the other 170 youngsters at Melas Park!
Thanks to Larry Lester for the following:
Two 90-year old guys, Leroy and Frank, had been friends all of their lives.
When it was clear that Leroy was dying, Frank visited him every day.
One day, Frank said: Leroy, we both loved playing softball all our lives. Please do me one favor: when you get to Heaven, let me know if there's softball there.' Leroy looked up at Frank from his deathbed and said, 'Frank, If it's at all possible, I'll do this favor for you.'
Shortly after that, Leroy died. A few nights later, Frank was awakened by a blinding flash of white light and a voice calling out to him, Frank... Frank ' 'Who is it?' asked Frank suddenly.. 'Who is it?' 'Leroy-- it's me, Leroy' 'You're not Leroy, Leroy’s dead’ 'I'm telling you, it's me, Leroy' insisted the voice.
'Leroy! Where are you?' 'In Heaven,' replied Leroy. 'I have some good news and some bad news.' 'Tell me the good news first,' said Frank 'The good news,' Leroy said, 'is that there is softball in Heaven. Better yet, all of our old buddies who died before us are here, too.
Better than that, we're all young again ! Better still, it's always springtime, and it never rains.
And best of all, we can play softball all we want, and we never get tired.' 'That's fantastic,' said Frank 'It's beyond my wildest dreams!
So, what's the bad news?'
'You're pitching Tuesday.'
Yogi Said It
One of the most lovable ball players of all time, Yogi Berra was known for some great malapropisms - or in this case, Yogi-isms. Enjoy 25 of his best:
1. “It’s like deja vu all over again.”
2. “We made too many wrong mistakes.”
3. “You can observe a lot just by watching.”
4. “A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore.”
5. “He hits from both sides of the plate. He’s amphibious.”
6. “If the world was perfect, it wouldn’t be.”
7. “If you don’t know where you’re going, you might end up some place else.”
8. Responding to a question about remarks attributed to him that he did not think were his: “I really didn’t say everything I said.”
9. “The future ain’t what it use to be.”
10. “I think Little League is wonderful. It keeps the kids out of the house.”
11. On why he no longer went to Ruggeri’s, a St. Louis restaurant: “Nobody goes there anymore because it’s too crowded.”
12. “I always thought that record would stand until it was broken.”
13. “We have deep depth.”
14. “All pitchers are liars or crybabies.”
15. When giving directions to Joe Garagiola to his New Jersey home, which is accessible by two routes: “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”
16. “Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t come to yours.”
17. “Never answer anonymous letters.”
18. On being the guest of honor at an awards banquet: “Thank you for making this day necessary.”
19. “The towels were so thick there I could hardly close my suitcase.”
20. “Half the lies they tell about me aren’t true.”
21. As a general comment on baseball: “90% of the game is half mental.”
22. “I don’t know (if they were men or women running naked across the field). They had bags over their heads.”
23. “It gets late early out there.”
24. “Yogi, you are from St. Louis, we live in New Jersey, and you played ball in New York. If you go before I do, where would you like me to have you buried?” -Carmen Berra, Yogi’s wife. “Surprise me.” – Yogi
25. “It ain’t over till it’s over.”
Site Content
From the Nov 2019 Edition of WEST SUBURBAN LIVING Magazine
Way to go, guys! (Names in BOLD designate Schaumburg players.)
50+
LET'S PLAY BALL! Eight senior softball players who enjoy casual pickup games in the Naperville Park District’s Men’s 50+ League at Gartner Park on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings have found their competitive edge.
They also play on a regional team, the Challengers, that is part of Senior Softball USA. The team recently won its third gold medal at the 2019 National Senior Games, held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Team manager John Patti recalls the turning point in this year’s championship: “In the third game, with two outs and trailing by six runs, 85-year-old Chris Argianis stepped to the plate and hammered the ball deep into right center field for a grand slam. The inspired team then scored three more times for the victory.”
The eight Naperville players on the Challengers team (shown at left in jerseys from another local team they play on) are: Chris Argianis, John Fieser, Rich Fleming, Steve Gadja, Larry Hall, George Pappas, Tom Vancura and Manager John Patti.