65AA Team: Front row (left to right): Jim Hupp, Ed Scholty, Brad Killingsworth, Johnny Blecher, Steve Courtney, Mike Lorenc; back row (left to right): Gary King, Louis Berthold, Stu White, Mike Flatt, Dave Riddle, David Pryde, Hal Wasson, Ron Schwertner, Dale Hill, Greg Laffey, Ken Kamrath, Joe Lecroy, Stan Isbell; not pictured: Tom Neagli
Rosemary “Killer” Myers-Neagli
Seasoned softball player Johnny Blecher described the 2023 Texas State Softball Championships held in Grapevine, Texas, during the first week of May as “not just magical, but also epic.” During the past seven years, RR has fielded one or two tournament teams who travel to compete in both state and out-of-state softball events.
What is so “magical” about RR softball? Well, RRSA is now a national leader, sporting three competitive tournament teams (65AA, 70AA, and the newly established 75AA), and all players are recruited from right here on our Ranch—our neighbors. The 65AA and 70AA have previous tournament titles under their belts, including a couple of state titles. Frequently, these hard-fought achievements involve playing against younger, higher-rated AAA teams who recruit players from across the state. In this year’s State Championships, the 65AA played against similarly ranked AA teams. In the final championship game, our 65AA team defeated the reigning Lubbock Electrifiers in an “epic” 20 to 10 victory—turning heads and having other teams questioning, “How many former major league players does RR have?” Manager Louis Berthold summarized his team defense saying, “The number of double plays turned by our infield had to be record setting.”
It was last November when “magic” began for our new 75AA softball team. When the National Senior Softball Association announced that any 75AA teams could add five players aged 74 to their teams, well, the “magic” became a reality. It was the RR 70AA team that stepped up to help complete both the 65AA and 75AA rosters—creating two strong, competitive teams. In early February, Manager Larry Studinski began shaping his new team, directing weekly practice on our Field of Dreams.
The first opponent our neighborhood 75AA guys faced was the Kansas City Antiques. Initially, it was a bit intimidating playing the “big city” folk, but after a 19 to 16 victory—in their very first tournament game—Clyde Ziegler (75AA) described his teammates as simply “just plain giddy.” Six games and two days later, our new 75AA team won the 75AA Texas State Championship game 17 to 9. It can only be described as an “epic” week for both RR 65AA and 75AA teams who now proudly own the title Texas State Champions in each division. The real highlight for 75AA player Clyde Zeiger describing both Championship teams is the “friendship, the bond, and the camaraderie among the quality of men we have at Robson Ranch, Texas.”